The late Park Bo-ram stars alongside Jung Ji-in and Oh Woo-ri in ‘When I Am Lying Down,’ which is coming to theaters.
On the 21st, a press screening and conference for the film ‘When I Am Lying Down’ was held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, attended by director Choi Jung-moon and actors Jung Ji-in and Oh Woo-ri.
‘When I Am Lying Down’ is a road drama that tells the story of Seon-a, Ji-soo, and Bo-mi, who have each gone through different sleepless nights, and their understanding of each other at the end of a long day.
In the film, Jung Ji-in plays Seon-a, a five-year company employee, while Oh Woo-ri portrays Ji-soo, who faces realistic problems after losing her parents.
The late singer Park Bo-ram, who passed away at the age of 30 on April 11 last year, took on the role of Bo-mi, marking her first leading role in a feature film.
Director Choi Jung-moon commented on the film, saying, “While watching it again recently, I thought a lot about the people around me. They are not dramatic characters, but rather people I want to support and comfort. I hope this film provides comfort and that you can sleep well for a day after watching it.”
Director Choi spoke about the late Park Bo-ram, saying, “It has been a little over a year since Park Bo-ram passed away. Watching the film again recently made me miss her a lot. The character Bo-mi, played by Park Bo-ram, is someone who has experienced the pain of a stillbirth and wants to overcome it. She is a bit strange and quirky. She is someone who sees and feels things that we cannot. Rather than being afraid or sad about it, she is a character who tries to be grateful and remember those feelings.”
He continued, “When we first met, she really felt like Bo-mi. It was hard to believe it was her first acting role. We thought that once the film was released, ‘Bo-ram will be in many dramas and take on good roles.’ She was incredibly focused on set. She would grumble about not knowing Bo-mi, but she cherished and liked the character more than anyone else.”
Jung Ji-in described her character, saying, “Seon-a is someone who has struggled and run forward for her professional achievements. Because of her passion and desire, she grows quickly at work, but she is losing her center. She is a character who reflects on her flaws and tries to regain her center.”
Regarding her chemistry with the other actors, she said, “There is a certain gap between Oh Woo-ri’s and Park Bo-ram’s real personalities and their character traits. There are many similarities, but there is also a gap. When I was on set, I really felt like Ji-soo and Bo-mi. I’m not sure if it was the power of makeup, but I felt that a lot of preparation had gone into it. So, I was able to be naturally Seon-a.”
Oh Woo-ri explained her character, saying, “In the film, I play Seon-a’s cousin, a friend who lost her parents at a young age and lives with her. She experiences pain when she meets a girlfriend in high school and is outed. She is a friend who has struggles and wounds regarding her identity. Ultimately, she is a friend who bravely overcomes these challenges.”
She added, “I didn’t have any particular concerns about playing a LGBTQ+ role. I thought of it as love and considered how to express this friend’s feelings of love beautifully. I hadn’t done scenes with physical contact before, so I pondered how to portray it beautifully and capture what the director wanted.”
Furthermore, she mentioned, “When I see Jung Ji-in, I think she is like Seon-a. I felt that a lot then and still do. She felt like an older sister I wanted to learn from. When I worked with Park Bo-ram, she was different from her character. She had a tough side that strongly guided me, and it felt reassuring to shoot together. I felt secure working with both of them.”
Finally, Jung Ji-in stated, “I think this is a story for all of us. It’s an ordinary story, like my life and our lives. I believe such stories can be more beautiful. Personally, I found comfort in the beauty of our film, and I hope it provides comfort to the audience as well.”
‘When I Am Lying Down’ will be released on the 28th.
