Space Sweepers
Official release poster
Hangul
승리호
Hanja
勝利號
Revised RomanizationSeungriho
Directed byJo Sung-hee
Written by
  • Yoon Seung-min
  • Yoo-kang Seo-ae
  • Jo Sung-hee
Produced by
  • Yoon In-beom
  • Kim Soo-jin
Starring
CinematographyByun Bong-sun
Edited by
  • Nam Na-young
  • Ha Mi-ra
Music byKim Tae-seong
Production
companies
  • Bidangil Pictures
  • Dexter Studios
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • February 5, 2021 (2021-02-05)
Running time
136 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguagesKorean
English
Budget₩24 billion[1]
(~US$21.2 million)

Space Sweepers (Korean: 승리호; Hanja: 勝利號; RR: Seungriho; lit. Spaceship Victory) is a 2021 South Korean space western film directed by Jo Sung-hee, starring Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu and Yoo Hae-jin.[2] Regarded as the first Korean film space blockbuster,[3] it was released directly on Netflix worldwide on February 5, 2021.[4][5]

Premise

During the year 2092, Tae-ho, Captain Jang, Tiger Park and an android named Bubs are a crew of space sweepers who live at an orbiting planet created by UTS corporation after Earth becomes uninhabitable. During their work, the crew discovers a child robot named Dorothy, who contains a weapon of mass destruction created by the terrorist group "Black Fox". They negotiate a ransom for returning Dorothy, but their plan gets foiled when UTS soldiers stage a massacre at the club where the exchange was supposed to take place. The crew must navigate the dangerous situation while also dealing with their own personal struggles.

Cast

  • Song Joong-ki as Kim Tae-ho – Former Commander of the Space Guards and the first ever UTS Genius.
  • Kim Tae-ri as Captain Jang / Jang Hyun-sook – Former Special Forces Squad officer who later deserted her post to create her own pirate organization. She attempted to assassinate CEO James Sullivan in which her entire pirate crew were killed.
  • Jin Seon-kyu as Tiger Park / Park Kyung-soo – Former Drug King who escaped Earth after being arrested and sentenced to death.
  • Yoo Hae-jin as Robot Bubs – Former military robot trying to save up for a skin graft
  • Richard Armitage as James Sullivan – The CEO of UTS and the main antagonist.
  • Kim Mu-yeol as Kang Hyeon-u – Kang Kot-nim's father and a scientist.
  • Park Ye-rin as Dorothy / Kang Kot-nim – First believed to be a robot, she is actually a human who was injected with nanobots by her father as a last resort to heal her.
  • Oh Ji-yul as Kim Su-ni – Tae-ho's adopted daughter
  • Anupam Tripathi as Sullivan's assistant
  • Kim Hyang-gi as Bubs' new body
  • Christian Lagahit as Restaurant manager

Themes

The film criticises capitalism.[6][7] The process of the colonization of Mars in the film has been compared to billionaires prepping for an apocalypse. Avery Kaplan of ComicsBeat noted that "while capitalism may make the members of the Victory crew more likely to go for each others’ throats, it can't completely eradicate their intrinsic morality" and pointed to Bubs' arc as showcasing the barriers to trans healthcare that exist under capitalism.[8] Kambole Campbell of Polygon notes that "one of the film’s most striking elements is its casual multiculturalism. Characters from presumably dissolved nations speak to each other in a mix of their native languages, while English mostly appears as the language of power and of the film’s white antagonists."[9]

Production

Development

The early working title of the film was Lightning Arc (Korean: 번개호; RR: Beongaeho).[10]

Jo Sung-hee started writing the story 10 years prior to the film's release, after a friend talked to him about the dangers of space junk. He said that "It started with the idea of space travelers collecting space junk. I heard about how these fast-moving fragments of space debris are growing and leading to in-space collisions. I realized that this subject has already been dealt with in animations and games, but never in a film. I started writing the script wondering how Koreans, who possess a tenacious mentality, would approach this problem."[11]

In May 2019, the Chinese multinational entertainment company Huayi Tencent invested $4.2 million in the film.[12] The visual effects company Dexter Studios, which was behind the production of the films Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, Ashfall and Wandering Earth, was hired for Space Sweepers.[13][14]

Casting

In June 2018, it was reported that Song Joong-ki agreed to star in Jo Sung-hee's next film, making it their second collaboration after A Werewolf Boy (2012).[15] Kim Tae-ri was offered the role of the spaceship captain in January 2019, followed by Jin Seon-kyu for the role of the keeper in April.[16][17] The final lineup was confirmed in June 2019, with Yoo Hae-jin joining the main cast in the form of robotic motion capture and voice acting.[18][19] English actor Richard Armitage also revealed through his Instagram account that he would start filming in July 2019, making Space Sweepers his first Korean film.[20][21]

Filming

Principal photography began on July 3, 2019, and filming was completed on November 2.[22]

Release

In June 2020, it was announced that the release was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a plan for the film to premiere during the Chuseok holiday.[23][24] In August 2020, the release was once again postponed due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in South Korea.[25]

