Directed by Kim Han Gyul, Pilot is actually a remake of a 2012 Swedish film called Cockpit. Its plot revolves around a high-flying celebrity pilot named Han Jung-woo (Jo Jung-suk – Land of Happiness). It seems like there is nothing that Han Jung-woo can’t do – from becoming one of the youngest chief pilots, blitzing his military training and even recording a hit pop song. But his life comes crashing down when a leaked tape is released to the media that supposedly features him being sexist and chauvinistic towards the female flight crew.
He loses his job and that soon puts a strain on his relationship with his wife (Kim Ji-hyun – The Box), which ultimately leads to her asking for a divorce. Stuck at what to do with his life, Han Jung-woo is then forced to move in with his YouTube-famous sister Han Jung-mi (Han Sun-hwa – Tomb of the River) and their celebrity-obsessed mother (Oh Min-ae – One Line).
Not happy at the situation, Han Jung-woo finds himself desperate for another job but soon finds that the only airline hiring is headed up by Noh Moon-young (Seo Jae-hee – The Kidnapping Day), who has just made a pledge to hire only female pilots.
That is when Han Jung-woo and Han Jung-mi hatch a plan to make him up to appear to be his ‘sister’. He lands the job but soon his new identity is put under pressure when he finds himself attracted to his new co-worker Yoon Seul-gi (Lee Ju-myoung – Kairos) and that his new boss wants him to become one of the faces of the airline, a role that will see his face plastered on billboards all over Korea.
The thing that makes Pilot such a special film is how the screenwriters manage to find such a good mix of comedy and drama. While there are scenes that will make the audience laugh out loud, they are also constantly reminded that at the heart of this film is a man whose life has been changed forever by an event that he may not even be responsible for.
The pilot and airline storyline plays out on the screen really well and at times the mood of the film is a reminder of the classic British television series Mile High. Like that show, Pilot may have a comedic side but it also delves into some pretty serious topics that are explored in meaningful ways.
One such topic is the treatment of women in the workplace and the film doesn’t shy away from topics like sexual harassment and male colleagues believing that they are better than their female counterparts. The film also explores how in some occupations, such as being a pilot, how difficult it can be for women to rise to the top.
While the film does sometimes make light of the fact that Han Jung-woo has to dress as a woman to keep his ruse going it never makes fun of gender-identity at all and instead it uses this predicament to become a learning curve for the male in question.
The film also has moments of true suspense as well as some brilliantly written twists and turns. The last half of this film sees it move away from its comedic tones and become a genuine drama with a twist of suspense at times – and surprisingly it all comes together remarkably well. It is during these moments that you also see the characters tested as you are wondering just how long Han Jung-woo can keep this all going before he is caught out.
The cast, led by Jo Jung-suk, seem to relish the fact that the film constantly changes tone. Han Sun-hwa and Oh Min-ae seem to enjoy the more comical scenes while Jo Jung-suk and Lee Ju-myoung drift between comedy and drama with complete ease and deliver strong performances. Then there is also Seo Jae-hee, who ultimately plays the villain of the piece with true conviction.
Pilot may well be one of the big surprises of 2024. Its trailer hints at it being an average comedy but the film easily breaks that stereotype and at times becomes a dramatic film featuring one of the most interesting characters we have seen on screen for quite a while. Add to that its commentary on modern day society and you have a well-rounded film that doesn’t fail to entertain.
Pilot is currently screening in Phuket and is rated ‘G’
3.5/5 Stars
David Griffiths has been working as a film journalist for over 25 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. He currently hosts a film podcast called The Popcorn Conspiracy. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes accredited reviewer and is an alternate judge for the Golden Globes Awards. You can follow him at Facebook: SubcultureEntertainmentAus