"Both gay people and straight people are all the same people." The team behind the film Wedding Reception, which drew attention as actress Youn Yuh-jung's new work, proposes a cheerful inclusiveness that broadly embraces sexual minorities in conservative Korean society.
On the 19th, at a press conference at BIFF Hill in Busan Cinema Center, an interview was held with the team of Wedding Reception, an invited film in the World Cinema section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Director Andrew An and lead actors Youn Yuh-jung and Han Ki-chan attended and spoke with reporters who came to the festival.
Wedding Reception is an unpredictable comedy about two same-sex couples' fake wedding plan and the arrival of a K-grandmother with perfect social radar. Based on the 1993 film of the same name by director IAAN, Korean American director Andrew An recently adapted it to reflect Korean culture. In it, newcomer Han Ki-chan plays Min, a grandson who confesses his homosexuality, and Youn Yuh-jung plays Ja-young, the grandmother who embraces Min's confession.
Director Andrew An was only 9 years old when IAAN's original film was released, but he boldly decided to remake it. He said, "I remember seeing the film in 1993. It was the first time I saw a film about homosexuality and Asians. Since then, as an individual, the film has helped me a lot."
But he said the film wasn't remade simply because he loved it. He emphasized the production's 고민, saying, "A lot has changed since 1993, and in the U.S. same-sex marriage is now possible. Some of my queer friends have formed families and had children. I myself am considering becoming a father. I wondered how to express the tension and hope within that. Especially being queer, it's true that you face unique challenges compared with others."
In addition, Andrew An added traditional Korean culture that he had long admired. Scenes of still-preserved traditional formats such as doljanchi and the wedding paebaek stirred Andrew's cultural DNA as a Korean American. In the process of adapting the work in a Korean style, Youn Yuh-jung's role also changed.
Youn Yuh-jung said with a laugh, "At first when I was offered the role it was the mother. I thought it would be fine because the child who played the son Min, played by Han Ki-chan, was someone I had played a mother to before casting, but this friend is in his 20s. I thought it might be too much for Andrew. I suggested I would do the grandmother. So the role changed from mother to grandmother."
In fact, Han Ki-chan, born in 1998, is a newcomer born even later than the original. He said, "I approached filming curious about the original." He also emphasized that about playing a sexual minority role, "The role was queer, but I just thought of them as 'people.' We are simply human and all the same people."
The film throughout encourages embracing conflicts and phases that arise from differences in LGBTQ orientations. So what is Korea's actual status? In response to a foreign reporter's question about Korea's attitude toward sexual minorities, Youn Yuh-jung said, "I hope we move in that direction (acceptance of sexual minorities)."
She added, "Gay people and straight people are equal. I think that when Koreans move forward they should be like the U.S., but they're not there yet," and said, "Korea is a very conservative country. I have lived here for 79 years, so I feel that way. But it's not right to divide categories into heterosexual, homosexual, black, or yellow. We are all human," drawing an emotional response.
This conviction is interpreted to be rooted in Youn Yuh-jung's personal experience. Her eldest son came out in 2000. Previously, Youn said in an interview with foreign media that she held a marriage ceremony for her son and son-in-law in New York, where same-sex marriage is legal.
However, Youn Yuh-jung was cautious about emphasizing a specific message of Wedding Reception. She avoided personal questions, saying, "My story isn't important. I'm just doing my job." When asked whether she wanted to deliver a message to conservative Korean society through Wedding Reception, she shook her head and drew a line.
Director Andrew's thoughts were firm, of course. He said, "I hope people see this film and feel inspired. I hope they are inspired to give more love and acceptance to their family and friends. This film reflects my wishes and carries hopes as a Korean. For Koreans, forming a family doesn't necessarily lead to a happy ending. I wanted to give inspiration and hope. I hope many people watch the film and feel hopeful."
Han Ki-chan added, "Our film is, in a way, a story about a new form of family." He said, "I hope the process is witty, full of friendship and warmth, and becomes a film that embraces." He emphasized the progressive view of family and familial love presented in Wedding Reception.
Wedding Reception will be officially released domestically on the 24th.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Min Kyung-hoon, film stills provided.
[OSEN]