'Rebound' Relying on Ahn Jae-hong's Personal Skills... Comedy Embracing Nongnol

'Rebound' Planned, Funded, and Produced Over 11 Years
2012 Busan Jungang High School Basketball Team True Story on Screen
"Passion Led to Directing Decision... Filled with Sincerity"
Will Basketball Play Popularity Revive Korean Film Industry?

Director Jang Hang-jun (53), who began his film directing career with 'Light the Lighter' (2002) and has been active in variety shows, has taken on the challenge of Korea's first basketball-themed sports film, 'Rebound.' How will audiences respond to Jang's challenge, having excelled in comedy? The pressure is heavy. Attention is focused on whether the film, opening as the first release in April, will restore trust in Korean cinema and invigorate the box office.

On the afternoon of the 28th, at the press screening of 'Rebound' held at CGV Yongsan in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Director Jang said, "I have walked a path no one has taken before, as this is the first basketball-themed film in Korea," and admitted, "I feel the burden." He recalled, "When I first received the directing offer, I was confident I could faithfully convey the story's authenticity without compromise. Hearing the true story made my blood boil."

Director Jang Hang-jun Returns to His Main Profession

Director Jang Hang-jun Photo by Barunson E&A

Director Jang shared his unique feelings, saying, "'Rebound' was about to be produced five years ago, but the production fell through just before investment, and the staff disbanded. Then, meeting Nexon led to a dramatic revival. From late 2012, it took a full 11 years from planning with the production company BA Entertainment to completion. I never expected the release day to come."

Opening on the 5th of next month, 'Rebound' is based on the true story of the Busan Jungang High School basketball team in 2012. It depicts the miraculous eight days during which a newly appointed coach and six players of the weakest basketball team, previously unnoticed by anyone, compete in the national high school basketball tournament without rest. The film stars Ahn Jae-hong, Lee Shin-young, and Jung Jin-woon, directed by Jang Hang-jun, with screenplay by Kwon Seong-hwi and Kim Eun-hee.

The theater and film industry are paying close attention to three Korean films releasing in April. Starting with 'Rebound,' 'Killing Romance' (directed by Lee Won-seok) and 'Dream' (directed by Lee Byung-heon) will open within about a week. The industry hopes that these three films will attract many viewers consecutively, maintaining box office momentum through May and June.

Director Jang said, "Korean cinema is unintentionally facing a slump, but I hope this work will bring vitality." He added, "While big-budget blockbusters worth hundreds of billions are valuable and important, I believe mid-budget films like ours must also be supported for Korean cinema to develop. Please watch with affection."

[Photo by Barunson E&A]

Regarding the release timing, Director Jang laughed, "'Rebound' was internally decided to open in April a long time ago. Then 'The First Slam Dunk' came out, and I was bewildered." He continued, "At that time, there were no films scheduled for April release, but suddenly, sports films started releasing one after another in April. Even 'The First Slam Dunk' opens on the same day as 'Rebound.' It's not even Sports Month, but it's as if it was planned."

He also emphasized the difference from the Japanese animation 'The First Slam Dunk,' which opened on January 4th and attracted 4.28 million viewers, sparking a basketball craze. Director Jang said, "This film will be one in which today's youth can project their emotions," and added, "I hope young Koreans find comfort and empathy watching this work."

"This is the story of boys who quietly walked toward their dreams, regardless of the public's view that it was impossible. I wanted to say that although the future is unknown, their passion was hotter than anyone else's."(Jang Hang-jun)

Actor Ahn Jae-hong, who plays the main character Coach Kang Yang-hyun, closely resembles the real coach as if he stepped out of a game photo from that time. Ahn explained, "I'm four years younger than Coach Kang. I talked with him a lot, gained weight, and matched the appearance with costumes." He added, "I wanted to vividly capture the young coach's feelings and nervousness during the tournament." Director Jang supported this, saying, "Ahn was born and raised in Busan until high school," and "He perfectly imitated the real coach's speech patterns."

'Rebound' steal [Photo by Barunson E&A]

The Power of a True Story, a Story Leaning on Actors' Individual Talents

'Rebound' is a film that cannot be discussed without mentioning Ahn Jae-hong. As a sports film, it lacks some excitement and seems to rely heavily on the actors' individual talents and the freshness of youth. Some scenes unfold formulaically, making it difficult to overlook directorial flaws. The high proportion of comic drama may disappoint those expecting a pure sports film.

The low quality of special effects (CG) was also regrettable. Regarding this, Director Jang Hang-jun stated, "The CG work is not yet complete," promising to improve it. As the director said, some scenes seem to require post-production work before the theatrical release. The director's claim that the release date was set for April a long time ago does not quite resonate.

The greatest virtue of 'Rebound' lies in the power of its true story. The story of the 2012 Busan Jungang High School basketball team feels more cinematic than the film itself. Knowing the real story (ending) beforehand does not significantly affect the experience of watching the film in theaters.