Interview: Jason Yu on Crafting a Genre-Bending Tribute to Korean Cinema with ‘Sleep’ and the Influence of Bong Joon-ho [VIDEO]

Ever since Parasite made history by winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2020, audiences around the world have been awakened to Korean cinema. Jason Yu, a rising Korean director, has contributed to this wave with his latest film, Sleep. This film is a fresh addition to the rich tradition of Korean cinema, offering a unique blend of genres and styles. I had the opportunity to sit down with Yu at a recent press event to discuss the creation of Sleep and his evolution as a filmmaker.

Jason Yu’s career was profoundly shaped by his work as an assistant director on Bong Joon-ho’s Okja (2017), a critically acclaimed film that showcased Bong’s signature blend of social commentary and dark humor. Yu described how his experience on Okja influenced his own approach to filmmaking. “I think working on that for two and a half years, I was fortunate enough to be right next to him,” Yu shared. Bong Joon-ho, who had already made a global impact with films like Memories of Murder (2003) and Snowpiercer (2013), left a lasting mark on Yu. “I think his sensibility kind of rubbed off on me,” Yu admitted. “That may be where the humor elements came from.”

Yu’s debut feature, Sleep, initially didn’t start as a horror film. He explained that the story took on a life of its own during the writing process. “When I started writing it, I did not intend for it to be a horror film. I was just interested in the subject, and the subject sort of dictated itself into a horror film,” Yu explained. This organic approach to genre speaks to the versatility often seen in Korean cinema, which has a history of blending genres to create fresh and engaging stories—much like Parasite, which seamlessly merged elements of drama, thriller, and dark comedy.

Yu noted that his personal tastes, especially for romantic comedies and dark comedies, heavily influenced the tone of Sleep. “My sensibilities of liking romantic comedies or dark comedies, those kinds of things sort of clashed to become Sleep,” he said. This mix of tones is a hallmark of Korean films, which often play with audience expectations by mixing humor with suspense or horror.

Transitioning from screenwriting to directing his first feature proved to be a significant challenge for Yu. Describing the challenges as ”immense,” he reflected back on his influences and the fact that observing Bong Joon-ho’s directing style on Okja had a profound effect on him. “I realized how much I was affected by being able to observe Bong Joon-ho’s directing style, and I was trying to subconsciously and consciously mimic it while directing the film.”

The challenges were further compounded by the fact that Sleep was filmed shortly after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There were times we had to work without a First Assistant Director or Production Designer, which is devastating to a debuting director who is relying on everyone,” Yu explained laughing. The pandemic introduced obstacles that were particularly tough for a first-time director, yet the film’s production continued thanks to the dedication of the cast and crew.

Despite these difficulties, Yu emphasized the collaborative nature of making the film. “The cast and crew were a tight-knit family, and we tried to fill in shoes for whoever was missing. This film was very much a collaborative effort,” he reinforced. This collaborative spirit is often a key component of successful films, and it’s clear that Yu’s team worked closely together to bring his vision to life. With its intriguing mix of genres and the influence of one of Korean cinema’s greatest directors, it is poised to continue the global audience’s fascination with Korean films.

Sleep is set to hit theaters on September 27 from Magnet Releasing.