In November 2020, it was announced that the film would be released exclusively on Netflix.[26] Space Sweepers was released on February 5, 2021.[27]

In May 2021, Space Sweeper's second film is scheduled to be produced.[28]

Reception

Audience viewership

The film debuted at No.1 on Netflix in 16 countries including France, Malaysia, Croatia, South Korea and Philippines. The movie also dominated Netflix's daily top 10 rankings in 80 countries upon its premiere. Space Sweepers also gathered more than 26 million household viewers on Netflix during the first 28 days of its release or 53,340,000 hours watched.[29][30]

Critical response

On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 69% based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "As a story, Space Sweepers isn't as adventurous as its star-navigating protagonists -- but relatable characters and impressive effects keep it from drifting out of orbit."[31] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on reviews from 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[32]

Zaki Hasan of IGN argued that "even as [the film is] a concoction of various familiar sci-fi tropes, they’ve been reassembled with verve and passion enough to sand down any cynicism when taking it all in."[33] Dais Johnston of Inverse argued that the film "proves that Netflix's big bet on international audiences is paying off."[34] Gavia Baker-Whitelaw of The Daily Dot compared the film to Cowboy Bebop and Guardians of the Galaxy, arguing that the film was "hardly groundbreaking stuff" but that "there’s always something fun to look at on-screen", and praising the diversity of the characters, stating that the film "feels far more international than most Hollywood blockbusters."[35] Karen Han of Slate stated that the film was "one of the rare space operas that doesn’t posit that English has somehow become a universal language" and that Bubs' arc "feels like one small step for transgender representation and, arguably, a giant one for blockbuster filmmaking from any nation."[36]

Adaptations

A webtoon based on the film premiered on May 26, 2020, on Daum and KakaoPage.[37] It premiered globally on February 8, 2021.[38]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2021 57th Baeksang Arts Awards Technical award Jang Geun-young (Art) Nominated [39]
Jeong Seong-jin, Jong Chol-min (Visual effects) Won
26th Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actor Song Joong-ki Won [40][41]
Best Director Jo Sung-hee Won
Technical Award (Visual effects) Park Dae-hoon, Jeong Seong-jin Nominated
30th Buil Film Awards Best Cinematography Award Byun Bong-sun Nominated [42]
Best Music Award Kim Tae-seong Nominated
Best Art/Technical Award Jeong Seong-jin, Jeong Chol-min (VFX) Won [43]
42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Space Sweepers Nominated [44][45]
Best Director Jo Sung-hee Nominated
Best Actor Song Joong-ki Nominated
Popular Star Award Won
Best Supporting Actor Jin Seon-kyu Nominated
Best Cinematography Byun Bong-sun Nominated
Best Editing Award Nam Na-young Nominated
Best Art Direction Jang Geun-young Nominated
Technical Award Jeong Seong-jin, Jeong Chol-min (VFX) Won
University Film Festival of Korea Film of the Year Space Sweepers Won [46]
2022 Nebula Awards Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation Jo Sung-hee Nominated [47]
Hugo Awards Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form Jo Sung-hee Nominated [48]

