"Never Forever" translates onto screen the language of love, through which Korean-American director Gina Kim hopes to connect with the audience. "I wish my film will be a means of establishing mutual understanding with the public", she said during a press conference last Thursday at a Seoul theater.
Before the film's release on June 21, Kim and actor Ha Jeong-woo enthusiastically discussed their work, along with co-producer Lee Chang-dong, the celebrated director of "Secret Sunshine".
Kim, a noted Korean-American rookie filmmaker, also wrote the love story, and explained that "Never" is about mutual understanding.
"Two individuals sharing affection is in the end mutual understanding", she said. "It's not just a simple form of communication. Love equals passion plus compassion, and I believe mutual understanding joins the two elements together", Kim said.
Jointly produced by Korea and the United States, the film traces the emotional journey of Sophie, an American woman (Vera Farmiga), who, believing that only a child will save her shaky marriage with her Korean-American husband, begins an illicit sexual relationship with Jihah, an illegal immigrant (Ha Jeong-woo).
Kim explained that it was difficult to cast Vera Farmiga, who made a breakthrough in "The Departed" opposite Leonardo Dicaprio and Matt Damon and is often praised as the next Meryl Streep.
"It was difficult to find an actress for the role, but I fell in love with Vera Farmiga after seeing her in `Down to the Bone'. But she had grown to become a highly demanded actress sought after by Martin Scorsese, Anthony Mingella and others.
"But I heard she was an intellectual, so I sent her the screenplay and got an okay. She said she liked the strong script, and the fact that I was a woman made her feel at ease", said the director.
"Vera called me this morning and was deeply sorry she could not be here", Kim said on the actress' behalf. Farmiga is currently in Budapest, Hungary shooting another film.
As for choosing Ha for the male leading role of Jihah, Kim explained that producers Lee Joon-dong and Andrew Fierberg had previously met at the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival. "The one film we saw was `The Unforgiven' (starring Ha), and the three of us thought `What a charismatic actor', " she said.
"After casting Vera, we were searching for an actor who would complement her. We suddenly thought of Ha Jung-woo. It's usually not easy to agree, but the two producers and I unanimously decided to cast him".
Ha said he accepted the offer because the script moved him. Though he admitted feeling uneasy about acting opposite Farmiga, he explained that their first encounter extinguished his fears.
"We met at a coffee shop. She was reshooting and promoting `The Departed' at the time, and showed up carrying her costumes and make-up box herself", Ha said.
"She came across as being very open, humane and warm, and maintained this first impression throughout the whole of the filming. Vera is a big actress who encompasses an equal amount of absorption (with her work) and is very considerate of her co-stars".
Though Ha worked in a foreign environment, much like his character in the film, he learned how to "act using all the five senses" by intensely concentrating on his co-star and reacting to her every move.
Lee Chang-dong co-produced the film with Now Film representative Lee Joon-dong and New York-based producer Andrew Fierberg ("Keane", 2006).
Lee praised Ha's performance: "It's very difficult for a young actor to possess such powerful presence and depth. I believe he's a very special actor, and look forward to what he has to offer in the future. He is an actor who will mature along with the Korean film industry".
Lee decided to take part in the film project after reading the screenplay.
"Despite being a Korean film with Korean characteristics, the film takes place in the United States and embraces the American culture and system", said Lee. "I wanted to see what we (Korean and American filmmakers) could offer each other, and I learned a lot about the American independent film industry".
Lee complimented Kim's ability to put the film together with enormous speed, concentration and calculation. "She created a good film full of intensity that also manages to loosen up when it needs to", he said.
It is also noteworthy that composer Michael Nyman, renowned in Korea for his soundtracks for films such as "The Piano" (2003), created the beautiful piano score for "Never".
"I had met Michael as a fan of his when he performed in Korea", Kim said. "I immediately thought of him for the music, and got a `yes' two hours after e-mailing him. It was a great honor for a rookie like me to work with such a great artist".
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Korean-American director Gina Kim, right, actor Ha Jung-woo, center, and director Lee Chang-dong, co-producer of the film "Never Forever", talk with enthusiasm and affection about the film, jointly produced by Korea and the United States, during a press conference at a Seoul hotel last Thursday. / Yonhap
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