Renowned filmmaker Bong Joon-ho once praised a director as one of the 'three masters' who bring child actors to life on screen. That director is Yoon Ga-eun, known for her warm yet incisive portrayal of children's psychology and social issues in films like 'The World of Us' and 'The House of Us.' Yoon returns after six years with her new film, 'The Owner of the World,' which explores themes of teenage sexuality, love, and trauma.
In this film, Yoon takes a different approach to the subject matter and storytelling. She cast newcomer Seo Soo-bin as the lead to capture the reality of an 'ordinary high school girl,' and veteran actress Jang Hye-jin as the protagonist's mother to add depth. Jang reportedly advised Yoon to focus on the film's message rather than its success.
On the 20th, we met with director Yoon Ga-eun at a cafe in Seoul's Palpan-dong ahead of the release of 'The Owner of the World.' The film follows 18-year-old high school student Lee Joo-in (played by Seo Soo-bin) as she refuses to participate in a school-wide petition against the release of a child sex offender, leading to unexpected events.
Yoon, who is releasing her first film in six years since 'The House of Us' (2019), admitted, "I was nervous. It's been a while since I made a film." She added, "Although it was screened at international film festivals, I'm most anxious and excited about the Korean audience's reaction. I pondered how to deliver both cinematic fun and emotion simultaneously."
The theme of this film is one Yoon has contemplated for over a decade. She struggled with the direction due to its sensitive content. Yoon explained, "I tend to prioritize plausibility and quality, so I wondered how to capture authentic experiences and real moments. Naturally, I thought of the violent situations one might experience related to sexuality, and it became part of my writing." She continued, "I couldn't figure out how to drive the story, so I pushed it away for a long time. But I realized that to discuss sexuality and love, I must also address the violence that can result from it."
Yoon's previous works, 'The World of Us' and 'The House of Us,' featured elementary school protagonists, capturing social issues like school violence and child neglect from their first-person perspectives. In contrast, 'The Owner of the World' centers on a high school student and includes the stories of surrounding characters, offering multiple viewpoints.
Yoon confessed, "I felt a sense of stagnation with my usual approach. I wanted to convey messages in a new way, but I also felt like I didn't know enough about filmmaking." She realized the need to incorporate both individual and societal perspectives. "It's not just an individual's problem, but the burden of pain falls entirely on them, which is tragic," she said. "I thought it was important to include the perception of individuals within this 'world.'"
Yoon has been praised for discovering talented actors like Kim Soo-an in 'Sprout' and Choi Soo-in in 'The World of Us.' For this film, she cast the completely inexperienced Seo Soo-bin as the lead.
Yoon's audition process is unique. After reviewing profiles, she engages in one-on-one conversations with actors, akin to casual chats. She then gathers those who pique her interest for group auditions, conducting improvisational scenes or script-based workshops. 'The Owner of the World' followed the same audition process as her previous films.
Regarding Seo Soo-bin, Yoon admitted, "I wasn't initially impressed by her profile," with a laugh. "But her eyes were alive, exuding energy and vitality. Her posture had a certain discipline, and she had a mix of youthful energy and an unusual sense of etiquette, which was charming." Coincidentally, like her character, Seo Soo-bin has practiced Taekwondo for about 11 years. Yoon remarked, "I felt it was fate."
Yoon praised Seo Soo-bin's flexibility during the 'workshop audition,' saying, "I discovered that she had flexibility within her liveliness." She recalled, "On the way to the audition, I saw Seo Soo-bin heading to the venue. She was holding a note, wearing a white T-shirt and sweatpants, looking every bit like a high school student—curious and unconcerned with her surroundings."
In this film, actress Jang Hye-jin plays the role of Kang Tae-sun, the mother of the protagonist Lee Joo-in. Yoon and Jang previously collaborated on 'The World of Us.' They maintain a close relationship, often checking in on each other and sharing concerns. Director Bong Joon-ho was so impressed with Jang's performance in 'The World of Us' that he cast her in 'Parasite.' Jang adds warmth and realism to this film.
Yoon said, "I thought she might decline due to her busy schedule, and we couldn't guarantee a suitable fee for an independent film." However, Jang's response to the script was more positive than expected. Yoon shared, "Jang said, 'If you had offered this to someone else, I would have been upset.' She emphasized that this story needs to be told through us, without any thoughts of attending film festivals or gaining fame."
The film also features Kim Seok-hoon as Joo-in's father and Go Min-si as a close sister figure who volunteers with Joo-in. Yoon explained, "The main characters are newcomers. I wanted this world to feel familiar to the audience, but it takes time for them to connect with new faces. So, I surrounded them with 'familiar faces.'"
'The Owner of the World' was invited to the Toronto International Film Festival. Actor Park Jung-min and director Yeon Sang-ho, who attended the festival with their film 'Face,' praised Yoon's work. Yoon expressed, "The support from those who endorse the film is not just praise for me or the movie. It's support for the theme this film addresses. I felt warmth in extending a hand to the 'owners' who exist in this world. I hope many people will watch it."
'The Owner of the World' is set to release on the 22nd.
By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr