Netflix’s “When life gives you mandarins” He fascinated global spectators with his moving narrative and exceptional actors’ shows. On April 8, Netflix published a detailed question and answer with the director of the director of the series, artistic directors and the musical director, revealing details on the realization of the show, in particular the emotional scene of the “first night” shared between Lead IU and Park Bo-Gum.
The scene that left a mark
The director of photography Choi Yoon-Man revealed that the emotional severity of the drama reminded him of his deceased mother, and he felt deeply moved while reading the script. Among the many scenes, he mentioned the scene in a small inn where AE-Sun (IU) and Gwan-Sik (Park Bo-Gum) share their first night after running away as the most memorable. “We shot it as a scene with a single grip, using only one movement of the camera to capture the raw emotion”, Choi said.
Capture the emotion on glamor
Despite the high show budget, Choi underlined a minimalist approach, “We wanted to avoid visual excess. The visual elements had to feel rooted so that the performances of the actors could shine.” He praised the dedication of the cast and worked to ensure that the configuration of the camera has never limited their movement or emotional expression.
Design a living time sequence
The art directors Ryu Seong-Hee and Choi Ji-Hye have faced the monumental task of illustrating 65 years of modern Korean history. Their goal was not only a historical precision, but to reflect the evolution emotions of the characters and inner worlds. They built a large -scale fishing village set in Andong to portray various timing. “We have transformed the set several times to show the passage of time”, Ryu explained.
Even apparently minor stage objects such as old hand -written posters and banners were handmade according to accurate references for the period. The aim, they said, was to reflect the memories lived, not only the aesthetic.
Visual effects seamlessly
Given the narrative for the era, VFX played a critical but invisible role. Whether it’s merged different places in a scene without continuity or to recreate a sea carried out by the storm, VFX has contributed to improving realism. “Some shots could be completely CGI, but you wouldn’t even notice it”, The team observed.
A story told through seasons and souls
The structure of the show told over four seasonal chapters has amplified its emotional resonance. “Each season brought a specific colors and mood palette”, Ryu said. From youth innocence to the peaceful pain of old age, every set and choice of lighting aimed to reflect the inner travel of the characters.
The Beatles, for the first time
The drama made the story as the first Korean series to include a Beatles song. The music director Lee Nam-Yeon said that this was the key to raising the emotional tone of the show, linking global themes of love and loss in the distinctly Korean narrative.
“When life gives you mandarins” It continues to praise its production values ​​and narration, having ensured the best points in the global Netflix graphics. While creators reflect on the emotional weight of the project and on the technical challenges, one thing is clear: this series has not been done, it has been lived.
