[Limelight] Psychological Confusion of Runaway Adolescents Painted Through Their Eyes

Movie 'Adults Don't Know' Actress Lee Yumi
Portrays a Difficult Role Smiling Despite Being Bullied by Friends
Shows Additional Improvised Acting Beyond Scripted Performance... Focused on Self-Discovery

In the film Park Hwa-young (2018), Sejin (Lee Yoo-mi) suddenly shows a pregnancy test to her friends. Although she is a minor, she does not care. Instead, she smiles brightly and seems pleased. "Look at this. Lately, I’ve been feeling unwell, sleepy, and my period hasn’t come. Does this mean I’m pregnant?" "OMG, are you crazy?" "Hehehe~"

The difficult-to-understand character is spotlighted as the protagonist in the film Adults Don't Know. The first scene is strange. She broadcasts her self-harm on social networking services (SNS). The next day at school, she shows a contrasting face. Even while being bullied by friends, she smiles slyly. She even grins in front of the teacher who impregnated her.

"I’ll handle it myself." "No, you have to remove it. It’s a surgery. How much is it? Oppa, how much do you think it will cost?" "No, I’ll just take care of it myself. I just have to stay still. Why do you keep pushing?" "I’m sleepy."

The story continues with a runaway for an artificial abortion. Sejin is still immature. Her self-concept is low. She moves with peers and tries to justify all her actions. She even internalizes the wrong values of the older generation and the hedonistic culture they created as natural behavioral patterns. Director Lee Hwan does not focus on functional defects such as family discord or maladjustment in this extreme story. Instead, he focuses solely on Sejin’s process of self-discovery.

Lee Yoo-mi, who is practically a newcomer, convincingly portrays the psychological confusion of repeatedly clashing and breaking down without many lines. It reflects the feelings of liberation, guilt, loneliness, isolation, anxiety, ambivalence, and emptiness often seen in actual runaway youth. Rather than clearly distinguishing these emotions, they are connected as a driving force to realize the meaning and value of life. It points to the meaningful return of runaway youth who break free from the shackles of self-concept and come back.

- It seems like you might not have understood Sejin right away...

"That’s right. Especially her tendency to easily get close to others was puzzling. Also, the reason she and another protagonist, Juyoung (Ahn Hee-yeon), come together isn’t particularly special. So I thought of it as a process of understanding Sejin and approached the filming that way. When I thought simply, my curiosity was resolved. Kids can quickly become friends on a playground even if they don’t know each other. I thought Sejin and Juyoung had that kind of relationship. They are pure people who can become friends without considering backgrounds."

- There are quite a few scenes where you push through with acting rather than directing.

"I put a lot of effort into showing Sejin’s unique emotions rather than a specific image. Before filming, I established the basic tone through various emotional and behavioral expressions. Since there were no special lines or actions, it was not easy to express her confused feelings. I had to give it enough persuasiveness, so delicate adjustments were necessary. I had no choice but to shoot a lot. Besides the promised acting, I showed the acting I had conceived once more each time. They might look similar, but there was a really big difference. I’m grateful to director Lee Hwan for recognizing that."

- You didn’t clearly express Sejin’s changing flow.

"Especially in the sequence transitions. On the surface, there might be almost no change after she runs away. But her heart is definitely different. I thought it would be artificial if her appearance suddenly changed as well. Maybe it’s a subtle emotional treatment? It was very difficult. Without director Lee Hwan’s advice and the trust of the actors, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my balance."

- There are many scenes where you just sit quietly and listen to other characters’ stories.

"That’s right (laughs). I almost developed an obsession that I had to express something. This is a film where showing her own world is more important than communicating with the outside. I thought I could convey a lot just by sitting blankly."

- Instead, you indicate many emotions through your eyes.

"Isn’t that a natural expression that came out while acting with Sejin’s heart? Thanks to my fellow actors who did well. I was able to react naturally and identify with Sejin. I actually felt heartbroken many times during filming. Even after the ‘cut’ was called, I didn’t recover immediately."

- Do you think Sejin’s future looks bright?

"Of course. Although she didn’t find any special hope, she developed a longing for family. I think it was a meaningful journey just to realize what is precious. She may still need attention. She might continue smoking or repeat self-harm. But she gained the great realization that there is someone who loves her. I believe that will lead to the courage to live a better life. I want to believe that."