One of the biggest news updates this week in the local industry has been the casting
of Park Chan-wook′s new film, ′Fingersmith.′ That will be his return to the local industry
after making Hollywood film ′Stoker.′ For more on this, we are now joined by Jason
Bechervaise in the studio.
Good to see you again Jason.
Do tell us about Director Park and his new film.
Yes, Park Chan-wook one of Korea′s top and most renowned filmmakers is back making local
films after STOKER starring Nicole Kidman, which was released
last year, and so after it was announced Ha Jung-woo was going too star in his new film,
there was some curiosity as to who were star alongside him in Fingersmith.
Fingersmith is referring to the name of the English novel it′s based on?
Yes, it′s based on the 2002 novel called ′Fingersmith′ set in London in the Victorian
period centered on young women who are petty thieves . The Korean title of the film is
. Park’s adaptation will be set in Korea during the time of Japanese rule.
Ha Jung-woo will play a Japanese aristocrat who teams up with a pickpocketer to steal
the inheritance of a heiress Earlier this week, the female leads were announced?
Yes, a very interesting choice by Park and his team, and not an unexpected one in a sense.
Kim Min-hee will play the heiress.
Her most famous roles are in HELPLESS and A VERY ORDINARY COUPLE, which are good films,
and so when the right script comes along, she′s very strong.
And the more interesting choice is the other lead
who is a rookie and complete unknown called Kim Tae-ri , and so the press were asking
who is this actress?
All I know is that she was born in 1990, and that she has apparently recently begun modelling
in TV commercials.
Sounds mysterious, but this isn′t unusual for Park Chan-wook to cast unknown actresses,
or at least relatively unknown actresses?
Yes, there are two other examples.
OLDBOY where he cast Kang Hye-jung, and more recently Kim Ok-bin in THIRST , and so it′s
certainly a trend with Park.
Apparently, adds were put up on acting job websites, and Park was evidently searching
for an unknown to play the younger ladies of the two.
Apparently 1,500 people auditioned for the role, which according to the casting call
will including some daring scenes, so perhaps we can expect similar scenes to what was seen
in OLDBOY and THIRST.
A demanding role for sure.
Sounds like some fierce competition and big role.
When can we expect to see the film?
Details are still sketchy.
Shooting is scheduled to begin early next year for about 3 months according to some
reports.
A release date, I suspect will coincide with a major festival such as Cannes or Berlin
since director Park′s films almost always screen
at these festivals.
Will have to wait and see.
Possibly towards the end of 2015, or 2016.
Looking at next year, there are a number of other prolific directors making films?
Yes, which is
very exciting.
Ryoo Seung-won who brought us the THE BERLIN FILE also starring Ha Jung-