“No, our shoots don’t really look like that and that’s a good thing! “, director King Jee-woon and actor Song Kang-ho exclaim in unison when talking about It’s filming in Seoul at the last Cannes Film Festival. It must be said that the filmmaker, hero of the film, multiplies the disasters. The actor, seen in Parasitee, The Good Stars And Memories Of Murder finds his accomplice The Quiet Family And The Good, the Bad and the Crazy for a tasty comedy on the 7th art.
The filmmaker, hero of the film, prepares what he would like to be his masterpiece in Korea in the 1970s. To achieve this, he does not hesitate to take risks, including with censorship in the middle of a crazy team and actors. “Being a director is a bit like spinning several plates on stakes,” insists Kim Jee-woon. We must constantly ensure that no one breaks their face. »
A pure fantasy
The film’s outdated director has no more in common with his real-life counterpart than Song Kang-ho does with the star he plays. “I understand the temptation to compare myself to my character but I am very serious on set and this film really has nothing autobiographical,” he insists. Both say they have never had to deal with censorship during their careers.
“The filming that we are describing is truly anchored in its time,” insists the actor. You have to take it as a fantasy. » Fire, whims, alcohol and sex invite themselves onto the set to the greatest despair of the heroes and the greatest joy of the spectator. “I’ve never known such an abandoned director,” says Song Kang-ho. He is in no way like Kim Jee-woon who is cool, precise and courteous. »
A twisting load
The charge quickly becomes irresistible around this poor creator harassed from all sides including by angry critics. “The only thing I recognize myself in is the constant doubt that agitates the filmmaker, the hero of the film. Like him, I always tell myself that I could do better if I was given a little more time. » It’s filming in Seoul makes each film feel like a miracle of survival amidst chaos. We have even more admiration for Kim Jee-woon and Song Kang-ho who managed to achieve this brilliant work.