MOVIE
Son Ye-jin Reflects on Challenging First Scene with Director Park Chan-wook in 'Inevitability'
Recently, at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul, actress Son Ye-jin discussed her role in the film 'Inevitability'.
'Inevitability' tells the story of Mansu, played by Lee Byung-hun, who struggles to find new employment after being unexpectedly laid off from a paper company where he worked for 25 years. Son Ye-jin plays Miri, who steps into the workforce after her husband Mansu loses his job.
Son Ye-jin rarely discusses work with her husband, Hyun Bin, but she shared the script with him when she was offered the role.
Son Ye-jin explained, "The character of Miri and the situations evolved from the initial script to the developed one. The narrative was intense. It was a script from Director Park Chan-wook, and at first, I was skeptical because it seemed like a peaceful family story. I wondered if he was returning to 'Joint Security Area'." She laughed and continued, "But then, typical Park Chan-wook scenes emerged, painting a picture. It was paradoxical, sarcastic, with elements of black comedy. The script had a tragic narrative but also comedic elements, making it intriguing. So, I said, 'Take a look at this.'"
The film is noted for being brighter and less brutal compared to Park Chan-wook's previous works. Son Ye-jin commented, "If you look at the darker side, there are some cruel or unsettling parts, but I think this film is like Park Chan-wook's version of a human drama." She added, "Mansu's choices in the film are so dramatic that they might not seem realistic. Among them, my character Miri is the most realistic, which is why I felt that way."
This film marks Son Ye-jin's return to movies after seven years. She said, "I realized it's been a while since I did a film. Working on a project with Director Park, whom everyone wants to work with, and attending the Venice Film Festival for the first time was a new experience."
Having experienced marriage and childbirth in recent years, Son Ye-jin shared, "It felt like one chapter ended and I was moving into a second chapter. Working with Director Park at that time had a positive impact on me. I regained my passion for acting. Working with him made me think, 'I should look at acting from a slightly different perspective.'" She also noted, "The incredible performances of the actors on screen were a great stimulus for me. Everything resulted in positivity for me."
Initially, Son Ye-jin found Director Park's meticulous directing challenging. She said, "The director doesn't take any line lightly. He discusses each line and word in detail. At first, I was flustered. I have my own way of speaking and tone, so even if he asked me to lower the ending, it wouldn't happen suddenly."
Especially during the first 'eel scene', she said, "My head got complicated, and I felt like I was going to panic." This scene involves Mansu having a barbecue with his family using 'expensive eel' gifted by his company, which later turns out to be a 'final favor' before his dismissal. Son Ye-jin recalled, "I thought eel was an important word, but the director told me not to emphasize it. After eight or ten takes, I started sweating and felt cold sweat. I thought, 'I'm in big trouble now. What should I do?' I thought, 'He's so detailed, I'm doomed.'" However, "As we moved into the middle and later parts, it became fun. Thanks to the director's tips like 'Show more disgust' or 'Shake your head while doing it', I was able to deliver more natural and better performances. I received great help," she remembered.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
