| Director Ryoo Seung-wan / Courtesy of NEW |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Ryoo Seung-wan, acclaimed director known for the action films such as “Veteran” (2015) and “Escape from Mogadishu” (2022), said he always tries to find a balance between sticking to his established film style and venturing into uncharted territories.
“I think there is nothing more dangerous than repeating yourself. As a filmmaker who has made over 10 feature-length films, I have my own style. But my ambition is to keep renewing myself and find the balance between relying on proven methods and exploring new approaches,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday.
His latest film “Smugglers” features an ensemble cast of women characters, which is extremely rare in the action genre. Set in the 1970s in a peaceful seaside village, the film revolves around a group of female divers who unexpectedly become involved in an illegal smuggling scheme.
“Female divers are an important set-up for the film, so it seemed natural to have female leads. However, the film doesn't display gender roles or feminist philosophy. It's more about the relationships between the characters,” Ryoo said.
During the interview, Ryoo explained why he cast Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah as Chun-ja and Jin-sook, respectively.
“I've known Kim since I was an assistant director. Her close-up shot was so beautiful it literally lit up the monitor I was staring at. I've been a fan of Yum since her debut. She gives subtle performances and seems at ease all times, but leaves a strong impression on viewers,” he said.
| A scene from the film 'Smugglers' / Courtesy of NEW |
He admitted that he is drawn to films that portray betrayals and reconciliation. “I think these stories are dramatic. The film also deals with themes like the decline of small towns, putting female divers in danger, and the burden of being a firstborn daughter (from Jin-sook's point of view),” he said.
He also talked about homegrown films not faring well at the box office.
“I think filmmakers should make better films. Ever since I dreamed of becoming a filmmaker, there hasn't been a time when cinema wasn't in crisis. It's almost like complaining about the bad economy each year. We, filmmakers, should get ourselves together and do better,” he said.
The director said he wishes “Smugglers” to ignite discussion when the audience are leaving the theater.
“I'm anxious about how the film is going to be received by the audience. I want everybody to talk about the film, whether it's about the music, action sequences, fashion or actors. My greatest fear is having no reaction at all,” he said.
Asked about the fierce competition for the summer box office, Ryoo said, “I'm relieved that all summer movies have different charms. As a person who hates competition, I'm not interested in big numbers. I just hope audiences like our film.”
“Smugglers” is currently playing in local theaters.