‘1947 Boston’, a miraculous true story written by Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan… Preparation for Chuseok theater box office hit [D:On-site]

‘1947 Boston’, completed with the sweat of director Kang Je-gyu, Ha Jung-woo, and Lim Si-wan, presents a heart-warming journey through a true story.

On the afternoon of the 11th, a press screening for the movie ‘1947 Boston’ was held at the Lotte Cinema Konkuk University entrance in Jayang-dong, Seoul, with director Kang Je-gyu and actors Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan in attendance.

‘1947 Boston’ is a film that tells the story of the challenges and thrilling journey of marathon runners to participate in international competitions wearing the Taegeuk symbol for the first time after liberation in 1947. This is the new work of director Kang Je-gyu of ‘Shiri’ and ‘Taegukgi’.

Director Kang Je-gyu said, “I have a lot of films that mainly deal with the past. I don’t know the exact turning point why it happened that way. In fact, I really wanted to do a science fiction genre after ‘Taegukgi’, but it fell through. But at some point, I started to get a good look at the past we lived in. “I thought that looking into the future was like predicting the future,” he said, explaining why he filmed a true story.

He also said, “I really wanted to film a movie about running, and the act of running barefoot and without any equipment or tools toward a 42.195km road tunnel seemed to be the sport most suited to human passion and challenge.”

Ha Jung-woo, who played the role of Son Ki-jeong, a gold medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, said, “When I take on a character, I usually start with my body, mind, and soul. This time, I had to consult a lot with the director. Every time I filmed a take, I wondered, ‘How does Mr. Son Ki-jeong feel?’ “I thought about it. As those feelings accumulated one by one, I couldn’t easily fall off my feet during the scene where I was on the podium at the Berlin Olympics. My heart was heavy, as if I had actually experienced it. I felt a solemnity that I had never felt before while filming,”he said about his thoughts on filming.

Im Si-wan played Seo Yun-bok, an indomitable marathoner who dreams of becoming the next Son Ki-jeong. Im Si-wan said, “The very fact that there is a real person was a task that should not be ignored by that person. I thought that I should approach the work with a sense of responsibility. Just as Seo Yun-bok was the first player to compete in an international competition wearing the Taegeuk symbol, I played the role of a character. “It’s a shame, but while filming, I felt like I was representing the national team wearing the Taegeuk symbol,”he said, expressing his mindset while filming.

In order to play marathon runner Seo Yun-bok, Im Si-wan began training for the marathon and managing his diet two months before filming. Im Si-wan said, “I always ate chicken breast and salad from the time I started filming to the end. I also had to exercise every day. My muscles needed to be strong, so I tried to maintain muscle tone by exercising even during filming,”he said. “It wasn’t my goal, but “I recorded my body fat at 6% while exercising and dieting. It was amazing to see that number in my life,”he said, explaining the process of working hard for the filming.

Ha Jung-woo said, “I watched (Lim) Si-wan’s preparation time from the side. So, when I was filming the competition scene, I naturally got emotional and wanted to sincerely support him. I saw the finished product for the first time today, and Im Si-wan expressed it so well that teacher Seo Yun-bok was very supportive. “I think you’ll like it,” he praised Siwan.

Im Si-wan also said, “It was my first time working with Ha Jung-woo. I felt like I had met a very dependable older brother. I relied on him a lot while filming. Although he was the director in the drama, I felt closer to him than that. He has more experience and knows more about movies and the world than me.”He recalled the filming scene with Ha Jung-woo, saying, “It was so fun that I remember filming it while looking forward to seeing what kind of laugh points would come out.”

Director Kang Je-gyu hoped that ‘1947 Boston’ would be a time for many audiences to examine themselves. Director Kang said, “You may feel that stories from the past are old-fashioned and uninteresting. Our lives are so difficult and we have so many stories to tell, so you might say there is a need to look into the past, but there are many great stories left in history. “Throughout our lives, I hope we can check for ourselves whether we are currently on the right path. I want to be a source of strength and courage to young audiences,” he said.

After ‘Unofficial Operation’, which was released in the summer, Ha Jung-woo quickly met audiences with ‘1947 Boston’ during Chuseok in the fall. Ha Jung-woo said, “The release schedule is something I cannot be involved in. This is not the first time I have encountered a situation while filming and releasing a movie. I just want to handle this schedule in a healthy manner.”He added, “The absolute number of viewers has not yet returned after the pandemic. “I hope our movie will contribute to the culture of people coming to theaters and watching movies.”

Lastly, Director Kang Je-gyu said, “I was jealous when I saw other people’s films being released first. The past few years were ultimately valuable and precious times that allowed me to refine ‘1947 Boston.’ Making a film involves interacting and listening through various channels. “I felt again that it was absolutely necessary. I learned a lot in many ways,”he said, adding, “It’s very difficult for the theater industry. We’ll have to work hard, but I hope many people will give us strength as well.”

Ha Jung-woo also said, “It’s finally about to be released. Many family members, including the director and production company, have been waiting for this day. I want to meet the audience and receive some comfort. I hope this will be an opportunity to compensate for the long hours of hard work.”Released on the 27th.