‘1947 Boston’ Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan, a moving marathon race on the screen [Comprehensive]

(Reporter Kim Yu-jin, Xports News) Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan of ‘1947 Boston’ play real-life marathon runners Son Ki-jeong and Seo Yun-bok, and unfold their touching marathon journey on screen.

On the 11th, a press preview of the movie ‘1947 Boston’ (directed by Kang Je-gyu) was held at the Lotte Cinema Konkuk University entrance in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Kang Je-gyu and actors Ha Jung-woo, Im Si-wan, and Kim Sang-ho attended the event.

‘1947 Boston’ is a film about the aspirations and races of national marathoners who want to run again after liberation and participate in the first international marathon.

Director Kang Je-gyu, who returned with a new film eight years after ‘Jangsu Store’, which was released in 2015, first expressed his nervous feelings, saying, “I hope it becomes a movie that can give hope and courage to many people.”

Ha Jung-woo played the role of Berlin Olympic gold medalist Son Ki-jeong, and Im Si-wan played the role of Seo Yun-bok, an indomitable marathoner who dreams of becoming the next Son Ki-jeong. Kim Sang-ho contributed to the role of Baek Nam-hyeon, the local coordinator and financial guarantor of Son Ki-jeong and Seo Yun-bok.

Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan shared how they approached the work with a different mindset than ever before when it came to playing real people.

Ha Jung-woo reflected, “I think it was my first time taking on the role of coach and senior. Teacher Son Ki-jeong led the players on their journey to Boston, and I think I felt a certain sense of responsibility.”

He continued, “I took responsibility as a senior for not being able to wear the Taegeukgi during the Berlin Olympics, and I filmed it while thinking about the feelings of Mr. Son Ki-jeong, who tried to have the thought that he should participate in the competition wearing the Taegeukgi at least this time.”

Im Si-wan actually portrayed Seo Yun-bok’s face realistically with a strong body created through thorough diet and training.

Im Si-wan said, “Just because there were real people, I thought I had to do something that should never be seen by those people,” and added, “I thought I should approach this work with a sense of responsibility.”

He continued, “Isn’t Seo Yun-bok the first player to wear the Taegeuk emblem and participate in an international competition? Of course, I play a certain character in this work, but at least while acting, I have the thought that I should wear the Taegeuk emblem and represent the country with the determination to represent the country. “I was involved from the first preparation until the filming was completed,” he said.

He added, “And since it was a running role, the running had to be shown professionally. I trained professionally with the coach 2-3 months before starting the project.”

Kim Sang-ho expressed his surprise as he watched Im Si-wan actually running and jokingly said, “Im Si-wan looked cool running down the hill. So I said ‘Here he comes’ and cheered me on, but it was edited out.”

Ha Jung-woo said, “Usually, when I take on a character, I start with my body, soul, and mind. In the case of Mr. Ki-jeong Son, I consulted with the director and talked to him, trying to find out what kind of person he was. What was going through his mind while filming this take in this situation? “I tried to have that thought in every shoot,” he said.

He continued, “As those feelings built up one by one, the first scene showed the podium at the Berlin Olympics, and it felt like I was actually experiencing the scene rather than a movie set. I didn’t easily lose my footing. My heart was a little heavy while filming. “It was a feeling I had never felt while filming,” he recalled.

Im Si-wan also revealed the feelings he was reminded of through ‘1947 Boston’ and said, “Whenever I work on a piece of work, there is a thought I keep repeating to myself in order not to waste every moment. ‘This moment will never come back.’ “I felt like I had to work as hard as I could,” he confessed.

Director Kang Je-gyu said, “I think the marathon is the exercise that best suits the aspects of passion and challenge in life that make us think about the limits of human beings. I think there is something unique that only the marathon offers,”and decided to direct ‘1947 Boston.’ A reason was added.

He also said, “There are so many precious stories contained in our history and so many great people. It would be nice to have the time to check for myself whether we are really living well through the lives of those people.”He asked for attention.

‘1947 Boston’ will be released on the 27th.

Photo = Xports News Reporter Park Ji-young, Lotte Entertainment

Reporter Yujin Kim slowlife@xportsnews.com