“The keywords are remarriage, mother, and Chuncheon.”
The film 'It Has to Be a Secret' (directed by Kim Dae-hwan) unveiled its story at a press screening held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul on the afternoon of the 1st.
‘It Has to Be a Secret’ depicts the story of a teacher, Jung-ha (Jang Young-nam), who harbors an unspoken secret, as her son Jin-woo (Ryu Kyung-soo), who went to study abroad in Canada, suddenly visits her with his girlfriend Jenny (Stephanie Lee) without any notice. The film delves deeply into the truths and emotional layers hidden within the closest relationship of 'family', evoking both delightful laughter and profound empathy from the audience.
Ryu Kyung-soo stated, “I thought I should tell an interesting story someday. The director mentioned he was preparing something new, which led to the start of this story. I wanted to show the character from a step back, rather than the intense acting I’ve done before. I aimed to portray a mediator or supporter, and it wasn’t difficult thanks to the veteran seniors,” he said.
The film is the latest work by director Kim Dae-hwan, who has built a delicate directorial world, gaining attention at various domestic and international film festivals with 'Cheorwon Journey' (2014) and 'First Time' (2017).
Director Kim also participated in the screenplay work for the film 'Parasite'. Director Bong Joon-ho praised this film, stating, “The intense energy emitted by first-class actors is blended by the director's touch, resulting in a delightful family drama with exquisitely nuanced character ensembles.” The detailed interactions, breaths, and dialogues between the actors reveal the meaning of family relationships and the changing values of the times.
Director Kim mentioned a scene where Jang Young-nam gave a remarkable performance, saying, “Director Bong said he was ‘excited’ about that scene,” sparking curiosity, “I wanted to create a story that is necessary in this era and can show a new form of family.”
Jang Young-nam, who passionately portrayed the teacher Jung-ha, who harbors a secret, said, “She is a character of a queer mother. I felt that the person Jung-ha loves is special, and I became curious about the backstory, thinking, ‘What if my mother were like that?’ The mother characters I’ve played before were those who sacrificed and worried for their children, but Jung-ha is a person living as another individual.”
Regarding Director Bong comparing her performance to Kim Hye-ja in 'Mother', she said, “The director mentioned that there are performances that come out intentionally and those that come out unintentionally. I asked whether the trembling of my face when receiving a phone call was intentional or something that came out naturally without me realizing it,” adding, “I reflected on that question. That part was intentional.”
She recalled, “Jung-ha lives a very conservative life within a conservative group. I thought it would feel like her blood was drying up, that she couldn’t breathe, and that she would feel like her flesh was trembling. I expressed that feeling, and it was a scene I pondered whether I made the right choice.”
Stephanie Lee said, “The script was quite interesting,” adding, “It deals with family stories set in Chuncheon, my second hometown, from another country, the United States, which made me think of my personal experiences and made me miss Korea a lot.”
Director Kim Dae-hwan stated, “I made this film because I wanted to capture remarriage, motherhood, and my hometown Chuncheon,” explaining, “If it were just a story about ordinary remarriage, I wouldn’t have thought it necessary to make a film. In the meantime, I read an article about a social activist. It was about a mother with two sons living with her same-sex partner, and when I met her and listened to her story, I thought it was quite shocking. I wanted to tell the stories of people like her.”
He added, “When I first wrote the script, I didn’t think it would be funny, but I think it turned out well because the actors performed with great focus.”
The film has already gained attention by selling out all screenings at major domestic film festivals, including the Jeonju International Film Festival, Muju Film Festival, Chuncheon Film Festival, and Busan International Children’s and Youth Film Festival. It stars Jang Young-nam, Ryu Kyung-soo, Stephanie Lee, Ok Ji-young, and Park Ji-il, and is set to be released on the 10th.
