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| Kim Hyang-gi in a scene from the film "I" / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
After appearing in a number of thought-provoking movies such as "Thread of Lies" (2014) and "Innocent Witness" (2019), actress Kim Hyang-gi aims to share glimpses of healing with another heart-warming family drama "I."
"I" tells the story of former foster child named Ah-young (Kim) who gets hired as a babysitter by single mom Young-chae (Ryu Hyun-kyung).
The two work to resolve their own conflicts, whether it be family struggles or financial troubles, but it's the power of sisterhood that eventually carries them through each of their life obstacles.
Director Kim Hyun-tak, who is making his feature directorial debut with "I," described the film as an inner journey of growth for two characters, who traverse the road to healing and recovery.
"I'm interested in exploring different types of family and social minorities who may not always see their experiences represented on screen. I revolves around a foster child who is aged out of the care system, but I tried not to focus too much on the character itself. Also, I did a lot of research and interviews to find out what family means to foster children," he said.
"I want to do films that inspire and encourage people. I hope audiences can relate to their stories as well."
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| Actors Kim Hyang-gi, left, and Ryu Hyun-kyung pose at a press event for the film "I" in Seoul, Jan. 21. / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment |
Actress Kim explained that her character Ah-young is a defensive person who refuses to share her feelings with others and prefers to remain consistent in all situations.
"Although Ah-young and I grew up in completely different environments, I was able to relate my feelings to her. There were no doubts about how Ah-young was portrayed in the script, and I was able to embody her character pretty quickly," she said.
She added she wants to leave viewers with a sense of hope. "No matter what obstacle is thrown your way, things will turn around," she said.
Meanwhile, Ryu said she felt sorry for her character Young-chae who suffers self-hatred.
"The way Young-chae opens up her mind to Ah-young and visibly matures as the story develops is well-portrayed in the film. I wanted to follow her inner journey of growth as the two share a special bond," she said.
On releasing his film amid a pandemic, director Kim expressed gratitude: "We hope people would come to see how two emotionally deprived people find comfort in each other."
"I" will hit local theaters, Feb. 10.
