Kim Hee-ae Returns to the Big Screen with 'Ordinary Family' After Mixed Success

Kim Hee-ae, who has already showcased three works this year, has unfortunately received disappointing results despite her active endeavors. However, her acting skills continue to receive praise. Can she prove her worth with 'Ordinary Family' alongside top stars?

Kim Hee-ae will meet audiences next month with the film 'Ordinary Family.' The suspense film revolves around two brothers and their wives, who hold different beliefs, witnessing their children's crime scene through CCTV footage. It is based on Herman Koch's novel 'The Dinner.'

Kim Hee-ae, Jang Dong-gun, Seol Kyung-gu, and Soo Hyun take on the lead roles. The key point of interest is the emotional changes of the four characters as they discover their children's criminal activities. In the film, Kim Hee-ae plays a freelance translator and the wife of Jae-gyu (Jang Dong-gun).

The film itself has been evaluated as 'well-made.' Officially invited to the Gala Presentation section of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, 'Ordinary Family' received positive reactions. There was even a 'gasp' at the ending. While international reactions often do not translate directly to domestic responses, 'Ordinary Family' has also received favorable reviews in Korea.

Kim Hee-ae's realistic and delicate acting particularly drew attention. The scene where she shouts, "I'm going crazy," amidst the conflict between Jae-wan and Jae-gyu, once again proved her solid acting skills. Director Hur Jin-ho shared, "It was a scene that required long takes, so the actors had to perform the same scene up to eight times. Even when she wasn't on camera, Kim Hee-ae acted. Usually, actors just react off-camera, but Kim Hee-ae cried even when she wasn't on screen," highlighting her passion for acting.

Kim Hee-ae has consistently delivered impressive performances in her works. However, the results have not always followed. Earlier this year, she met audiences with the film 'Dead Man,' but it was a box office failure. Kim Hee-ae portrayed the top political consultant Shim Yeo-sa, known for her striking visual transformation. Despite being released during the Lunar New Year holiday, it only attracted 230,000 viewers.

Fortunately, she managed to recover somewhat with the Netflix series 'Whirlwind,' co-starring Seol Kyung-gu. 'Whirlwind' maintained the top spot in 'Today's Top 10 Series in Korea' for three consecutive weeks after its release and ranked fourth in the global top 10 series.

Returning to theaters rather than OTT platforms, Kim Hee-ae is ready to win over audiences, overcoming the box office failure of 'Dead Man.' With the tight-knit performances of Jang Dong-gun, Seol Kyung-gu, Kim Hee-ae, and Soo Hyun, 'Ordinary Family' is expected to achieve meaningful results.

Seo Yoon Kim, TenAsia Reporter seogugu@tenasia.co.kr