[TF Interview] Seol Kyung-gu of 'The Moon,' Another Love Encountered After Scars
'A Man of Reason', Film Festival Premiere → Theatrical Release → Netflix ReleaseThird Collaboration with Director Lee Chang-dong... "Great Impact on My Self-Esteem as an Actor"Actor Sol Kyung-gu met with
and conducted an interview regarding the release of the Netflix film 'A Man of Reason'. /Netflix[THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byeol] "Even though I've only lost things, I thought there might be another form of possible love."This is what actor Sol Kyung-gu said, recalling the final scene of Ho-seok (played by Sol Kyung-gu) and Mi-ok (played by Jeon Do-yeon) in 'A Man of Reason'. The two, having lost everything, sit side-by-side on a bench, gazing at the moon. Sol Kyung-gu felt sadness before any hopeful emotion in that scene. However, love had not disappeared. The moment the alcohol they shared tasted sweet, it felt like another confession of love between the two.Sol Kyung-gu recently met with at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, for an interview regarding the release of the new Netflix film 'A Man of Reason' (written by Oh Jung-mi, directed by Lee Chang-dong). He played Ho-seok, a laid-off worker, and shared various stories about the film and his character.'A Man of Reason' tells the story of two couples—a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary director and her husband—who meet to produce a documentary and confront their different lives and hidden desires. Following its theatrical release in September, the film was released worldwide on Netflix on the 6th. Sol Kyung-gu expressed his thoughts on the release, saying, "I think it's a good movie. I hope the audience feels the lingering emotions that I felt."Ho-seok, played by Sol Kyung-gu, is a silent and hollow character. After losing his job, his self-esteem crumbled, and he is entangled with the death of a colleague, betrayal, and guilt and shame towards his family. His emotions are in such a jumble that he doesn't know where to start untangling them. Sol Kyung-gu understood Ho-seok as someone who cannot handle his emotions. Therefore, he focused on expressing the character's inner state through his body rather than explaining it with words."Ho-seok is a person who speaks not with words but with gestures. The scene where he screams in the valley is not with words either. He knows intellectually that he needs to reveal his inner self to receive psychological therapy, but his heart cannot handle it. It felt like his head and heart were in constant conflict."Ho-seok eventually reveals his story in front of Ye-ji's (played by Jo Yeo-jeong) camera. Sol Kyung-gu found the reason why he could open up to Ye-ji, unlike in therapy, in their relationship. He explained, "Ye-ji feels like a third party. If I tell her my story, unlike a therapist who might respond, Ye-ji just receives it, so perhaps the burden was less."He particularly emphasized the line where Ye-ji says, "I am trying to love them." Sol Kyung-gu believed that this was Ye-ji's genuine sentiment. Even though the documentary started with a purpose, she had a desire to love others, and that reached Ho-seok. He said, "I think it touched Ho-seok's heart, just as directors love their actors."On the other hand, he cannot easily open up to his wife, Mi-ok. Sol Kyung-gu pointed out the reason as, "Because Mi-ok is the same person as me." It wasn't just Ho-seok who suffered; Mi-ok also endured and was hurt alongside him. He explained that because she was the closest person and they had gone through the painful times together, it would have been even harder to express his anger and despair.The feelings towards his son Cheol-i (played by Choi Jeong-un) were also an important aspect for Sol Kyung-gu. He firmly stated, "I believe Ho-seok loved Cheol-i." However, he just didn't know how to express that love. Ho-seok, who had a job at a large corporation but no family to contact, was a character who had not been loved, and therefore, he was likely awkward at expressing his feelings to his son."I think he wanted Cheol-i to be independent. He pushed him to keep going because he had to try on his own. This child is slower than an ordinary child, so he must have been worried. Ho-seok's method was to teach him to do things himself, and I believe that was possible because of his love."Actor Sol Kyung-gu once again showed his immersive acting by playing the role of Ho-seok, a laid-off worker, in the Netflix film 'A Man of Reason'. /NetflixThe final bench scene in 'A Man of Reason' remained particularly sad for Sol Kyung-gu. While the image of the two looking at the moon together could be seen as containing hope, for him, the lost things came to mind first. He recalled, "Nothing has improved, and I thought I had changed so much from my past self. I felt sad because it felt like I had lost so much." Nevertheless, he added that it was fortunate that the bench, which had been meaningless, had regained some significance.Despite this, the point where he found love in the final scene was the shared drink. Sol Kyung-gu said, "'The alcohol without you is bitter, but it's sweet when we drink it