The feelings experienced while watching a film, along with the day's temperature and humidity, often serve as benchmarks for evaluation. 'Choi's Review' aims to introduce films in a more relaxed and everyday manner, infused with the author's perspective and experiences. <Editor’s Note>
To navigate the narrow job market, young people willingly become products themselves. They recite model answers with bright faces and embellish their qualifications to prove their flawlessness. But what if the true self hidden behind a seemingly perfect resume were to be exposed? Director Kim Jung-hoon's latest film, 'Final Interview,' unravels the most realistic fear for the youth: employment, presenting it as a closed-room thriller that questions what remains at the end of success achieved by stepping on others' shortcomings.
Six candidates who have overcome odds of 5,000 to 1 gather for the final interview at the global IT company 'Spira Links.' Moon Hye-in (played by Joy Hyun), Han Jin-woo (Kim Jae-won), Baek Seung-bin (Shin Seung-ho), Lee Hee-chan (Kang Yoo-seok), Jeon Yo-han (Kwak Dong-yeon), and Cha Joo-won (Bae Kang-hee) have prepared for a month, expecting that all will pass. However, the task on interview day is unexpected: they must discuss for two hours and decide on a single successful candidate through five rounds of public voting. As candidates become evaluators, envelopes with each candidate's name reveal secrets not found on their resumes. The interview room, once promising fair competition, transforms into a stage for suspicion and accusations.
Based on the novel 'Six Liars' by Japanese author Akira Asakura, 'Final Interview' primarily unfolds within the confines of the interview room. With only six characters and a two-hour timeframe, director Kim Jung-hoon, known for blending humor and adventure in films like 'Petty Romance,' 'Detective: The Beginning,' and 'Pirates: Goblin Flag,' cleverly utilizes these constraints as strengths of the genre. Each envelope opened distorts the relationships among the six, and with each completed vote, new doubts arise. They can leave at any moment, but doing so means forfeiting their chance at success. This single condition turns the space into a 'voluntary closed room' driven by desire rather than a forced confinement.
The film's rhythm stands out. Although most scenes involve characters sitting across from each other, the rapid interplay of voting, revelations, suspicions, and rebuttals, combined with observational cameras and timers, heightens the pressure in the interview room. As director Kim noted, the film captures the moments when a single expression can shift the balance. The quick editing enhances the film's rhythm, alleviating the potential monotony of a closed-room drama.
Another strength of the film lies in the ensemble of actors. The combination of mostly unfamiliar newcomers creates a refreshing dynamic, as their less established images make it difficult to predict who is hiding what. Their unfamiliarity aligns well with the film's mood of candidates standing at the threshold of society. Leading actors Joy Hyun and Kim Jae-won deliver strong performances at the center of the narrative, while Shin Seung-ho and Kang Yoo-seok also provide stable portrayals. Notably, Kwak Dong-yeon and Bae Kang-hee stand out; Kwak's extensive acting experience is evident on screen, while Bae exudes a compelling presence that maintains tension.
Set against the backdrop of the fierce job market during the COVID-19 pandemic, the film convincingly portrays why the youth hesitate to leave even when they reach the final position. The urgent goal of passing the interview quickly erodes the trust built over a month, and the structure that requires them to evaluate each other transforms the familiar interview process into a brutal survival game. The psychological pressure depicted resonates with the younger generation, making the tension in the interview room feel relatable.
The secrets within the envelopes turn the characters against each other. These contents are not entirely false but rather fragments of truth. However, when revealed without context, perceptions of the individuals change. Director Kim highlights the tendency to judge others based on limited information as a central theme of the original work. As characters oscillate between trust and suspicion, the audience becomes the 'seventh candidate' in the interview room.
There are some shortcomings. While the reasons characters cannot leave are convincingly established, the path toward the story's twists and conclusion is less solid. Some parts flow functionally, and there are points where plausibility feels thin. The effectiveness and satisfaction of the twists in the latter half may vary among viewers.
Nonetheless, the film's originality has ample potential to bridge these gaps. With its clever premise drawn from the original novel, combined with rhythmic editing and a strong ensemble of young actors, 'Final Interview' is set to captivate audiences. It premiered on November 4, with a runtime of 107 minutes and a rating suitable for viewers aged 15 and older.
