Director Kwak Kyung-taek will meet the audience in December with the new movie "Firefighter," which contains the authenticity of the true story and the charm of the character. However, it is unclear whether the audience will be able to immerse themselves enough as actor Kwak Do-won, who caused a stir in drunk driving, appears as a responsible and just fire department rescue team leader.
The press preview and press conference of the movie "Firefighter" were held at CGV I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at 2 p.m. today (25th). Director Kwak Kyung-taek, who directed the work, and actors Joo Won, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Yoo-young, Kim Min-jae, Oh Dae-hwan and Jang Young-nam attended to talk about the work.
The movie "Firefighter" depicts the situation of firefighters who were deployed with a single goal of extinguishing fire and saving power despite poor conditions during the Hongje-dong fire disaster in 2001. Based on a sad incident, it is a reconstructed work by adding cinematic imagination.
On this day, the actors and reporters watched the finished version of the film for the first time. Jang Young-nam said, "I started watching a movie, but at some point I forgot I was watching a movie. I was heartbroken as I watched one by one, and I cried a little while watching it. I felt so grateful, and I want to say that I respect him," he said.
In the order of Q&A with reporters, head coach Kwak Kyung-taek revealed how he got the megaphone. He said, "The first time I received the scenario was when I was working on the second half of my previous work. Following the sacrifices of young schoolchildren, I thought I had to tell the stories of the firefighters who sacrificed again, so I was so heavy that I refused at first," he explained.
However, he agreed with the intention of writing and finally decided on directing it. Director Kwak said, "The person who gave me the scenario said, shouldn't I tell you this story, so I felt a deep sense of debt to firefighters, and I was determined to make it into a good work."
The actors also agreed that they decided to appear on the show because they sympathized with the message the story wanted to convey. Oh Dae-hwan said, "I'll remember." "I hope many people remember and support the firefighters," Joo-won said, "and acted with a heavy heart on one side of his mind." I was always acting thinking about the firefighters," he said.
Some actors challenged the film with the desire to appear in director Kwak Kyung-taek's work. Lee Yoo-young said, "I really wanted to appear because it's director Kwak Kyung-taek's work," and Kim Min-jae also said, "I hope I get to know this incident and know it a lot." I thought about it, and because it's the director's work, I really wanted to appear."
Since it is a work based on a true story, he said that he set the directing point with seriousness. Director Kwak explained, "As it is a story based on a real-life incident and draws someone's sacrifice, let's play with fierceness and seriousness rather than talent or technique," and Joo-won added, "I think you neatly expressed the environment and hard work at that time."On the same day,
'Firefighters' will invite firefighters and their families from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to hold a presentation. Director Kwak said, "I think the firefighters' current events will bring me a pounding result. "If the firefighters tell us that they have told our story well, it's similar to the real thing, I think I've done my job," he said.
As the fire scene appeared several times, all-out efforts were made for safety. Director Kwak said, "It was my first time dealing with the fire, so I took a test shot, and once the big wind blew, the big container was engulfed in a big flame and suppressed it. "If there is an accident while filming this movie, I think it's my fault, so I discuss it a lot, and I filmed it in a super-nervous state every time so that staff and actors are not injured," he said.
'Firefighter' finished filming in 2020, but failed to set a release date in the aftermath of COVID-19. Then, in 2022, the release was postponed indefinitely as lead actor Kwak Do-won was caught driving under the influence. After four years of production, it was finally confirmed to be released. In the completed version, Kwak Do-won appears in most scenes as "Jin-seop," the rescue team leader of the Western Fire Station.
Director Kwak, who previously confessed about Kwak Do-won at a production briefing, said, "Honestly, I didn't edit it to exclude Kwak Do-won's portion. Since the movie is released a little later, there is a speed that is slower than the trend these days, so that you can enjoy it with your colleagues somehow. I honestly confessed that I thought a lot about editing it so that the younger generation could see it.
Finally, Jang Young-ran said, "I think it could be an opportunity to sincerely thank the firefighters once again. We can't see the firefighters in person even though we know they're working hard, so I think everyone will feel how much their hard work has been paid off if you take a peek through the movie. I think it will make your hearts hot this winter," he said.
The movie 'Firefighter' opens in theaters on Dec. 4.
[Photo source = OSEN]
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