An older woman pursuing a younger man has been an en vogue big (and little) screen plot for what seems lượt thích ages. The so-called cougar phenomenon indulges May-December fantasies without risking the discomfort that the opposite configuration can elicit. But South Korean director Jung Ji-woo does just that in his award-winning, & controversial, Eungyo (A Muse), which had its thủ đô new york Premiere at the thủ đô new york Asian Film Festival over the weekend.
Bạn đang xem: 4 kim go eun films you should check out: ‘a muse,’ ‘memories of the sword,’ more
Based on the novel Eun-gyo by Park Bum-shin, the film, which polarized audiences at home, revolves around an aging poet laureate (played by Park Hae-il) and his protégé who become romantically tangled with a beautiful 17 year-old high schooler, deftly played by newcomer Kim Go-Eun who won the break-out role over scores of veteran actresses.
“It was very black and white with audiences in South Korea,” said Kim at the Walter Reade Theater Sunday. “Some people really liked it and others didn't. It divided people. For those who supported the movie, they were able khổng lồ understand the directors point of view and the point he wanted khổng lồ make. For those who didn't like it, they only saw the surface, I think. You have khổng lồ dig below to fully understand the story. People against it were only interested in the scandalous or salacious parts of the movie và didn't go beyond that.”
Loneliness và youthful exuberance are two constants throughout the film. Seventy-something Lee Jeok-yo is a hailed poet/writer. After arriving home with his thirty-ish assistant, Seo Ji-woo (Kim Mu-yeol), he discovers young Eun-gyo (Kim) on a deck chair in his yard. Her beauty & youth immediately charm the poet, who ignores the fact that she trespassed on his property. After chatting, he offers her a part-time job working at his home.
Her presence and attention quickly awakens a lust for life và a reconnection khổng lồ his youth. Lee becomes increasingly attached to the girl, who is only too ready khổng lồ lavish him with affection. On the side, he embarks on writing a short story about an imagined sexual relationship with her. His protégé, however, becomes increasingly jealous and voices his disdain for what he says is an inappropriate relationship. After discovering the short story, his emotions reach a boiling point & he decides khổng lồ take the short story and publish it under his own name.
“In the beginning it was the the youth that Eun-gyo possessed that made Mr Lee attracted to lớn her,” said Kim. “When he began to love her, they were able to
Kim studied drama at the Korea National University of Arts và had never appeared in a film or television series. After a chance meeting with the director, she ended up auditioning for the role of Eun-gyo, which was clearly a sought after part with scores of actresses vying for the part.
“I didn't think about it a lot,” said Kim. “I didn't go in there thinking I have khổng lồ get this role. I had some lines that I memorized but I also like to sing. So, I went in and played guitar và sang during the audition.”
Korean-born, Kim spent a decade in China, which she says gave her an opportunity to experience different perspectives, which has informed her approach. “My time in trung quốc has allowed me to see things outside of the box and that has helped my approach to lớn many things that I do,” she said.
Xem thêm: Sách Kể Chuyện Cho Bé Trước Khi Đi Ngủ " Giá Tốt Tháng 10, 2021
The fledgling star is currently working on a new film called Master, in which she plays a person with disabilities, but manages khổng lồ fight. She said the role has a “significant psychological aspect khổng lồ it.” She will start another new project in September. Kim is clearly on a roll, having received a number of accolades including eight Best New Actress prizes by prestigious organizations back trang chủ including the Korean Association of Film Critics and the Buil Film Awards, whereA Muse also won Best Film.
Looking ahead, Kim says she wants lớn explore different genres,and is even interested in doing foreign films: “I want to vày everything. I want to lớn try all kinds of roles in both Korea & abroad.” But for now, she is continuing lớn receive notice for A Muse. “I was just curious about what kind of an actress would play the part of Eun-gyo. I had no idea I would play her.”