[Limelight] A Kind Younger Sibling Who Dives into Emotional Deficiency

Movie 'Chimipja' Song Ji-hyo

Yujin (Song Ji-hyo), the younger sister who returns after 25 years. Seo-jin (Kim Moo-yul) remains unfamiliar and suspicious even after several days. He cannot accept the positive changes in their parents (Choi Sang-hoon and Ye Su-jung) and daughter Yena (Park Min-ha). As Yujin's influence in the household grows, Seo-jin's neurosis deepens. Although he tries to dismiss it as psychological territoriality, strange events continue to occur. The longtime housekeeper goes missing, and Yujin is spotted on the CCTV footage of his wife's hit-and-run accident scene. Seo-jin confronts Yujin abruptly, asking, "Who are you? I said, who are you?"

The film Intruder creates tension through the changes that occur as Yujin joins the family. It is easy to sense that Yujin has ulterior motives. Song Ji-hyo reveals a sinister expression from the very beginning of the film. In some scenes, she even shows contrasting expressions?acting affectionate toward Seo-jin, then turning away with a smirk. Her sly nature is repeatedly exposed, making the audience curious about her true intentions.

This kind of development places considerable burden on the actor. An unexpected twist in the goal can cause flaws in the story and theme. It can even disrupt the flow brought by the characters, potentially shaking the entire film.

Intruder also hits a snag at this critical point. After an unusual element is introduced in the middle of the film, it focuses heavily on securing plausibility. It seems to forget the delicate psychological portrayals shown in the early part and concentrates solely on maintaining tension.

Despite the clumsy story transitions, Song Ji-hyo strives to show duality. It is not about good versus evil, but about perpetrator and victim. The latter is not emphasized much. Although flashbacks are used to elaborate, there is no deep approach. Even the shots that do highlight this are overlaid with deception, reducing authenticity. While this may suit the film’s nature of provoking curiosity in the ending, it narrows the actor’s expressive range.

Still, Intruder can be remembered for Song Ji-hyo’s performance. She anchors the film’s core with various expressions, creating sufficient tension. In some scenes, she smoothly connects contrasting faces, generating anxiety and urgency alone. This is a fresh energy not seen in her previous works. It is a Janus-like charm where warmth and chill coexist.

Next is a Q&A session

- Yujin is distinctly different from Mi-young in the film Wind Wind Wind, Soo-yeon in the drama This Week, My Wife is Having an Affair, and Jin-hee in Emergency Couple…

"That’s why I was more eager. Having mostly played bright and positive roles, I longed to take on the exact opposite. I wanted to show that I can do this kind of acting too. I accepted the offer without even knowing who the director was."

- Yujin uniquely reveals her true nature from the very beginning. Although her purpose is not disclosed, she continuously sends signals that she is hiding something. Such development could break the flow once the purpose is revealed…

"I didn’t consider the audience’s perspective. I just faithfully followed the script. Of course, I thought about when to reveal Yujin’s true self. I wasn’t sure how much to expose early on to effectively build tension. Some scenes I worked hard on were deleted, but I don’t regret it. I believe that was the best choice."

- Intruder never clarifies whether Yujin is the biological daughter until the end. How did you set up her backstory and act accordingly?

"The script doesn’t specify whether she is the biological daughter or not. I told director Son Won-pyung, who wrote the screenplay, not to tell me. Knowing the conclusion might have skewed my acting in one direction. I wanted to focus on the situation Yujin faces itself. I believed that alone could evoke enough sadness. But on set, the staff kept asking if Yujin was the biological daughter (laughs). I felt good that the film aroused curiosity even before completion."

- Seo-jin and Yujin look distinctly different at the beginning and the end. Filling the middle part must have been crucial…

"Yes, that was the biggest challenge. I had to express when the character changes in a way fitting the thriller genre. I struggled a bit in that regard."

- It must have been difficult to portray her as a victim appearing in the middle and latter parts of the film.

"Fortunately, there were some cinematic setups. A family photo hanging in the living room is a prime example. Yujin’s face is missing, so Detective Joo (Heo Jun-seok) asks, 'Why didn’t you take a family photo?' I tried to make Yujin’s expression and answer that follow feel human. To Seo-jin, Yujin is an intruder, but to Yujin, the feeling of family love could be the intruder. I think that question stirred her emotions. After all, she was a character who wanted to blend into the family more than anyone else."

- Your ruthless face capturing and delving into emotional deprivation was impressive…

"Although I played the intruder, I think I felt more deeply the pain of those who lost family. The hope that they might return someday can come with an indescribable pressure. I thought those who endure such mental trauma while quietly leading their families peacefully are amazing."

- Do you tend to immerse yourself deeply in the story while acting?

"I think so. I don’t know how to act calculatedly. I just do my best moment by moment. That’s why I was able to do the variety show Running Man for nearly 10 years. The Song Ji-hyo on that show is the role most similar to me, so it’s relatively less burdensome. You could say it’s an amplified version of my usual self. I can act autonomously, so it feels free. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to take on many bright roles. Now, I want to dive into a different story. Melodramas that stir tears are good. If it’s a pure and delicate role, that would be even better..."