Actor Shin Jeong-geun delivers an unforgettable emotional performance with dense acting in 'If We,' drawing attention as the image of a father of our time.
The film 'If We (directed by Kim Do-young)' is a work that depicts a realistic, relatable romance story in which Eun-ho (played by Koo Kyo-hwan) and Jeong-won (played by Mun Ka-young), who loved each other passionately, accidentally reunite after 10 years and unfold traces of memory. Since its release, powered by enthusiastic word of mouth from actual viewers, it has recorded a Naver Movie rating of 9.24 points and is currently maintaining a top-tier position among films now showing, running a successful box office race.
At the center is Shin Jeong-geun as Eun-ho's father, who ran a restaurant in the film and raised his son Eun-ho alone. Shin Jeong-geun perfectly embodied the image of "a father of our time," hiding deep affection beneath a rough exterior, and played the emotional central axis of the film.
The Eun-ho father portrayed by Shin Jeong-geun reveals thick dialect and bluntness in every line. His offhand consolation to his son, surprised by an unexpected situation — "As long as your heart doesn't break" — and the way he clumsily serves food to Jeong-won capture the fatherly love of a generation awkward at expressing emotions. Shin Jeong-geun digests these character traits without exaggeration, showing excellent control of tempo by explaining the character's inner feelings through silence and deep gazes rather than flashy words.
In particular, Shin Jeong-geun poignantly portrayed the back of a father who endures solitude alone so as not to be a burden to his child, even as his body gradually weakens. His rough knuckles that feel the wear of time and his eyes that seem empty yet hold many stories maximized immersion by eliciting broad audience empathy — "It's like seeing my father."
Also, Shin Jeong-geun's acting toward Jeong-won, his son's former lover, is counted as the warmest passage in the film. His act of embracing Jeong-won with a bond beyond blood shows a breadth of fatherly love that extends beyond love for his child to include the person his child cherished. Especially in the film's latter part, Shin Jeong-geun's restrained emotional acting, instinctively recognizing a precious connection even in fading memories, turned the audience into a sea of tears and completed the film's lingering effect.
Shin Jeong-geun once again proved the power of actor Shin Jeong-geun by conveying unconditional sacrifice and weighty love for his child in a single gesture or look. His acting, not sensational, comes across as more truthful and summons the image of a father that stays in each viewer's memory.
In this way, leaving a deep resonance in audiences' hearts and serving as a box office driver, Shin Jeong-geun's passionate performance can be seen in theaters nationwide through the film 'If We'.<
[Photo] SHOWBOX
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