'If We' actor Koo Kyo-hwan confessed that when he played a romantic character he projected his actual dating experiences.
On the afternoon of the 19th, at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, an interview was held with Koo Kyo-hwan, the lead actor of the film 'If We'.
The film 'If We' (director Kim Do-young, distributed by SHOWBOX, provided by KC Ventures·K-Wave Media, produced by Covenant Pictures) is a realistic romance that unfolds the traces of memory when Eun-ho and Jeong-won, who loved each other passionately, accidentally reunite after 10 years. It is a remake of the original Chinese film 'Us After Tomorrow' (2018) adapted to Korean sensibilities.
As the new work of director Kim Do-young, who drew attention for his delicate emotional direction with 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982' (2019), it is drawing attention for the dense acting chemistry and poignant chemistry between Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young. It realistically depicts the radiant moments of their 20s and the emotional changes of the two people when they meet again 10 years later.
Koo Kyo-hwan gives a passionate performance as Eun-ho, who, after repeating his college entrance attempts, is enrolled in computer engineering and meets his first love Jeong-won. From the thrill of first love that everyone experiences to the waves of regret after a breakup, he expresses complex emotions in a detailed and realistic way that is expected to broaden audience empathy. He returns with the deepest love story of his career.
"Right after the press screening, the reaction was really good," he said, "I was so happy thinking that audiences liked the movie I like. When working on a film, I always feel the final arrivals are made together with the audience. I worried with Ga-young, 'Will the audience laugh? Will their hearts be moved?' but it felt good. I think we connected. a telepathic communication," he said with a laugh.
About the impressive VIP reactions, "There was a reaction that it felt like dating the character I played. It wasn't dating Koo Kyo-hwan, but reviews said it felt like meeting Eun-ho. That was the emotion I felt when I watched a good romantic film. It was the highest possible compliment," he said.
Koo Kyo-hwan has maintained a good relationship with director Lee Ok-seop for 12 years since 2013. The two worked together in leading, writing, editing, and directing roles on works such as 'Fourth-year Bokyung' (2014), 'Today's Film' (2015), 'Love Documentary' (2015), 'After School Tea Time Returns' (2015), 'Fly to the Sky' (2015), 'Girls on Top' (2017), 'Three' (2018), and 'The Catfish' (2019). Recently, he also served as co-director of 'Your Country,' starring comedian Jang Doyoun.
When asked, "Did you put any of your actual dating experiences into the character?" Koo Kyo-hwan said, "There were. Constantly pursuing humor when dating. (laughter) I like comedy, and Eun-ho's antics toward Jeong-won are similar," and added, "It's my real voice and my face, so every character starts from me, but I always entrust the emotions to the writing. Basically, I want to faithfully carry out what the script asks."
In the film, Eun-ho is a shy man who cannot speak even when the woman he likes is in front of him, and Koo Kyo-hwan added, "He is afraid to confess. The production of being a pro takes a long time. (laughter) He watches for a long time rather than being cautious. And he gets nervous for a long time. He finds confessions difficult. A fan of unrequited love."
Meanwhile, 'If We' opens on the 31st.
[Photo] Provided by SHOWBOX Corp.
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