References

  1. ↑ Yoo, Jae-hyuk (January 1, 2020). "'남산의 부장들' '승리호' '반도'…200억대 韓 영화 대작 쏟아진다". Hankyung (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ Conran, Pierce (May 31, 2019). "Song Joong-ki and Kim Tae-ri Confirmed for The Victory". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ Conran, Pierce (July 12, 2019). "Jo Sung-hee's Victory with Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri Takes Off". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ Choi, Ji-won (August 18, 2020). "'Space Sweepers' is not the usual sci-fi hero blockbuster". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ Lee, Jae-lim (August 18, 2020). "'Space Sweepers' promises to take moviegoers on the ride of a lifetime". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Space Sweepers Shows Us What Excellent Messaging Is". Mythcreants. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Space Sweepers Might Be the Best Sci-Fi Blockbuster of the 21st Century". Tor.com. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ Kaplan, Avery (March 2021). "Space Sweepers captures the hell of being trans under capitalism". The Beat. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Space Sweepers review: Netflix sci-fi movie feels like Cowboy Bebop". Polygon. 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ Kim, Joo-hyung (June 18, 2018). "송중기 측 "영화 '번개호' 출연, 결정된 바 없다" (공식입장)". Beff Report (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  11. ↑ Kwak, Yeon-soo (August 18, 2020). "Song Joong-ki returns to cinema with 'Space Sweepers'". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  12. ↑ Kil, Sonia (May 29, 2019). "Huayi Tencent Invests in Korean Sci-Fi Film 'The Victory'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  13. ↑ Lee, Gyu-lee (January 1, 2020). "What to expect in 2020 box office: upcoming films from comedy to sci-fi". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  14. ↑ "S. Korean studio receives best visual effects award at Beijing film fest". The Korea Times. April 23, 2019. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Song Joong-ki Reunites With Director Jo Sung-hee in "Space Sweepers"". HanCinema. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Kim Tae-ri Offered a Role in "Space Sweepers" Starring Song Joong-ki". HanCinema. January 24, 2019. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  17. ↑ Conran, Pierce (April 4, 2019). "Jin Seon-kyu Joins Space Drama Victory Ship". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  18. ↑ Lee, Han-na (June 10, 2019). "Song Joong-ki cast for blockbuster space movie". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  19. ↑ ""Space Sweepers" Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu, Yoo Hae-jin on Board". HanCinema. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  20. ↑ Cho, Yeon-kyung (July 4, 2019). ""'승리호' 탑승" 英배우 리처드 아미티지, 오늘(4일) 한국行 '인증'". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  21. ↑ Park, Sae-jin (August 28, 2019). "British actor Richard Armitage tastes cold noodle at meal with actor Song Joong-ki". Aju Business Daily. Archived from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  22. ↑ Lee, Hye-ri (May 12, 2020). "영화 '승리호', '우주 청소부' 송중기표 SF물…"기대되네"". DongA (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  23. ↑ Jang, Woo-young (June 12, 2020). "'승리호' 측 "코로나19 여파로 개봉 연기, 여름→추석 검토 중" [공식입장]". Osen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  24. ↑ Kwak, Yeon-soo (June 14, 2020). "Summer tent-pole films set new release dates despite increase in movie attendance". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  25. ↑ Choi, Ji-won (August 28, 2020). "Song Joong-ki's 'Space Sweepers' release shelved again". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  26. ↑ Lee, Jae-lim (November 20, 2020). "Korean sci-fi 'Space Sweepers' set for release on Netflix". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  27. ↑ Lee, Gyu-lee (January 6, 2021). "Blockbuster 'Space Sweepers' to debut on Netflix Feb. 5". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  28. ↑ "'승리호2' 본격 궤도..정성진·정철민 참여, 송중기 미정". 스타뉴스 (in Korean). 2021-05-17. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  29. ↑ Lim, Jang-won (February 7, 2021). "'Space Sweepers' debuts at No. 1 on Netflix". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  30. ↑ Moore, Kasey (2023-02-09). "Most Watched Series & Movies on Netflix (Hours Watched)". What's on Netflix. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  31. ↑ "Space Sweepers (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Space Sweepers Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Space Sweepers Review". IGN. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  34. ↑ "'Space Sweepers' review: Working class save outer space in Netflix's Korean sci-fi". inverse.com. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Netflix's 'Space Sweepers' is the First Good Blockbuster of 2021". dailydot.com. 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  36. ↑ Karen Han (8 February 2021). "Space Sweepers movie review: Korea's first space blockbuster just premiered on Netflix, and it's a blast". slate.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  37. ↑ Lee, Jae-lim (May 25, 2020). "'Space Sweepers' set for webtoon release ahead of movie premiere". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  38. ↑ Park, Han-sol (February 9, 2021). "'Space Sweepers' webtoon premieres in 4 countries". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  39. ↑ 제57회 백상예술대상 (in Korean). Naver Movie. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  40. ↑ 춘사영화제, 국제영화제로 도약…'승리호' 포함 넷플릭스 3개 후보 (in Korean). SBS. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  41. ↑ Noh Gyu-min (November 19, 2021). "[종합] 송중기·전도연, 남녀주연상…넷플릭스 '승리호' 최우수 감독상까지 2관왕 ('제26회 춘사영화제')" [[Comprehensive] Song Joong-ki and Jeon Do-yeon, Best Supporting Actor... Netflix's 'Seungriho' won two awards for Best Director ('26th Chunsa Film Festival')]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  42. ↑ Jo Young-mi (August 26, 2021). "모가디슈' ·'자산어보' 13개 부문 중 8개 부문 후보에 올라" [Mogadishu’ and ‘Jasaneobo’ were nominated for 8 out of 13 categories]. Busan Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  43. ↑ Kim No-eul (October 7, 2021). "'모가디슈' 작품상 포함 6관왕→유아인·전종서 주연상 쾌거(종합)[2021 부일영화상]" ['Mogadishu' 6 awards including Best Picture → Yoo Ah-in and Jeon Jong-seo's Best Leading Achievement (Comprehensive) [2021 Buil Film Awards]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  44. ↑ Jeong Hyung-hwa (November 1, 2021). "42회 청룡영화상 11월26일 개최..'모가디슈' 최다 후보" [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards held on November 26th... Most nominations for 'Mogadishu']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  45. ↑ Kim Nara (November 1, 2021). [제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식] [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  46. ↑ 대학생이 뽑은 올해의 영화상에 ‘승리호’ 선정 (in Korean). BoanNews. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  47. ↑ Asher-Perrin, Emmet (May 22, 2022). "Here Are the Winners of the 2021 Nebula Awards!". Tor.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  48. ↑ "2022 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. 2022-09-04. Archived from the original on 2022-09-05. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
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