On the morning of the 12th, a production briefing for the Netflix film 'Pavane' was held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam, Seoul. The event was attended by actors Go Ah-sung, Byun Yo-han, Moon Sang-min, and director Lee Jong-pil.
'Pavane' tells the story of three individuals who have closed their hearts, becoming a light for each other as they face life and love. It is based on the novel 'Pavane for a Dead Princess' by author Park Min-kyu.
Director Lee explained, "The title 'Pavane' is a musical term, like a waltz. It's a slow dance, and the name is derived from the original novel. We chose 'Pavane' hoping it would have a unique meaning for this film. It's a youth and melodrama film about three people who are unsure about love but eventually embrace it. It's also a youth film about three people in the darkness of a department store basement moving towards the light."
Go Ah-sung plays Mi-jung, a woman hiding from the uncomfortable gazes of others. She said, "Mi-jung is a character who lives with her heart closed. But after meeting Kyung-rok and Yo-han, she wonders if she can open her heart to people and begins to receive light. We spent a long time with the director to create Mi-jung's image, and with the touch of Korea's best makeup team, we were able to bring Mi-jung to life."
She added, "I have mostly played roles that are upright and confident, even if they are lacking. I think I mistakenly believed I was like those characters, even though I'm actually a weak person. Playing Mi-jung forced me to confront my hidden self, and that process was necessary. After facing my honest self, I was able to express Mi-jung."
Byun Yo-han plays Yo-han, who hides his true self behind light jokes and humor. He explained, "In the film, he uses a lot of metaphorical language to express his emotions honestly. Instead of just saying 'I'm hurt,' he uses transcendent words. It was challenging to express that, so I had many discussions with the director. Yo-han is a character who watches over and supports the other two, and I put a lot of effort into showing his deep heaviness. He's a complex character."
He continued, "I tried bleaching my hair for the first time. It was really painful for my scalp. It's a really tough hairstyle. I didn't dye the roots because I thought of them as hope. The black roots represent hope, while the remaining colors are part of the wounds Yo-han has endured."
Regarding his relationship with girlfriend Tiffany Young, he joked, "It's not a light question at all." He added, "I think it's a reason to watch 'Pavane'. It's a film about giving and receiving love. I hope viewers worldwide will watch it," and promised, "I'll live well with all the support." The couple met through Disney+'s 'Uncle Samsik' in 2024.
Moon Sang-min plays Kyung-rok, a young man who has given up on his dreams and lives in reality. He explained, "To portray a character who dreams of being a dancer, I underwent training before filming. However, during filming, I focused more on naturally conveying Kyung-rok's emotions and situations through his movements."
He added, "I had many discussions with the director before filming. Since the director was busy, we often met at 6 or 7 in the morning to have coffee and talk about the project." Director Lee commented, "I suggested meeting at 6 to see if he'd really come, and he showed up at the office without a manager."
Moon Sang-min expressed his hopes for the film, saying, "After 'Pavane' is released, I want people to say, 'Was that actor really him?' Kyung-rok is a character I'm trying for the first time, and he's rougher and less polished than my previous roles. You'll see a different side of Moon Sang-min."
In conclusion, Byun Yo-han described 'Pavane' as "a film about love, an emotion that can't be explained by science and exists everywhere like oxygen. I think such a film has been born. It's a film you'll love," and urged, "Love."
Meanwhile, 'Pavane' will be available on Netflix starting the 20th.
Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr