The Chonnam Tribune features this section to share the voices of foreign students at Chonnam National University. For this issue, we interviewed three students about artists in their countries. This gives us the opportunity to share the voices of and learn from those who have experienced things that many of us have not. – Ed

Which movie director from your country would you like to introduce?  
I would like to introduce Guillermo del Toro. He gained international fame by winning academy awards for films such as “The Shape of Water” and “Pinocchio.” He creates imaginative worlds through fantasy and animation. His films often contain scary and weird elements, but I think his charm radiates human warmth and Mexican spirit in his works.

What kind of people would you recommend this director’s work to?
I hope more Korean people get to know him. I think his style fits well with that of Korean directors. He is a bit similar to the director of “Parasite,” a film which revealed hard truths about society in a humorous and lighthearted way. So, I think Korean people will enjoy his work.

What are the differences between his movies and Korean movies?
Korean movies are often realistic, historical, and grounded in real life. But Guillermo del Toro uses fantasy and surreal elements, which is different from the realistic and gritty style of Korean movies. He shows humor and jokes even during difficult times. For example, when dealing with issues like earthquakes and Trump-related topics, Mexican people often use jokes or memes. We can see this Mexican spirit in his movies.

By Kang Min-ji, Reporter