On the morning of January 23, director Kwon Hyeok-jae sat down for an interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where he discussed various aspects of the film “Dark Nuns.”
“Dark Nuns” tells the story of individuals who undertake a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit.
Reflecting on his experience working with Song Hye-kyo, who returned to the domestic big screen after 11 years with “Dark Nuns,” director Kwon said: “It had been a long time since Song Hye-kyo’s last film appearance. He had a lot of concerns, especially because the way films are promoted and the way he interacts with audiences have changed significantly over the years. I think he found these aspects quite refreshing.”
He continued: “Junia’s character seems to have left a strong impression on her. After ‘The Glory’, I feel he has gained confidence in tackling genre works.”
“Once Hye-kyo makes a decision, she doesn’t look back but is fully committed to the present moment. This was also evident in the smoking scenes. Although she is a non-smoker, she readily agreed to smoke for the role.
Previously, it was revealed that Song Hye-kyo started learning to smoke six months before filming and performed all the smoking scenes herself.
Director Kwon shared: “Song Hye-kyo said “I don’t want it to seem fake” and coldly stated that she would practice smoking. He said if Junia were real, this is what she would really do. Of course we could have used nicorettes or CG, but her determination to do it herself was strong. As a director, I was very grateful.“
He added: “There were many aspects of Junia’s character that needed preparation and smoking was just one of them. However, since it is also the first scene of the film, it was considered quite bold. Hye-kyo made decisive and refreshing choices for every aspect of the character.“
“Dark Nuns” will premiere on January 24.
