[31st BIFF] Jung Sung-il&Yoo Jae-myung's 'Sapiens' Asks Questions Beyond Thriller (Comprehensive)

'Sapiens' Open Talk Held at BIFF Outdoor Stage on the 8thJeong Seong-il, who took on multiple roles, and Yoo Jae-myung and Ryu Hyun-kyung, who embraced the challengeDirector Lee Ho-bin and actors Jeong Seong-il, Ryu Hyun-kyung, and Yoo Jae-myung (from left) attend the 'Sapiens' open talk event held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 8th. /Busan=Park Heon-woo Reporter[THE FACT|Busan=Kim Saet-byeol Reporter] One suspect, but a different person sits in the interrogation room each time. 'Sapiens' adds the setting of multiple personalities to a familiar crime mystery, posing questions about 'a person's identity' beyond the identity of the culprit.The open talk for the film 'Sapiens' (directed by Lee Ho-bin), invited to the 'Today's Korean Cinema - Special Premiere Section' at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), was held on the outdoor stage of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 8th. Director Lee Ho-bin and actors Jeong Seong-il, Yoo Jae-myung, and Ryu Hyun-kyung attended the event to share various stories about the film.'Sapiens' tells the story of a multiple-personality individual, Na Do-han (played by Jeong Seong-il), who becomes the prime suspect in the kidnapping of a third-generation chaebol heir, and lawyer Seo Hee-jae (played by Yoo Jae-myung), who must find the missing heir, beginning a suspicious collaboration. There is only one suspect, but the personality entering the interrogation room is different each time. The film poses another question, 'Who is Na Do-han?', in the process of finding the real culprit.Director Kim Ji-hyun, who visited BIFF with his first feature film, first shared his feelings after the first screening the previous day. He said, "Yesterday was the first screening, so I watched it with the audience, and I was so nervous. It only felt real after the movie ended," adding, "I was grateful that many audience members liked it and asked many meaningful questions."Director Lee's reason for choosing the mystery thriller genre for his first feature film was also clear. He said, "I've been interested in genre films since I was young, and among them, I was particularly interested in mystery thrillers. I also gained experience in similar genres while working as an assistant director," and "When I decided to make my first film, I thought I wanted to work in a genre I liked and found interesting, and that's when I came across this project."He continued, "The point that goes one step further from 'Who is the culprit?' to 'Who is that person?' was the biggest charm," and "Through the setting of dissociative identity disorder, a multiple-personality disorder, I thought I could create tension about whether the protagonist is unable to speak because they know, or because they truly don't know."Actor Jeong Seong-il attends the 'Sapiens' open talk event held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 8th to introduce the film. /Busan=Park Heon-woo ReporterJeong Seong-il played Na Do-han, the suspect who has no memory of the incident. It was a difficult challenge for the actor, as he had to portray multiple personalities with different genders, ages, and personalities.Jeong Seong-il confessed, "At first, it was a very burdensome project. Expressing multiple personalities, and the fact that there are excellent references in existing works, made me constantly question whether I could achieve more than that."However, he added, "Despite that, it was a great project, and I had strong pillars of support to lean on," and "I decided to participate because I felt like it was something I wanted to challenge myself with at least once in my life."Actor Yoo Jae-myung attends the 'Sapiens' open talk event held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 8th to give greetings. /Busan=Park Heon-woo ReporterYoo Jae-myung played Seo Hee-jae, the legal team leader of Sanghyun Construction, who must cover up the incident. He is a lawyer exclusively for a chaebol family who must distinguish the real culprit among Na Do-han's various personalities.He said, "Actors have their own reasons for choosing a project, and for me, it was a challenge. There were difficult parts, and it was different from existing works, so it required courage," adding, "It was possible because of the other actors."He continued, "I have a desire to work on fresh and cool projects, but I also have a desire to solve difficult puzzles," and "Ultimately, I think it was a good experience as I learned how to film and communicate through another process."Ryu Hyun-kyung transformed into a detective team leader. Notably, Director Lee changed the gender of this role, which was originally male, for Ryu Hyun-kyung.Ryu Hyun-kyung said, "The script was good, and when I heard the senior actors were participating, I thought I could just tag along," and "There aren't many films where a woman is a detective team leader. This role was originally male, but the director changed it to a female role so I could participate."She added, "I wanted to express how she has lived well as a woman in a male-dominated society, and on the other hand, what negative thoughts she has lived with."Director Lee Ho-bin and actors Jeong Seong-il, Yoo Jae-myung, and Ryu Hyun-kyung (from left) attend the 'Sapiens' open talk event held at the Busan Cinema Center's Loop Theater in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 8th. /Busan=Park Heon-woo ReporterAs the film deals with the subject of multiple personalities, there were also concerns about portraying mental disorders. Director Lee emphasized that he did not want to simply exploit Na Do-han as a 'character with a disorder.'He said, "The term 'disorder' is often attached to dissociative identity disorder. However, when developing the character of Na Do-han, I wanted to portray him not just as someone with a disorder, but as a product of the trauma and narrative he experienced in his childhood."He continued, "I wanted him to be a character that evokes empathy through his past, rather than being a foreign presence, and to be able to sympathize with his pain and trauma."The actors also posed their own questions to the audience through the film. Jeong Seong-il said, "'Sapiens' is the film that is closest to the questions I always want to ask," and "I hope the audience will tell me many answers to the question, 'What would I have done if I were in that situation?'"Finally, Yoo Jae-myung requested, "Please remember our film 'Sapiens' and also watch many other films, and I hope you leave with many good memories."Ryu Hyun-kyung also emphasized, "The film is scheduled to be released early next year, and I hope many people will watch it," adding, "I heard that all screenings at the Busan Film Festival are sold out. Please enjoy it."For Director Lee, who premiered his first feature film in Busan, this film festival held special significance. He said, "I am deeply moved myself," and "Everyone worked hard on the project with one heart and one mind during filming. So, please watch it with a warm heart."sstar1204@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]