Director Yoon Ga-eun's new film 'The Master of the World' has taken its bold steps into the world.
The film 'The Master of the World' tells the story of an enigmatic 18-year-old high school girl who refuses to participate in a signature campaign involving the entire student body and begins to receive mysterious notes. This is Yoon Ga-eun's first film in six years, following the critically acclaimed 'Our Body' and 'Our Home'.
It has been officially invited to the Platform section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, making it the first Korean film to be invited to this competitive section. It has also been invited to the Crouching Tigers section of the 9th Pingyao International Film Festival, the competitive section of the 69th BFI London Film Festival, and the international competition section of the 41st Warsaw International Film Festival.
Before the release, Director Yoon said, "It's been a long time since I made a film, so I felt nervous and grateful. Although it was released overseas first, I was excited and scared to see how Korean audiences would react. Even now, I think a lot about how this film will be received and whether we can provide cinematic fun and emotion."
After much contemplation, 'The Master of the World' continued to linger in Director Yoon's mind until it finally came to life.
Director Yoon shared, "I've had a story about teenagers experiencing sex and love in my heart for a long time. I wrote a short screenplay over ten years ago. As a director who focuses on plausibility and reality, I pondered how to discover realistic experiences and genuine moments. In some ways, I found myself uncomfortable with the difficult elements that intruded into the story. It took a long time to push those thoughts away. I couldn't figure out where to take it."
She continued, "Then the COVID-19 pandemic came, and with the shutdown, I wondered if I would ever have the opportunity to make a film again. If I were given the chance, what story would be meaningful to bring into the world? I started this project with the thought that it might be my last film. Although I received other project proposals during that time, it felt like an unfinished homework assignment in my heart. While contemplating the tone and manner, I reread Lee Geum-i's 'Yujin and Yujin,' which was a great inspiration and felt like a guideline, becoming a strong beacon for me."
She added, "An interview with Professor Lee Ji-sun from Ewha Womans University also provided me with great strength. She is someone who suffered burns in her youth and has recovered, and although the incident still leaves scars, her words, 'Just as you have joys and sorrows in your life, I also have joys and sorrows,' resonated with me deeply. I kept that phrase next to me while writing the screenplay."
Until now, Director Yoon has told stories from a first-person perspective, but this time she chose not to.
She explained, "I felt a sense of monotony in the way I had been doing things. I wanted to tell a very new story, and I also felt that I didn't know much about filmmaking. I like and have used the first-person perspective, but the more I looked into this work, the more I questioned whether it was the right choice. When I watch the news, it feels like a major disaster has happened to an individual. Usually, an individual bears the full weight, but I thought it was important to illuminate the world surrounding the individual and how the world perceives the individual."
She also mentioned that she conducted thorough research, saying, "There was an abundance of related materials. Many friends are sharing their concerns about sex online. The more I conducted face-to-face surveys with teachers and teenagers, the more I felt like I had become an old-fashioned person. It seems that the timing for dating and sexual experiences has accelerated compared to the past. However, I believe that adults, despite being aware of this cultural shift, lack the means to guide students toward good experiences. The range of experiences among friends is so wide, from those who know nothing to those who have experienced everything, that it's impossible to find an average. I realized that adults should play a role in helping and preparing, but it seems that adults are also unaware, and I learned many new aspects, which I consider an unfinished assignment for us."
Seo Soo-bin, who vividly portrayed the character in 'The Master of the World', made her debut in this film. Director Yoon said that she didn't find a strong impression when she first saw the actor's profile, but after seeing Seo Soo-bin's gaze, her curiosity was piqued, leading her to audition.
Director Yoon shared, "I felt a sense of intensity and vitality in Seo Soo-bin's eyes, and I wanted to meet her. She was taller than I expected and had a charming demeanor. As we talked, I discovered that she had a wealth of diverse experiences and valued them. When I asked if she had done sports, she mentioned that she practiced Taekwondo for about ten years and had also taught children. Since there was a setup for her character to be athletic from the beginning, it felt like fate."
She continued, "During the improvisation at the audition, she was very flexible. On the way to the audition, I saw Seo Soo-bin holding a piece of paper in her hand, wearing earphones and a white t-shirt, looking just like a high school student. I noticed her curiosity and how she confidently walked without worrying about her surroundings. Although I didn't call her name, that image left a strong impression on me."
Alongside rookie Seo Soo-bin, veteran actors contributed to the creation of 'The Master of the World'. Director Yoon explained, "I didn't have a strong intention to cast a newcomer, but it turned out that way. I wanted this world to feel familiar to the audience. So, I thought that if the adults surrounding the actors were familiar faces we had seen before, it would create a sense of intimacy in the world. I also wanted to mention that I would like to work with someone like Go Min-si, who I admire. So, I proposed to her when the opportunity arose."
Jang Hye-jin, who worked with Yoon on 'Our Body' and 'Our Home', and Kim Seok-hoon, with whom she had a past connection, also became guiding lights.
Director Yoon said, "Senior Jang Hye-jin called me after reading the script and said she read it well and that if she had given it to someone else, she would have been upset. She expressed that she empathized with the themes and direction I was trying to convey, even though she didn't know how it would come out into the world. She advised me to discard any empty thoughts that might arise, saying that if I wanted to go to film festivals or gain fame from this, I shouldn't do it. She encouraged me to humbly focus on what I needed to do, free from those extraneous thoughts. I was very grateful for that, and it made me feel that I shouldn't have such empty thoughts."
She added, "Senior Kim Seok-hoon is someone I first met 20 years ago when I was an assistant director in Daehangno. He was a fun and good person. When I started making films, he supported me, saying I was doing well. I asked him to play the father role, hoping for someone who would appear solid. When he received the role offer, he provided feedback, saying there might be someone better suited for it. He is a father of two and has many concerns about society, and listening to his feedback helped create a more realistic and vibrant character than the typical portrayal. I'm grateful to have worked with him."
At the Toronto International Film Festival, director Yeon Sang-ho of the film 'Face' and actor Park Jung-min extended their warm support for 'The Master of the World'. Director Yeon praised 'The Master of the World' as "a masterpiece by director Yoon Ga-eun with a different perspective." Park Jung-min also praised it, saying, "Something incredible has come out."
In response, Director Yoon said, "I'm grateful for the nonsensical shoutout," and added, "This is my third independent film, and for an independent filmmaker, box office success feels like a vague dream of 'I hope world peace comes.' I believe that the support from Park Jung-min and director Yeon Sang-ho is not just praise for me or the film itself, but a gesture of reaching out to the masters that exist in this world. In that sense, I hope many people will watch this film. I dream that it will become a door for more stories to come into the world."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
