[The Second Take] The Difference Between Historical Distortion and Plausible Adaptation

Ha Jung-woo’s Portrayal of Son Ki-jeong in '1947 Boston'
Approaching Truth and Persuasion, Honoring a Noble Spirit
Fictional Elements Remain Far from Melodrama for the Masses

"Hero, what hero. It's just recorded under a Japanese person's name." In the movie '1947 Boston,' Son Ki-jeong (Ha Jung-woo) stays in a restaurant, drowning his sorrow in alcohol. He ignores the 10th anniversary celebration of the Berlin Summer Olympics marathon victory happening outside. People do not understand despair and frustration. They only envy personal glory. "No, the 10th anniversary marathon commemorating Son Ki-jeong's world conquest is being held... Can you just stay like this?"

Director Kang Je-gyu fabricated this. In reality, Son Ki-jeong was led by seniors Kim Eun-bae and Kwon Tae-ha to the podium in front of Daehanmun. Wearing the victory crown prepared by the Sports News Agency, he responded to congratulatory speeches by Dr. Syngman Rhee and Mr. Kim Gu. Son Ki-jeong recalled in his autobiography 'My Country, My Marathon' as follows: "It was an incredibly honorable ceremony for me, who could not even receive a welcome home party due to Japanese oppression. It was the emotion and joy regained after 10 years."

This is closer to an adaptation that is more understandable than historical distortion. '1947 Boston' focuses on Seo Yun-bok's victory process at the 1947 Boston Marathon, leaving little room to explore Son Ki-jeong's inner feelings. The 10 years after the Olympic victory were a time of hardship. Wherever he went, whoever he met, the shadow of the Japanese police followed. At Boseong College, where he enrolled, seniors could not even hold a welcome ceremony. Son Ki-jeong eventually entered Meiji University on the condition that he would never do athletics again. There was pressure to not appear anywhere and to lie low quietly, as he would no longer lend his name.

There was another pain. After failing to be by his mother's deathbed, he also lost his wife to hepatitis. The marathon promotion movement also faced difficulties. Japan was increasingly harsh on Korea to compensate for the worsening war situation. They ordered collaboration or conscription indiscriminately, regardless of age or gender. Son Ki-jeong, being a well-known name, was forcibly recruited as a student soldier. The Governor-General's office encouraged support for student soldiers as instructed.

'1947 Boston' relies entirely on actor Ha Jung-woo's performance to convey the omitted traces of misfortune and humiliation. His face, never free from worry, and his voice filled with resentment exert strong power. By using restrained and dry expressions without variation, it blocks the possibility of ridicule and honors the noble spirit. Ha Jung-woo said, "I thought controlling emotions, impulses, and thoughts could exert greater power."

"From the moment we filmed the black-and-white scene of the Berlin Summer Olympics marathon award ceremony, my whole body froze. Isn't it a historic moment familiar to the entire nation through textbooks and such? When I actually acted it out, I felt the burden. I even doubted whether I was qualified to express this. I gave meaning to every scene and approached it carefully. Even the scene where I lie face down on the restaurant table was like that. Through prior research, I confirmed the years filled with disgrace and misfortune. I thought it was okay to express it as if I had lost everything. In reality, Seo Yun-bok was the only hope..."

This series of processes is not melodrama manipulated to cater to popular taste. Rather, it is closer to a form or style that reflects history. It consistently approaches the truth of real people and persuades the audience. That alone makes emotional approach and active involvement possible. Because the national hero longed for it so much... "My last wish is simply to close my eyes while listening to the vigorous victory song of junior marathoners."