together' felt like a different kind of love confession. I thought that even if it wasn't the same kind of love as in the past, like at Wolmido, love might be possible for them in another form."Working with director Lee Chang-dong holds another special meaning for Sol Kyung-gu. This was their third collaboration, following 'Peppermint Candy' and 'Oasis'. He described the director as a mentor figure. He recalled that during the filming of 'Peppermint Candy', he was so overwhelmed by the burden of having to resolve difficult emotions every day that he couldn't even make eye contact with the director. At the time, it was overwhelming to the point of overload, but as time passed, the set where something was built and created day by day became a cherished memory.The set they met again was different from what he expected. Sol Kyung-gu said that this filming was much more comfortable and enjoyable than in the past. Director Lee himself even commented that he didn't know why the set felt so comfortable. However, there was still tension for the actors. This is because Director Lee is a director who makes actors feel things themselves rather than giving specific acting instructions.Sol Kyung-gu stated, "The three films I've worked on with the director have had a tremendous impact on my self-esteem as an actor. Although I don't feel comfortable on set, it's not that it bothers me, but I find myself tormenting myself. It was a rare process of completing a character as an actor.""Other directors might say, 'You have to show it to express it, don't you?' But Director Lee, conversely, absolutely prevents you from expressing it and only makes you feel it. Sometimes it's frustrating. You can't tell what's happening just by looking at the silhouette. But it's accumulating little by little. I think he wants it to accumulate slowly."Actor Sol Kyung-gu mentioned Jeon Do-yeon, with whom he has now collaborated for the fourth time in the Netflix film 'A Man of Reason'. /NetflixPraise for his collaboration with Jeon Do-yeon continued. Sol Kyung-gu felt that 'A Man of Reason' was a film carried by Jeon Do-yeon from beginning to end and that he also relied heavily on his co-star. He was particularly impressed by the strength he felt in Jeon Do-yeon's face."Actress Jeon Do-yeon is truly boundless. She seems to have a lot more to offer. I really liked her bare face. Especially in front of the bamboo. I wondered what kind of expression would appear before I yelled, 'Hurry up and burn,' and I realized she had that kind of face."He also remembers the moment he first encountered the film at a film festival. Although the film received the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival, Sol Kyung-gu jokingly said he had expected the Golden Lion Award and felt disappointed, eliciting laughter. He recounted the situation, saying, "I was watching the results in real-time at Toronto. All the films that were going to receive awards had received them, and it was just us left, so I thought, 'Then it must be ours.' They said it was the first time a team that received a good award was disappointed."He truly felt the film during the screening in Venice. During the technical screening, he was too focused on checking his own performance to fully concentrate on the film, but when he saw it again at the festival, the memories of the filming set passed by like a panorama. He revealed that he couldn't hold back tears when he remembered that the Venice premiere date was the same as the first day of filming in Goheung. He then added with a laugh, "Fortunately, Jo In-sung was next to me and cried with me, so I was really grateful. I almost looked like a fool by myself."Actor Sol Kyung-gu expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with director Lee Chang-dong for the third time, while also conveying his desire to work together one more time. /NetflixWhat kind of film will 'A Man of Reason', which has given him many meaningful experiences, be for Sol Kyung-gu? In response, Sol Kyung-gu first expressed his gratitude for collaborating with director Lee Chang-dong again. He said, "It was a work I was grateful and moved to be a part of after such a long time. Before, I thought I'd only do it one more time, but after doing it, I selfishly thought, 'Just one more time.' He seems to have that kind of magic."The audience's reaction also left a deep impression on Sol Kyung-gu. He said, "I received so many text messages after the release. I received many messages of thanks. I thought, 'We've been missing this kind of movie.'" Through the reactions to the film, he himself re-examined the meaning of a film that the audience had been waiting for.Therefore, Sol Kyung-gu hoped that 'A Man of Reason' would be a film that slowly seeps into the audience and leaves a lasting impression, rather than being consumed by strong dialogue or dramatic events."Our film doesn't have impactful lines, and it's a movie that wants to seep in slowly and gradually. I hope it leaves a lot of lingering emotions. It feels like it's spreading little by little now, but I hope it spreads wider so that many people can see it."[Entertainment Desk | THE FACT]sstar1204@tf.co.krssent@tf.co.kr
