The poetic drama <Spring Night>, which depicts the tragic and pitiful love of 'Yeong-gyeong' and 'Su-hwan' who live in ruins with wounds and face death, held a press/distribution screening and press conference at 2 PM on July 3 at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall, attended by Director Kang Mi-ja and actors Han Ye-ri and Kim Seol-jin. Returning to feature films after 16 years since <Blue River Flows>, Director Kang Mi-ja has shared the emotion of <Spring Night> with domestic and international audiences through prestigious film festivals such as the Busan International Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. Regarding the starting point of the film, which is based on the novel of the same name by author Kwon Yeo-sun, she expressed her special affection for the novel and film, saying, "(While reading the original novel) I felt a strong desire to express the emotions I felt in a cinematic way, which led me to make this film." She also praised the performances of actors Han Ye-ri and Kim Seol-jin, who lead the film with delicate emotional lines, saying, "I wanted to capture the performances of the actors, which are the essence of the film, within a very simple format."
Actor Han Ye-ri reunited with the director after 16 years since <Blue River Flows> to take on the role of Yeong-gyeong. She explained her reason for joining the film, saying, "After the first feature, I was contacted again. (The director) said it would be a special film for her." Regarding the role of Yeong-gyeong, she said, "I felt that this person's tears were like alcohol," and explained the character of Yeong-gyeong, who has a high emotional density, by saying, "It was a situation where I didn't need to hold back or suppress the tears, so I felt a sense of liberation." She also emphasized the warm aspect of the tragic love between the protagonists Yeong-gyeong and Su-hwan, saying, "I hope viewers don't watch this film too painfully."
Actor Kim Seol-jin, who took on his first leading role in a feature film as a contemporary dancer and actor, recalled his acting experience with Han Ye-ri, with whom he has had a long-standing relationship, saying, "I kept thinking about what I could do for Yeong-gyeong and tried to stay by her side." He also revealed that the physical movements of Yeong-gyeong and Su-hwan were "close to plants," saying, "Yeong-gyeong felt like a tall sunflower swaying before wilting," and "Su-hwan felt like a root drying up and rotting." Based on the physical sense honed through dance, he immersed himself in the physical pain and emotional flow, and despite being his first leading role in a feature film, he is expected to add a solid center to the film by firmly grasping the emotions of the character.
Finally, Director Kang Mi-ja expressed her unwavering affection for the film, saying, "For me, <Spring Night> is not over yet," and actor Han Ye-ri expressed her hope that the film would become a work that can be occasionally taken out and looked at, like the poem recited by Yeong-gyeong, mentioning the emotional depth that only a film can achieve. Actor Kim Seol-jin left his thoughts, hoping the film would be remembered as one that allows viewers to look at the aesthetics of repetition or slowness again, adding to the emotion on site. The film <Spring Night>, which gazes at the emotional lines of love and wounds, calmness and passion crossing in the middle of the night, will be released on July 9.
