[HanCinema's News] Director Jang Cheol-soo Talks About "Serve the People"

The release of the melodrama film "Serve the People" marks the first time in nine years that director Jang Cheol-soo has seen the release of a film. His last project was "Secretly and Greatly" in 2013, a big hit with Kim Soo-hyun in the leading role based on the webtoon of the same title, with some melodramatic elements of its own. Now with "Serve the People" director Jang Cheol-soo adapts the famous satire of the same name by the Chinese author Yan Lianke.

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In a recent interview Jang Cheol-soo said he didn't think it would take this long for him to come back. But he noted that making movies isn't a solo project, and that he had to make a lot of effort and show his determination of will to get the help he needed to make filming of "Serve the People" happen. Still, he felt that the nearly ten year break was helpful for his vision, as it allowed him to look at "Serve the People" from a completely fresh perspective relative to his past reputation.

The original novel of "Serve the People" was published in 2005. Jang Cheol-soo finished his script adapting the project in 2011, but had to stop work on it when he received an offer to direct "Secretly and Greatly" that same year. In 2014, Jang Cheol-soo was able to get Yeon Woo-jin to sign on to the project, but the absence of a production company willing to fund the project made it difficult to finance the film.

Nevertheless, Jang Cheol-soo concedes that his work on the high profile "Secretly and Greatly" certainly improved his prospects. Jang Cheol-soo said that "Serve the People" seemed like an impossible movie to film due to its risque content. Still, seven years after first meeting with Yeon Woo-jin, filming finally began and Jang Cheol-soo that they all did their best in regards to the content of the story. "Serve the People" was released in South Korean theaters on February 23rd.

Written by William Schwartz