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.
‘Project Y’ redefines buddy film through gritty tale of ambition, survival
Actors Han So-hee, left, and Jeon Jong-seo pose during a press conference at a theater in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
The highly anticipated crime noir "Project Y" is set to redefine the buddy film genre through a gritty lens of female survival and raw ambition.
The film also marks a commercial film debut of director Lee Hwan, who gained attention with his independent films such as "Park Hwa-Young" (2018) and "Young Adult Matters" (2021) that addressed the social vulnerability of young people.
The film follows two young women, Mi-seon (Han So-hee) and Do-gyeong (Jeon Jong-seo), who are pushed to their limits. In a desperate bid to change their lives, they attempt a high-stakes heist involving black money and gold bars in the fictional Hwajung Market, a place the director describes as a boiling pot of human greed.
Lee said that casting Han and Jeon for the project was very important.
"I believe they are the best actors to represent their generation," he said. "I wanted their strong acting to help the audience understand why the characters make such dangerous choices."
Both lead actors said they joined the movie because they wanted to work together. Han said she liked that her character looked weak but was actually very strong inside. Similarly, Jeon found the buddy movie format refreshing and felt there were many hidden charms in the script that they could bring to life together.
The movie also features strong supporting actors. Kim Sung-cheol, who plays a cold villain, worked with the director to make his character feel like a pure evil force without a sad back story.
Actors Jung Young-ju and Kim Shin-rok also appear in the film, sharing that they had very intense and energetic scenes together.
Lee noted that the complex, unconventional relationship between these characters, particularly the mother-daughter dynamic, serves as a catalyst that pushes the protagonists to eventually challenge the corrupt system itself.
“Project Y” also features the acting debut of YooA, a member of K-pop band Oh My Girl, and a cinematic soundtrack by music director Gray with a song by Hwasa. The music uses jazz and blues styles to make the movie feel like a classic film.
The film has already received awards and invitations from film festivals in Toronto, Busan and London.
“Project Y” hits theaters on Jan. 21.