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1997(1st) ~ 2024(28th)
Puchion Choice : Feature
Bruce McDONALD
Canada2008 95 min 35mm C Asian Premiere
A new, different kind of zombie fare? Is it possible? Yes! Pontypool showcases an amazing confined space-based zombie story ¡ª scary, interesting, fresh, and inspiring. Grant, a once radio celebrity, now hosts a morning show from the basement of a church in a small town called Pontypool. In discord with the producer Sydney from Day 1, Grant starts to relay strange stories reported by the field correspondent Ken to spice things up. Grant and Sydney"s skepticism turns into a conviction that there is a mysterious virus circulating in town. It is somewhat of a paradoxical setting wherein a radio host and a zombie virus carried by "contaminated" English are juxtaposed, considering the only communication mode for Grant and Sydney is language (literally, a "shut-up-or-die" situation). The spread of the virus reminds us of the responsibilities of modern linguistics and media, as well as the ultimate infeasibility of communication. But why English? Given the dwindling number of French-speaking population in Canada, and the English speakers" domination of politics and economy even in the predominantly French-speaking Quebec, the scenes where the two guys communicate in broken French are not only hilarious but desperate as well. (CHO Hye Young)