Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' actor to lead movie on Jeju Uprising
Actor Yeom Hye-ran introduces her upcoming film "My Name Is" in a promotional video provided released by the film's production companies, Thursday. Courtesy of Let's Films, Aura Pictures
By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Yeom Hye-ran, who impressed viewers with her portrayal as a mother working as a "haenyeo" (woman diver) on Jeju Island in the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," is set to appear in another film set on the southern island, this time centered on the Jeju April 3 Uprising.
The film’s production companies, Let's Films and Aura Pictures, said Thursday that renowned filmmaker Chung Ji-young began shooting his latest film, whose Korean title translates to "My Name Is."
The film is set against the backdrop of the Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre, which resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people amid ideological conflicts on Jeju Island between 1947 and 1954, a period marked by state-led suppression and widespread civilian casualties in the aftermath of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule.
The film depicts the story of a middle-aged woman named Jeong-sun, who cannot remember anything before the age of 8, as she gradually recalls memories related to the Jeju April 3 incident. Yeom will portray the lead role.
The production companies aim to complete filming "My Name Is" by June and release it around April 3 next year.
It remains to be seen how Yeom, who has consistently demonstrated a remarkable presence on screen, will tackle this portrayal of Korea's deep historical tragedy.
In the recently released Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," the 48-year-old actor played Gwang-rye, the mother of the protagonist Ae-soon (IU), portraying a strong and resilient female diver who would do anything for her children. Gwang-rye resonated deeply with viewers by showing her belief that her children should live the lives they desire despite her own poverty.
Chung, widely known for his films that expose the injustices of the privileged in Korean society, such as the 1990 movie "North Korean Partisan in South Korea" and the 2012 film "Unbowed," praised Yeom. "She is an exceptional actor who can handle any role," he said, according to the production companies.