Actor Jung Jin-woon of the film "The Band of God" emphasized the film's message over religious coloring.
Jung Jin-woon conducted an interview for the film "The Band of God" (director Kim Hyung-hyeop, distributor CJ CGV, production Studio Target) on the 24th at a location on Seosomun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. At the event he met with domestic reporters and talked about the film and his recent activities.
"The Band of God" starts from the extraordinary premise that an officer of the North Korean security agency organizes a fake praise group to earn foreign currency, and depicts the process in which 12 people with different purposes become "real" from being "fake." It is scheduled to be released on the 31st and meet audiences. Among them, Jung Jin-woon gives a passionate performance as North Korean security captain Kim Tae-seong.
On the matter, Jung Jin-woon said, "When conveying a story, I tend to avoid narratives that can be seen only from 'one side.' I am a Christian myself, but rather than having a color so strong that someone could oppose the story, I think it's better to share a story people can empathize with together. The same applies when appearing in any art, music, film or drama. I looked at the screenplay thinking about how it could reach the public," he said with confidence.
He continued, "'The Band of God' clearly uses Christianity as a subject. When I thought about whether it could view both sides from a middle standpoint, after reading the screenplay I felt it would definitely be possible. A subject is just a subject. What matters is how that story is absorbed into my life. From that perspective, our film is not a religious story but has a point that can break the frame. That was most important," he emphasized.
He said, "It is not that I came to believe in the lord through God or Christianity, but that some kind of faith wants to break me and I want freedom, and within that perspective I focused on what to think about and break through. So at first I was worried, thinking, 'Isn't this too much a story about faith?' But as we filmed, I often thought this was a story I needed in my life. Of course many people who were moved—there were many Christians at the preview. But I think after the film opens, not only true religious people but those who want to break themselves or who feel stifled will find it really good to watch," he said emphatically.
He added, "Although religion is a subject, I don't want it to be a story just for Christians. I am of course Christian, but rather than a film only for Christians, it's a story that wants to talk about views on life, so the subject is Christianity. I don't think it is a story that only one side can empathize with. Among our members there are Buddhists and others. Because of that, I hope it is not a film only for Christians because of the subject. Through this subject that everyone can watch, we wanted to portray a journey seeking 'freedom.'"
Above all, Jung Jin-woon said, "When this film ends, the people in the play each make a choice that is true to themselves. The two officers become sincere, and the fact that they genuinely care for and act for these people seems to me the most desired image. Living doing what I like, making choices true to myself because I love myself is another matter. Everything I create, I make because I like it, but it's for the public or art, and rather than for myself I pull out my things to make something for others. When I think about what frames I might have broken for myself, the reality is I haven't done it yet. So what I felt going out into the 'wilderness' was that I am such a small existence but my mind locks up many things thinking it's a vast universe. I hope this film gives people the courage to make choices true to themselves. 'Courage' might be the most necessary keyword," he added.
(Continued in interview ②)<
[Photo] Provided by Mystic Story and Studio Target.
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