[On the Record] "I Love Movies" Song Kang-ho's Love Letter

Actor Song Kang-ho Interview

Kim Director Role in 'Geomi Jip' Released on 27th
Longing for the Pure Value of Cinema... Many Concerns

The theater scene has frozen since the COVID-19 pandemic. Korean films lost trust and struggled to attract audiences. To be honest, it’s more accurate to say that audiences turned their backs on them. In this unfortunate situation, the concerns of actor Song Kang-ho (56) and director Kim Ji-woon, who led the Korean film renaissance in the early 2000s, deepened. They poured their tribute to the audience and to cinema into the film Geomi-jip (Spider’s Web). Geomi-jip is a love letter that elegantly writes about a fiercely burning ‘love for cinema.’ Director Kim revealed the dignity of a master, and Song Kang-ho lived up to his name.

Actor Song Kang-ho [Photo by Barunson E&A]

Recently, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Song Kang-ho met with Asia Economy and expressed confidence, saying, "'Geomi-jip' is a ‘cinema’ film that you rarely get to see in theaters these days." He recalled, "While filming, I remembered the early days of Joint Security Area JSA (2000) and Memories of Murder (2003). I acted passionately, excitedly, and with anticipation." He added, "Back then, the ensemble acting was full and great. You could feel the charm of ensemble acting and cinematic energy."

The Value of Cinema, Theaters, and Art in This Era

Geomi-jip depicts a story set on a film set in the 1970s. Film director Kim Yeol calls the actors back to reshoot the ending of a completed film. The actors gathered on set again are in chaos, unable to understand the changed content or complaining about scheduling conflicts. The producer also opposes it, citing difficulty in passing censorship. However, Director Kim insists on reshooting, believing that changing only the ending will make it a masterpiece.

After the pandemic, master director Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, which confessed his love for cinema, received praise for its nostalgic depiction of theaters and heartfelt affection for films. Similarly, a film expressing love for cinema has emerged domestically. Director Kim Ji-woon infused Geomi-jip with his love for cinema. As the lead actor, Song Kang-ho’s feelings were particularly special.

He said, "What is cinema? How should films be made, and how should they communicate with audiences to have their existence respected as art? It gave me tremendous contemplation." He added, "I have grown more attached to the film called Geomi-jip."

'Spiderweb' stills [Photo by Barunson E&A]

He also said his attachment to ‘theater’ has grown stronger. Song Kang-ho said, "The romance of watching a film on a big screen with good sound in a movie theater and sharing emotions with many people has deepened, becoming more urgent. In that sense, I believe audiences will welcome Geomi-jip." He expressed confidence.

"I hope audiences feel, ‘This film cannot be watched on an Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming service.’ The global film industry is in crisis, if you will, but maybe it can be overcome. Of course, pain will follow. The process of creating and completing stories with cinematic value that OTT or dramas cannot offer will not be possible without pain. We must willingly endure it. In that sense, I hope Geomi-jip does well."

Song Kang-ho emphasized the continuous efforts and passion of filmmakers. He said, "It won’t happen overnight." He added, "We come to miss the pure values of cinema and feel them anew as precious. Going forward, new research, exploration, challenges, and attempts must exist for movie theaters to survive." He stressed again, "Various channels and cultural forms must be respected, and although there are pros and cons, efforts must be made for theaters to exist."

He also said, "There was fear about this new film being unsafe, but rather, it was more thrilling. It’s the thrill of knowing we are not making a clich? film. It’s just like Kim Yeol. Sometimes we struggle with self-doubt and fear, but confidence also surges. It’s just like cinema," he analogized.

'Spiderweb' stills
[Photo by Barunson E&A]

"Kim Yeol represents all Korean artists. Acting as a film director, I came to understand the director’s pain and anguish. We all live in a huge set called society, experiencing hope, desire, and frustration. In that sense, aren’t we all Kim Yeol? That was also the goal. The expression on Director Kim Yeol’s face in the final ending scene is very subtle. I cannot fully grasp that emotion either. Human ambition and desire are endless, but our lives also have no end."

Actor Song Kang-ho as Film Director? "I Don’t Even Dream About It"

The domestic stage is narrow. He led Parasite (2019), which swept the 72nd Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or (top prize) and won four Oscars at the 92nd Academy Awards. At the 74th Cannes Film Festival, he was the first male actor to serve as a jury member. The following year, at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, he won Best Actor for Broker (2022). He is truly ‘world-class.’

Some have shown interest in Song Kang-ho’s challenge to directing. Could we meet director Song Kang-ho as in Geomi-jip? He said, "Some people half-jokingly, half-seriously talk about it, but directing is a very difficult position." He added, "You need artistic talent, a philosophy of viewing the world, depth of life?people who have all these qualities do it." He waved his hand, saying, "Even acting is tough. I don’t dream about it at all."

Song Kang-ho and director Kim Ji-woon collaborated for the fifth time with Geomi-jip, following Quiet Family (1998), Attack the Gas Station (2000), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), and Secretly, Greatly (2016).

Director Kim Ji-woon (left) and actor Song Kang-ho
Photo by Yonhap News

When asked how it was to reunite with director Kim Ji-woon, he said, "He has persistence as an artist. I love that." He continued, "The process of making a film itself was the image of a passionate artist. That’s probably why such scenes were born. It can be painful during work, but over 25 years and five long projects, I have felt a lot." He added, "Traces of contemplation remain like fragments in my heart. It’s a lonely and solitary profession. Sometimes painful, but as an artist, you also feel joy and ecstasy simultaneously. I have watched that process from the side."

Referring to their first collaboration, Quiet Family (1998), Song Kang-ho joked, "He was cool back then, but now he’s aged. No one can fight time." He added, "It’s admirable and respectable to see him live fiercely to make better works without changing as a person."

The Man of Cannes, The Loyal Closer

Song Kang-ho visited the Cannes Film Festival in France for the first time in 15 years since The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008) with director Kim Ji-woon. The two attended the official screening of Geomi-jip in the non-competitive section at the 76th Cannes Film Festival held last May at the Lumi?re Theater.

Recalling the time, Song Kang-ho said, "Since it wasn’t a competition film, I felt at ease. I sincerely enjoyed the film, and the audience did too. Fortunately, the response was good. That atmosphere matched the nature of the film well." He added, "I went far but couldn’t spend more time there. Due to the schedule, I had to rush back, which was regrettable."

Actor Song Kang-ho [Photo by Barunson E&A]

‘The Man of Cannes’ Song Kang-ho will appear as a closer in Busan this year. He will take on the unusual role of ‘host of the year,’ welcoming guests at the opening ceremony of the 28th Busan International Film Festival, which opens next month on the 4th. Song Kang-ho readily accepted the offer to help the film festival, which faced difficulties amid internal strife this year. When asked about the background, Song Kang-ho smiled broadly and humbly continued.

"Anyway, there will be an outdoor talk for Geomi-jip at the Busan International Film Festival, and stage greetings in the Busan-Daegu region. I have to go down anyway, but since it’s an emergency system this year, I decided to go two days earlier. It should return to normal from next year. The Busan International Film Festival has faced challenges over 28 years but has grown into a proud world-class film festival. If I can be of even small help, since I’m going anyway (laughs), I gladly accepted. I’m also looking forward to meeting people in Busan."