A New Interpretation of Terminal Melodrama, Starring Han Ye-ri and Kim Seol-jin in the Film <Spring Night>

The love story of a couple facing terminal illness has long been a typical theme in Korean melodramas. From <Autumn in My Heart> to <I'm Sorry, I Love You>, <You're My Destiny>, and <Queen of Tears>, numerous works have utilised this setting. Due to its frequent use, some have come to see it as a cliché.

However, the film <Spring Night> directed by Kang Mi-ja shows a distinctly different approach from existing terminal melodramas. Unlike the typical structure where one person falls seriously ill and their partner devotedly cares for them, the protagonists Yeong-gyeong (played by Han Ye-ri) and Su-hwan (played by Kim Seol-jin) walk towards death for different reasons.

Yeong-gyeong is depicted as an alcoholic who gradually succumbs to suicide after being shocked by losing custody of her children to her ex-husband. In contrast, Su-hwan is a character who, after failing in business and living on the streets, gradually approaches death after missing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Based on the novel of the same name by Kwon Yeo-seon, this film tells the story of two people living with different wounds who encounter each other by chance.

Notably, Han Ye-ri and Kim Seol-jin, who play Yeong-gyeong and Su-hwan, have been close friends for over 20 years. The two actors first met as freshmen at the Korea National University of Arts and have maintained a long friendship. It is said that after Han Ye-ri was confirmed for casting, she handed the script to Kim Seol-jin, leading to their collaboration in this project.

In a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, Han Ye-ri said, "When I showed the script, I thought there was no one else who could play this role but Seol-jin, and my thoughts didn't change even after filming was completed." He added, "Because Su-hwan took good care of Yeong-gyeong, I believe Yeong-gyeong could shine more."

Kim Seol-jin also remarked, "It's not a common opportunity for me to work with an actor like Han Ye-ri," and shared, "The Ye-ri I saw on set was like white porcelain. She had a subtle presence that shone without harming those around her."

Both actors expressed in the interview, "It was an exciting project to be able to work together."

Han Ye-ri accepted the casting offer on the spot after hearing director Kang's words, "This film could be my last." She has a connection with Kang, having appeared in her first feature film <Let the Blue River Run> (2008).

"Since I started with director Kang, I thought I should end with her," Han Ye-ri conveyed her feelings at the time. However, after receiving the script, she admitted to feeling worried, saying, "What should I do?" The role of Yeong-gyeong, which Han Ye-ri took on, is set as a severe alcoholic, and director Kang reportedly instructed her to "look so sick that it is visibly apparent."

Originally having a slim physique, Han Ye-ri stopped exercising and lost 5kg through fasting to portray a haggard appearance. Kim Seol-jin, who played the counterpart, also underwent extreme transformation, losing a total of 10kg without even drinking water before filming.

Thanks to this, the pain experienced by Yeong-gyeong and Su-hwan and the love that blooms within it are expressed even more dramatically. In particular, the scene in the latter half where the two characters, unable to properly control their bodies, crawl towards each other through the intense cold is so powerful that it conveys pain to the audience.

Han Ye-ri described the relationship between Yeong-gyeong and Su-hwan, saying, "Su-hwan is the person who helps the crumbling Yeong-gyeong to live one more day."

He added, "I think they must have been desperate since they are people close to death. If they hadn't had each other, Su-hwan would have died on the streets, and Yeong-gyeong would have died at home while drinking. Therefore, it seems difficult to simply express the feelings between the two as 'love.'"

Kim Seol-jin likened the relationship between Yeong-gyeong and Su-hwan to a 'house made of cards.' He explained that although it looks precarious, it resembles the way the two characters support each other's weight to maintain the shape of the house.

The film <Spring Night> not only shows a distinct difference in the relationship between the protagonists but also in its cinematic form compared to existing melodrama genres. The film boldly omits detailed storylines to stimulate the audience's imagination while adopting a unique structure that repeatedly presents similar scenes. The concise dialogue approaches poetically, but the work focuses on expressing love through gestures rather than words. The combination of Han Ye-ri, who majored in Korean dance, and Kim Seol-jin, a renowned contemporary dancer, effectively realises this directorial intention.

Kim Seol-jin shared his impressions, saying, "Even while filming, I kept feeling that it was a pictorial film." He proudly stated, "While watching short-form content feels like looking at cars racing on an eight-lane road, our film will approach like a tree swaying in a gentle breeze."

The Berlin International Film Festival invited <Spring Night> to its Forum section this February, praising it as "a work that deals with sadness but is also filled with poetry, light, and beauty."

Han Ye-ri conveyed, "You will be able to see a rare, different dimension of love these days." The reason he continues to participate in independent films even after establishing himself as a leading actor in commercial films and dramas is also in line with this.

Han Ye-ri explained, "I find it more enjoyable to work with directors who want to tell their stories rather than those where the characters and story flow flatly, so I tend to choose works broadly." He added with a smile, "Participating in independent films is a kind of luxury for me, but I prefer works where people are more visible and have stories."