The warm family comedy ‘Big Family’ at first glance, seems like a film that seems far removed from director Yang Woo-suk. This film, which depicts what happens when the ‘self-proclaimed’ grandchildren come to visit a dumpling restaurant owner (Kim Yoon-suk) whose family lineage has died out because his son (Lee Seung-gi) has become a monk, feels quite different from his previous works, such as ‘The Attorney’, which is based on former President Roh Moo-hyun, and ‘Steel Rain’, which deals with inter-Korean issues.

However, director Yang Woo-suk, whom we met on the 11th, said, “I always create stories that are relevant to our times,”and this film is no exception. “I think the most important topic of discussion in this day and age is the form and meaning of family,” he said emphatically.

○ “Perhaps the most serious story”

Director Yang used the character “對” (to deal with) instead of “大” (big) in the title “Big Family.” This is because he wanted to better express the movie’s message of “how to deal with family” (how to deal with the concept of family) through the title.

“Like the characters in the play, many people get hurt in their families, and some have trauma and complexes related to their families. Parents and children are not things they can choose for themselves. I wanted to think about these various issues within families together. And I thought that these problems should no longer be solved by family members alone, but should be supported and taken care of by multiple families.”

In that sense, Director Yang said that this film, which is advertised as a family comedy, “may have a heavier and more serious story” than the films he has made before.

“The situations in ‘The Attorney’ and ‘Steel Rain’ are very special, right? The positions of the characters are the same. But family problems are something that can happen to any of us, and are more universal.”
○“Applause for Lee Seung-gi’s shaved head and fighting spirit”

He said that he chose Kim Yun-seok and Lee Seung-gi without hesitation to play the father and son characters that lead the story. Regarding Kim Yun-seok, who played the owner of a dumpling restaurant, he said, “He’s an actor who looks like a craftsman no matter what he does,” and laughed, “Even if he just holds the dumpling skin, doesn’t he look like a dumpling craftsman?” He also expressed his gratitude for Lee Seung-gi’s passion for playing the son who became a monk.

“Actually, I was worried because the thing that actors who film commercials are most reluctant about is shaving their heads. But actor Lee Seung-gi is a Buddhist, so he was used to shaving his head like a monk. That’s why he happily shaved his head. But I heard that he was shocked when he saw me with my head shaved.”

Director Yang also expressed his hope that “people can temporarily forget the fatigue from the chaotic political situation, such as the sudden declaration and lifting of martial law by the president, through ‘Big Family.’”

“Although I thoroughly excluded intentional melodrama while making the movie, there were many responses after the preview screening that said it resonated with them emotionally. I think that feeling is probably due to the sympathy we feel from the subject of family, not just our film. I hope that this film can help ease our confused and complicated hearts.”



Reporter Seungmi Lee smlee@donga.com