[Here is KAN] IU "A Lucky Person with Many Blessings, The Power That Makes Me Walk Again" [Interview]

75th Cannes Film Festival Scene
Meeting IU in Cannes
'Broker' Baby Mom So-yeong Role

[Cannes (France) = Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "Receiving applause right in the middle of the Lumi?re Theater made the sound seem louder. It was my first time experiencing the culture of the Cannes Film Festival, so I felt a bit dazed. It felt like a message saying 'You did well' to everyone. It came across as support and comfort."

On the afternoon of the 27th (local time), IU (Lee Ji-eun, 29), a singer and actress, met at a hotel on the beach in Cannes and responded this way when asked about her feelings after walking the red carpet for the first time in her life. Regarding the reaction that she seemed to have tears in her eyes as she looked at the audience with moist eyes after the screening of 'Broker,' she said, "I wasn't tearing up," and laughed heartily, adding, "It was an overwhelming moment, but my eyes were just tired."

In the 75th Cannes Film Festival competition film 'Broker' (directed by Koreeda Hirokazu), IU plays the role of So-young, a mother who leaves a baby in a baby box after leaving a short letter but returns to find the baby again.

She wanted to try playing a mother role, and at that time, she happened to meet So-young from 'Broker.' IU said, "It was a desire to play someone who has crossed the big wall of childbirth in life and protects the life born from her own body."

"So-young is a special mother. I followed the emotions in the film. I just expressed my feelings toward Woosung as they came. It wasn't about being affectionate or anything like that. But if you're separated from your child, the feeling of wanting to see them is the same."

She pointed out the scene where So-young says to everyone, "Thank you for being born," as an impressive moment. IU said, "When I first saw the script, tears welled up. At first, I think I just thought, 'I have to act sadly.'" She added, "We filmed in chronological order, and I shot that scene in the latter part. When I arrived on set and rehearsed, I realized I didn't need to be sad. So I did it calmly, and the director liked it."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

When asked what words IU would like to say to comfort herself like So-young, she replied, "I want to tell myself, 'You are really lucky.'"

"There were moments when it was hard, and I wondered why such misfortune came to me. But still, I am a blessed person and a lucky one. That thought seems to make me walk again. So I definitely want to tell myself, 'You are lucky.'"

IU said she referred to the makeup team's opinions to express So-young's appearance. She said, "It was right after my activities ended, so my hair was very damaged and frizzy, so I attached a hairpiece. The character had a perm and dye before giving birth to Woosung but didn't take care of it afterward." She added, "She wore heavy makeup as a defense mechanism to hide herself. Her eyes were made up fiercely, and her skin texture was rough. The clothes were styled as if she just threw them on."

She also deeply considered the specific meaning behind So-young's lines. IU requested a meeting with director Koreeda Hirokazu. She asked whether the lines were something the director wanted to express through So-young or the character's own will.

IU said, "It was different from my values, and if it was the theme of the film, I definitely wanted to ask before starting. The director kindly explained why that scene was necessary, and it was a convincing reason."

Cannes (France) = Reporter Lee Isul