The Netflix film "Good News" wrapped up its official schedule at the 30th Busan International Film Festival amid a heated atmosphere.
The Netflix film "Good News," officially invited to the 30th Busan International Film Festival's gala presentation section, successfully completed its official schedule, including the opening ceremony, stage greetings, a GV, a gala presentation press conference, and an open talk. "Good News" is a film set in the 1970s about a suspicious operation carried out by a group of people who gathered to land a hijacked plane by any means necessary. After screenings, praise poured in for the film, including "a film of magical rhetoric that highlights director Byun Sung-hyun's characteristic cheekiness and humor" (Song Kyung-won, editor-in-chief of Cine21), "Byun Sung-hyun's sharply styled satire," and "a black comedy that captures the Byun Sung-hyun–Sul KyungGu synergy," heightening expectations for the unique personality and charm of "Good News."
Director Byun Sung-hyun, Hong Kyung and Yamada Takayuki, who visited the 30th Busan International Film Festival with "Good News," attended the festival's opening ceremony held at the outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center on Wednesday, Sept. 17, responding to enthusiastic cheers and signaling the start of official events. On Thursday, Sept. 18, director Byun Sung-hyun, Sul KyungGu, Hong Kyung and Yamada Takayuki spent meaningful time sharing various stories with fans who came to the theater through stage greetings and a GV before the screening of "Good News."
First, director Byun Sung-hyun said, "Although the story is set in 1970, I wanted to talk about elements that can still be relevant today. I wanted to focus more on reactions to the incident than the incident itself," conveying his directorial intention and increasing curiosity about how his witty work, captured through his distinctive sensibility, would appear.
Sul KyungGu, who plays the enigmatic fixer Amugae, said, "Amugae at times blends in with other characters, at times speaks to the camera lens like an observer, and at times seems like an invisible man," describing the process of portraying a character with a unique charm.
Hong Kyung, who plays elite air force lieutenant Seo Go-myeong, said, "I was drawn to Seo Go-myeong's ambition and greed. I was fascinated watching how he falls, how he gets back up, and how he comes to see the world anew through Amugae," raising expectations for his delicate acting that captures Seo Go-myeong's three-dimensional inner turmoil amid a life-or-death moment. Yamada Takayuki, who plays Shinichi, the vice minister of transportation and security rushed to Korea, said, "I am very happy to participate in a Korean production and to have it screened in Korea. I hope there will be many more opportunities like this," sharing his special impression of meeting Korean film fans.
At the gala presentation press conference for the Busan International Film Festival held on Friday, Sept. 19, in-depth questions from the press about "Good News" continued, reflecting intense interest in the film. Later that day, the open talk and GV featured the addition of Kasamatsu Sho, who gave a passionate performance as Denji, the leader of a Japanese communist group, enriching the discussion about the film and giving attendees a delightful time. Director Byun Sung-hyun, who revealed that the film's beginning was conceived with the thought, "Although 'Good News' is set 40 years ago, I thought it could still be relevant today," said, "It's a film in which many people work together like an orchestra. I worked with the actors placing the greatest importance on their ensemble," raising expectations for a vivid, breathing ensemble performance.
Sul KyungGu said, "Amugae is someone who is everywhere and nowhere. I think the director intended to create some distance from the story. It was a role I had never tried before, and it was a new experience," arousing curiosity about what new face he will show next. Director Byun Sung-hyun said, "I thought a lot about how to portray Sul KyungGu differently," increasing anticipation for the fresh charm of the character completed through his fourth collaboration with Sul KyungGu.
Hong Kyung said, "It was the best set. I had close discussions with the director and worked in a relentlessly fun way," revealing his special affection for the project. Director Byun Sung-hyun also said, "I listened to a lot of Hong Kyung's ideas and incorporated them into the script, which made Seo Go-myeong a more dimensional character. You could say it was a jointly developed character," and Sul KyungGu said, "Hong Kyung is an actor who works insanely hard. I think he will be one of the actors leading the next generation of Korean cinema," offering unreserved praise for Hong Kyung and warming the atmosphere on set.
Yamada Takayuki said, "Twenty years ago, Winter Sonata was a huge hit in Japan. Since then I have paid attention to Korea and have wanted to work together," referring to the meaningful collaboration between Korea and Japan. Kasamatsu Sho said, "Director Byun Sung-hyun values details not only in acting but in every single drawing and frame. I learned a lot working with him, and it was a treasured time in my life," sharing his impression of the special collaboration.
In addition, people in military uniforms reminiscent of Seo Go-myeong in "Good News" performed a unique stunt by sitting in a line holding special flyers that recreated the appearance of 1970s newspapers with the headline "Breaking news! The hijacked plane is heading to Pyongyang," and handed out the special flyers as if distributing extras, drawing attention. Later, fans who attended the open talk and GV raised the special flyers high and welcomed the stars of "Good News," adding to the excitement at the venue. Having successfully completed events from the opening ceremony red carpet to the GV, press conference and open talk, "Good News," which heated up the 30th Busan International Film Festival, is expected to captivate the world as a well-made film armed with freshness that delivers new entertainment.
"Good News," a film that will offer fresh entertainment through director Byun Sung-hyun's unique direction that has presented works in various genres and received praise from both the public and critics, its unpredictable developments, and the actors' intense acting synergy portraying clashes among distinctive characters, will be released on Netflix on Oct. 17.
[Photo] Netflix
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