To navigate the narrow job market, young people willingly become products themselves. They recite model answers with bright faces and embellish their qualifications to prove their flawlessness. But what if the true self hidden behind a seemingly perfect resume were to be exposed? Director Kim Jung-hoon's latest film, 'Final Interview,' unravels the most realistic fear for the youth: employment, presenting it as a closed-room thriller that questions what remains at the end of success achieved by stepping on others' shortcomings.
Six candidates who have overcome odds of 5,000 to 1 gather for the final interview at the global IT company 'Spira Links.' Moon Hye-in (played by Joy Hyun), Han Jin-woo (Kim Jae-won), Baek Seung-bin (Shin Seung-ho), Lee Hee-chan (Kang Yoo-seok), Jeon Yo-han (Kwak Dong-yeon), and Cha Joo-won (Bae Kang-hee) have prepared for a month, expecting that all will pass. However, the task on interview day is unexpected: they must discuss for two hours and decide on a single successful candidate through five rounds of public voting. As candidates become evaluators, envelopes with each candidate's name reveal secrets not found on their resumes. The interview room, once promising fair competition, transforms into a stage for suspicion and accusations.
Based on the novel 'Six Liars' by Japanese author Akira Asakura, 'Final Interview' primarily unfolds within the confines of the interview room. With only six characters and a two-hour timeframe, director Kim Jung-hoon, known for blending humor and adventure in films like 'Petty Romance,' 'Detective: The Beginning,' and 'Pirates: Goblin Flag,' cleverly utilizes these constraints as strengths of the genre. Each envelope opened distorts the relationships among the six, and with each completed vote, new doubts arise. They can leave at any moment, but doing so means forfeiting their chance at success. This single condition turns the space into a 'voluntary closed room' driven by desire rather than a forced confinement.
The film's rhythm stands out. Although most scenes involve characters sitting across from each other, the rapid interplay of voting, revelations, suspicions, and rebuttals, combined with observational cameras and timers, heightens the pressure in the interview room. As director Kim noted, the film captures the moments when a single expression can shift the balance. The quick editing enhances the film's rhythm, alleviating the potential monotony of a closed-room drama.
Another strength of the film lies in the ensemble of actors. The combination of mostly unfamiliar newcomers creates a refreshing dynamic, as their less established images make it difficult to predict who is hiding what. Their unfamiliarity aligns well with the film's mood of candidates standing at the threshold of society. Leading actors Joy Hyun and Kim Jae-won deliver strong performances at the center of the narrative, while Shin Seung-ho and Kang Yoo-seok also provide stable portrayals. Notably, Kwak Dong-yeon and Bae Kang-hee stand out; Kwak's extensive acting experience is evident on screen, while Bae exudes a compelling presence that maintains tension.
Set against the backdrop of the fierce job market during the COVID-19 pandemic, the film convincingly portrays why the youth hesitate to leave even when they reach the final position. The urgent goal of passing the interview quickly erodes the trust built over a month, and the structure that requires them to evaluate each other transforms the familiar interview process into a brutal survival game. The psychological pressure depicted resonates with the younger generation, making the tension in the interview room feel relatable.
The secrets within the envelopes turn the characters against each other. These contents are not entirely false but rather fragments of truth. However, when revealed without context, perceptions of the individuals change. Director Kim highlights the tendency to judge others based on limited information as a central theme of the original work. As characters oscillate between trust and suspicion, the audience becomes the 'seventh candidate' in the interview room.
There are some shortcomings. While the reasons characters cannot leave are convincingly established, the path toward the story's twists and conclusion is less solid. Some parts flow functionally, and there are points where plausibility feels thin. The effectiveness and satisfaction of the twists in the latter half may vary among viewers.
Nonetheless, the film's originality has ample potential to bridge these gaps. With its clever premise drawn from the original novel, combined with rhythmic editing and a strong ensemble of young actors, 'Final Interview' is set to captivate audiences. It premiered on November 4, with a runtime of 107 minutes and a rating suitable for viewers aged 15 and older.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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