'사랑니' ('Close To You') Press Screening Report

But that wasn't the only attraction in Happy End. Choi Min-Shik's slowly exploding persona, keeping everything inside until he couldn't anymore, in contrast with his role in '쉬리' ('Shiri'); Joo Jin-Mo, who had already some acting experience, but was shockingly good (and although he has improved a lot during the last 5 years, he's never been able to carry on the intensity from that performance yet); a strong script, mixing genre conventions, social commentary and a nod to popular culture (Choi's character watching the 'syndrome' TV Drama of 99, '우리 정말 사랑했슬까?' ('Did We Really Love?') with Bae Yong-Joon and Kim Hye-Soo). 'Happy End' became an instant favorite, and is still remembered as one of the best films of the 90s by critics and public alike. With Jung taking a long period of 'rest' from directing films, anything he laid his hands on was bound to generate interest. The moment he announced Kim Jung-Eun - a good actress and one of the hardest working, nicest people in Chungmuro, who showed potential as an actress but has been wasted in films which rarely challenge her acting skills, just like Jeon Do-Yeon in 99 - as the lead for his new film, about a 30 something teacher falling in love with one of her 17 year old students, people started seeing the kind of potential that built when 'Happy End' was announced. Would he make a new actress out of Kim Jung-Eun, too?

With all that expectation in mind, Jung's latest '사랑니' ('Close To You') had its press screening at the Seoul Theater last week. Present at the screening the director and stars Kim Jung-Eun, Lee Tae-Sung, Jung Yoo-Mi and Kim Young-Jae. Reviews have been quite positive, but there's a feeling the film might be too complicated for the average moviegoer, which explains the cold reaction in terms of box office potential. The film debuts on September 29.

Interviews and Comments

Press: You must feel this is the kind of film even kids could watch without worrying too much.
Director Jung Ji-Woo: Even if people can be interested about other people's love stories, in reality they don't show that. I think if kids watch the film with their parents, it will be OK, because the most important thing was trying to be sincere with sentiments. It was also the second and third most important thing: because you think about that sincerity deep down in your heart, you don't pay much attention to what people on the outside think.

Press: If this film came out a little earlier, it could have become the kind that raises more than a few eyebrows because of its theme, but it didn't seem to provoke much of a disapproving response. I'm curious how you approached the viewers' point of view and their understanding of the film while making it.
Jung: I think that no matter how you look at it, the fact this film won't become a topic of conversation because of its problematic theme is a good thing. I never tried to reveal info about the film to show the characters' ages or occupations from the beginning. Because I tried to film with the idea of carefully showing a 30 something woman's state of mind when falling in love, I feel comfortable. And, on the contrary, I hope the issue doesn't even come up.

Press: When you mention Kim Jung-Eun, it's inevitable her image comes up. Is there anything you changed because of this film, and did you feel any burden about that?
Kim Jung-Eun: I never thought of completely transforming the image you think people have of myself. When I first receive screenplays, I always think of making a little upgrade; nothing major, but I often feel that thirst to change a few things about my acting. But then again, the real problem was that I didn't know how to change back then, even though I tried. But then came the script for 'Close To You', and I decided to just follow the director's instructions. Since I was tired of always doing the same things, and wanted to differentiate a little my image from the beginning, that couldn't possibly be a burden to me.

Press: You have painted a really unique love story in this film. Shooting the film, did you experience any changes about what you consider love to be?
Kim: Honestly, I thought a lot about this love story between a 30 something woman and her 17 year old student. I think being in their 30s is a very important moment for women, and I think she wouldn't have done that if she were in her early 20s. That feeling at the end of the film, it's the same kind I want to have living in this world in my 30s. I also think that 30 something period in the film is a nice age to live in. You could become a little more cynical about things like love, compared to what you felt in your early 20s. I'm the same, actually, I don't feel the same way compared to before I started acting in my 20s. It's not just about loving a 17 year old man, but the sincerity of the moment, the possibility of falling in love if you find a person who makes your heart beat.
Lee Tae-Sung: I think this idea of the 30 vs 17 and teacher vs student is a kind of formality. At first I thought why I wanted to see the teacher from the beginning, but then I just decided It was because I wanted to do it, nothing more. Even if you think about all the implications and meanings of what I do in the film, things become even more complicated. That's why I just decided to be sincere. If you just take off all the formalities, like teacher and student, or their 13 years of difference, I think you'll envy the kind of relationship the two have.

Quick Judgment

Yonhap News' Kim Byung-Gyu
Film Quality: EXCELLENT
Box Office Potential: AVERAGE

Joycine's Seo Jung-Hwan
Film Quality: AVERAGE
Box Office Potential: AVERAGE

Premiere's Shim Soo-Jin
Film Quality: EXCELLENT
Box Office Potential: AVERAGE

Elle's Lee Sook-Myung
Film Quality: GOOD
Box Office Potential: AVERAGE

Movieweek's Lee Joo-Young
Film Quality: EXCELLENT
Box Office Potential: GOOD

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사랑니 (Close To You)
Director: 정지우 (Jung Ji-Woo)
Cast: 김정은 (Kim Jung-Eun), 이태성 (Lee Tae-Sung)
Website (Maxmovie Diary)
Official Website
Theatrical Trailer (Streaming, 700k, Windows Media)
Theatrical Trailer (Streaming, 300k, Windows Media)
Teaser Trailer (Streaming, 300k, Windows Media)
Teaser Trailer (Streaming, 700k, Windows Media)
Teaser Trailer (Streaming, Real Media)
Music Video (Streaming, Windows Media) by Min-Kyung of DIVA and Hwisung
Music Video (Streaming, Real Media)
Movie Stills/Posters
Rating: 15 And Over
RELEASE: September 29

Press Screening Video (Streaming ASF File)

Via nKino and Star News