(From left) Actors Lee Jin-wook, Jeon Yeo-bin, Song Hye-kyo and Moon Woo-jin, and director Kwon Hyeok-jae pose for a photo on Jan. 20 at a media screening and news conference for the film "Dark Nuns" held at the COEX Mall’s Megabox Movie Theater in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. (Xu Aiying)
By Xu Aiying
Video = It's New's official YouTube channel
Actor Song Hye-kyo is starring in her first Korean movie in 11 years, playing a compelling role in an occult film.
A media screening and news conference for the film "Dark Nuns" was held on Jan. 20 at the COEX Mall’s Megabox Movie Theater in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. Director Kwon Hyeok-jae and actors Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-bin, Lee Jin-wook and Moon Woo-jin participated in the event to talk about the movie
The film is about Sister Junia (played by Song) and Sister Michaela (Jeon) who perform a forbidden ritual to save a boy who has been possessed by a strong evil spirit.
This is Song's first appearance in a Korean film since "My Brilliant Life" (2014). "After completing Netflix's original series 'The Glory,' I didn't want to act in another love story," she said.
"I was trying to select a film based on the scenario, the script and the genre, and then I came across 'Dark Nuns.'"
"It seemed very hard and challenging, but I thought playing the role in the movie would elicit a new expression that I never knew I had, and such curiosity led to me accepting the role."
A scene from the film "Dark Nuns." (New)
"Dark Nuns" focuses more on the film’s protagonists and their stories rather than the fear created by the evil spirit.
Instead of focusing on the ritual to ward off the evil spirit, it showcases the nuns who perform it, which differentiates this film from other occult movies.
Both the traditional Korean shamanistic ritual and Catholic counterpart appear in the film, making it have a distinct and peculiar tension.
Kwon said, "Sister Junia stops at nothing to save the child possessed by a powerful evil spirit."
"As I read the script about Sister Junia's struggles, I was touched by her question on a cause in saving a person, and whether it matters the process is a shamanistic ritual or other means."
"I think her desperation transcends all formalities and can be well conveyed to the audience."
"I worked with the hope that such aspects can be conveyed to the audience through the acting."
Through the actors' passionate acting and the intense plot, "Dark Nuns" has been sold to 160 countries including those in North America, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. It is slated to be released on Jan. 24 in Korea.
It will also premiere on the same day in Indonesia, Taiwan and Mongolia, and on Jan. 29 in the Philippines. It will be released in February in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.
xuaiy@korea.kr
