Bae Doona (46) makes a hot pink return, infected by the powerful "Love Virus."
When I met her at a café in Samcheong-dong on the 20th, I greeted her with, "It's been a while since I've seen such a fresh and cheerful face," to which she replied, "It took a long time from filming to release, so I saw it first at a technical screening before the premiere. I looked cute and youthful, and I felt proud and happy," flashing a bright smile.
"Virus" (written and directed by Kang Yi-kwan) is a cheeky hot pink comedy about translator Ok Taek-seon (Bae Doona), who is on the verge of losing her romantic cells, and her disastrous blind date with the perpetually single researcher Nam Soo-pil (Son Seok-koo). It is based on the novel "Youth Extreme" by writer Lee Ji-min, published in 2010.
The female lead, Taek-seon, infected by the love virus, or rather the so-called "Toxso Virus," finds joy in everything. The gray world turns pink, and her previously dull heart becomes infinitely positive. The problem is that this excessive happiness comes with red spots and vision impairment the day after it occurs, ultimately leading to death. Soo-pil tells Taek-seon to find the virus's top expert, Lee Kyun (Kim Yoon-seok), who is determined to save her with all his conscience and sincerity.
Bae Doona, who has mainly worked in zombie or crime genres, is bright and cheerful in this film. She transforms into a quirky and lively girl, reminiscent of her youth star days.
Bae Doona said, "In my 20s, I showed a lot of innocent sides, but after that, I mostly had a blank expression. I don't remember the last time I laughed this much," adding, "Just that alone was good and made me happy. I really liked it. As an audience member, I found it charming and kept laughing, which made it enjoyable."
"When I was offered the film, I was shooting the zombie series 'Kingdom.' Before that, I had mainly worked on dark projects with heavy social messages. So, my thirst for a work that I could laugh at and heal with grew immensely. Above all, it was with Kim Yoon-seok, so there was no need to hesitate."
Bae Doona described her meeting with Kim Yoon-seok as "luck." She laughed, saying, "Moreover, doing a rom-com with him is fresh and interesting, isn't it?" She continued, "What surprised me while acting with him was how I could immerse myself in the role instantly, without any difficulty. It happens naturally with the other person. Anyone would act well with him."
"I've watched all of his previous works. He has a unique energy. I was very curious and fascinated by it. When I actually met him, it was even better. He only thinks about movies, and when he gets an idea, he starts pacing. Then we get excited and thrilled, thinking, 'Ah, he came up with something brilliant.' I learned a lot from his attitude on set and his ability to lead."
Bae Doona is also known for her distinct character and acting, as well as her renowned personality in the domestic and international industry. She shyly said, "If you work with me, you probably won't dislike it," bringing laughter.
"I'm just... someone who is faithful to the basics. In a word, a model student? (laughs) First of all, I don't arrive late, I always listen to the director, and I have no desire to stand out. It's a collaborative effort. I just want to work well together and create something good. Should I be treated as a leading actor? I have no such feelings at all; rather, if I can have any influence, I try to create a set where there is less disappointment. I believe there are no big or small actors, regardless of the amount of screen time."
When did this mature attitude develop? She humbly said, "I think I was lucky from the beginning, so I had a very good environment since my busy 20s. I believe I was fortunate."
"The sets I've experienced were filled with mutual care and genuine love for the work. Every single time. Films like 'Take Care of My Cat' and 'A Dog of Flanders' are all small-budget films by today's standards, but they were truly great movies regardless of size. I've only met respectable artists. My mother was also a theater actress, so I think I was greatly influenced by that."
Since I was glad to see her lovely appearance after a long time, I asked, "Don't you have a thirst for a traditional melodrama or a typical love story?" She replied, "If the script is good, I have no preconceived notions about the genre or role. (I did a lot of melodramas in my early 20s), so I don't have a thirst for it, but if it's a good work and I can immerse myself in it, of course, I want to do it. If my heart resonates with any work, I will take on the challenge."
"I just do what I like. I don't care about the platform, scale, or genre. If the opportunity arises, I will do my best regardless of the size of the role. I will continue to do so in the future."
Finally, regarding the difficult theater situation, she said, "Many people talk about the crisis in the film industry, and it's true that the number of audiences has decreased due to the emergence of various platforms, making theaters difficult, but I don't think our film industry is regressing at all." She added, "Just because a film isn't invited to a festival doesn't mean it's not a good film. I believe we are continuing to move forward."
"Virus" will be released on May 7. Rated 12 and over. Running time 98 minutes.
