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| Filmmaker Lee Gye-byok / Courtesy of Netflix |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Director Lee Gye-byok's latest romantic comedy, "Sweet & Sour," tells an unconventional love story. Unlike coming-of-age stories filled with heartwarming romance, he unfolds the "nasty breakup" of a couple who try to sort out what went wrong.
"Some people say it's an 'anti-romantic comedy' because of the way that the film ends, but it's not really an anti-romantic comedy. I tried to depict one modern couple's bittersweet relationship in a realistic way," he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times via Zoom.
A remake of the Japanese film, "Initiation Love" (2016), "Sweet & Sour" revolves around Jang-hyuk (Jang Ki-yong), who is in a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend, Da-eun (Chae Soo-bin). As the popular saying goes, "out of sight, out of mind," the couple drift apart and eventually break up.
"Although it's a remake of a Japanese movie, I tried to reinvent the story so that it resonates with Korean audiences. I brought in only the fragmented structure from the original film. Because the protagonist's memory isn't linear, the story jumps around and becomes unpredictable," he said.
Lee also revealed that there were several different endings for the film. "The ending with Jang's shocked face really grabbed me and stayed with me. The film talks about something that I think a lot of people had experienced, that wasn't talked about in films that much, which is rejection and betrayal," he explained.
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| Actors Jang Ki-yong, right, and Chae Soo-bin, in a scene from "Sweet & Sour" / Courtesy of Netflix |
The director said that he has affection for the comedy genre because he loves to make others laugh.
"I can make sci-fi films like 'Space Sweepers' or horror films like 'The Wailing.' But whichever films I make, they seem naturally to have a lot of comedic elements," he laughed.
"As for the comedy genre, I get great pleasure out of making other people laugh. Hearing the audience's laughter in movie theaters is cathartic."
Lee recalled how his most memorable review of the film was a comment that read, "After watching the film, I felt blessed to have met my boyfriend."
The 50-year-old director also praised the actors with whom he worked.
"Jang was like a sponge, trying to take in as much as he could. I was amazed by his adaptability and flexibility. Chae is a genius as an actor, and I can guarantee that Jung will become one of the country's greatest actors. They were all brilliant in the film," he said.
Lee said that he would like to dedicate the film to young adults who are struggling to achieve their goals and find love. "Today's young people face hardships in finding love and keeping that love alive. I think these are hard times in which to try to love someone. I want to give them hope," he said.
The film, "Sweet & Sour," is currently available on Netflix.
