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| ▲ This photo, provided by Plus M Entertainment, shows South Korean filmmaker Lee Eon-hee, director of film "Love in the Big City." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- "When I made 'The Accidental Detective 2: In Action,' my goal was for the audience to watch it and think, 'Wow, that was fun! What should we eat now?' For Missing, I hoped viewers would leave with a lingering feeling. But this time, I want to engage in conversations with the audience and hear their thoughts."
Director Lee Eon-hee, who helmed the film "Love in the Big City," expressed this sentiment during an interview held at a café in Jongno, Seoul, on the 24th, when asked about her goals for the project.
The film tells the story of Heung-soo (played by Noh Sang-hyun), a gay man, and Jae-hee (Kim Go-eun), a heterosexual woman struggling to adapt to society. The film explores their friendship and personal growth, as the two marginalized individuals rely on each other, offering a poignant narrative of solidarity.
"I thought it would be wonderful if, even when I couldn't believe in myself, there was someone who believed in me," said Director Lee, smiling as she added, "Just like in my debut film ...ing, Love in the Big City reflects this hope of mine."
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| ▲ This still photo of South Korean film "Love in the Big City," starring actors Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun, is provided by Plus M Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The film is based on the short story "Jae-hee" from Park Sang-young's short story collection Love in the Big City. A fan of Park’s work, Lee read the story in 2019 and immediately thought, "I could make a really fun movie out of this." She soon met with the author to discuss adapting the story into a film.
While the original story is told from Heung-soo's perspective, leaving Jae-hee’s inner thoughts less explored, Director Lee added more depth and narrative to Jae-hee's character during the screenplay process. This gave her a stronger, more independent role, making the character feel more vibrant and dynamic.
"I showed the script to Park Sang-young from the first draft to the final version before shooting, and he provided feedback throughout," Lee recalled, adding that she frequently engaged in discussions with the author during the process.
Some of the film’s scenes, such as Heung-soo being violently attacked by a group of men, were not present in the original story. Other elements, like Heung-soo’s mother believing homosexuality is a curable illness or male colleagues gossiping about Heung-soo, were also added by Lee.
"It's rare to see such scenes in commercial films," Lee explained. "For viewers familiar with independent films, these scenes may seem predictable, but others who have never imagined such hateful attacks might experience them for the first time through this film."
"Park’s novel has a light tone but feels defensive at times," she continued. "It’s as if it's talking about something too important to be spoken about seriously. I wanted to capture the facial expressions and the weight of life that you can’t fully grasp just from reading."
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| ▲ This still photo of South Korean film "Love in the Big City," starring actors Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun, is provided by Plus M Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Though the film addresses the prejudice Heung-soo and Jae-hee face in society, its overall tone is lighthearted and comedic. A memorable scene involves the two characters, in their twenties, drinking all night and waking up in the morning. They declare, "Anyone who drinks again isn't human," only to silently reach for a bottle of soju after tasting the broth from instant noodles, evoking nostalgic memories of youth.
Director Lee, who admitted to being envious of characters like Heung-soo and Jae-hee during her college years, smiled and said, "I infused my own desire to live like them into these two characters."
"'Love in the Big City' is a film where everyone can find a piece of themselves and relate to the characters. It's a comfortable watch, but it will ultimately make you reflect on yourself. Beyond commercial success, I sincerely hope many people see this film."
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