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| Actors Na Moon-hee, right, and Choi Woo-sung in a scene from the film, "My Perfect Roommate" / Courtesy of Twin Plus Partners |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
"My Perfect Roommate" gives veteran actress Na Moon-hee a role designed to break audiences' hearts: a role with an aftertaste of betrayal and loneliness, but also versatility and humor.
With a career that spans over six decades, Na has solidified herself as one of Korea's most beloved stars. She has wowed audiences time after time with memorable performances in films like "Miss Granny" (2014), which sold more than 8.6 million tickets in local theaters, and "I Can Speak" (2017), for which she won the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress.
At the age of 81, Na has taken a lead role in "My Perfect Roommate" as grumpy old woman Keum-boon. She comes to live with a college student, Ji-woong (Choi Woo-sung), through a home-share program that pairs older adults who have extra space in their homes with students who need to rent spaces affordably.
The film addresses social isolation and loneliness in elderly adults as well as young adults living on their own. The bonds of friendship that develop between the two characters lead them to create a family of solidarity, not a family of blood.
Revealing that she has no set criteria for tackling a role or a project, Na said, "I just do it the way director tells me to do. We have made a really warm and fuzzy film about an unlikely family, and I hope audiences feel that way too."
She also shared her thoughts about still working as an actor at age 81. "I never say 'I'm too old to do it.' I take whatever role is given to me, and I just love my work. I always look forward to tomorrow," she said.
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| Veteran actress Na Moon-hee in a scene from the film, "My Perfect Roommate" / Courtesy of Twin Plus Partners |
Director Lee Soon-sung explained that a pamphlet about a home-sharing program and a documentary about the woman known as the "McDonald's Grandma," a homeless woman who was frequently spotted in 24-hour McDonald's restaurants in central Seoul, were the inspirations for his first feature film.
The cast discussed the expanding meaning of family in modern society. "I think a family is who cares about you and, nearing the end of the day, asks you 'how was your day?'" Na said.
Choi said that his definition of family changed after filming "My Perfect Roommate."
"I used to think that a family refers to people who are connected by blood or marriage. While filming, however, I came to believe that a true family is someone who gives you a feeling of comfort without saying a word," he said.
Choi explained how instead of being nervous to work with one of Korea's greatest actors, he was thrilled, saying "It was an honor to work with her on my first film project. She's so good, I only had to react to her."
"My Perfect Roommate" will hit local theaters on June 22.
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