April Snow

World Premiere of April Snow in Mega Box Theatre in Samsong-dong, Seoul. Actors and actresses of April Snow greets the audiences. From left to right: Im Sang-Hyo, Bae Yong Joon, Son Ye Jin and Heo Jin Ho.

Bae Yong Joon and Son Ye Jin, main roles in April Snow.

April Snow World Premiere at Mega Box Theatre at Samsong-dong Seoul

「外出」在韓國舉行首映後，不少人認為全片簡直是為裴勇俊量身訂做，個人色彩太濃厚，女主角孫藝珍與導演許秦豪的表現幾乎全都被蓋過去，網路上出現兩極化的反應。

兩年前裴勇俊以風流俏公子形象演出電影「醜聞」，演技挑戰轉型固然大成功，但粉絲們仍希望能看到他以時裝造型演出文藝愛情片，眾所期待下「外出」中的溫柔深情男子應運而生。

很多人看了「外出」首映後有人認為簡直就是為他一人而拍的作品；也有人說如果少了孫藝珍搭檔演出，以及許秦豪製造浪漫氣氛的功力，全片也就沒甚麼看頭。

裴勇俊在片中強忍外遇傷痛，在妻子病床前未曾說過一句重話，甚至還展現出寬大胸懷，車禍重傷復元的太太懺悔地問他：「你有沒有甚麼話想要對我說？」裴勇俊一邊削蘋果一邊回答：「車上的那個男人死了！」讓太太一下子瀕臨崩潰嚎啕大哭。

也有網友表示，這次裴勇俊的內心戲詮釋得很好，當然大部份的粉絲是為了他而觀賞這部電影，孫藝珍超齡演出已婚婦女錶現精湛也不容抹滅，看過這部戲覺得十分浪漫寫實，猶如在冰天雪地裡喝了一杯茉莉花茶。

Source: Epoch 28th August 2005

The much-talked about movie “April Snow” (Director Heo Jin-ho) was made public for the first time to local and foreign media members on August 23. After the preview, in a press conference in KOEX in Samseong-dong, Bae Yong-joon confessed, “In-soo in the movie is myself.” The movie tells the story about a forbidden love. Married man and woman fall in love after knowing that their own spouses are having affairs. The following is a question and answer with Bae Yong-joon, the “Star in Asia.”

Question: You chose to star in this movie even before reading the scenario. What is the reason? And what did you learn through this movie?

Answer: I normally choose a film in which I can portray a character well, but this time I decided to select a film that could be a real challenge. The challenge was to cope with the director’s unique working style, who really likes impromptu acting. It was a totally new experience, and of course there were many difficult things but I learned a lot from the director, and I think it will help me with my next movies.

Question: What was it like working with director Heo Jin-ho?

Answer: “This movie was a challenge to the working style of director Heo. I wanted to experience the working style that I wanted, but I couldn’t. It is true that there were some parts that didn’t go well with me, but I learned a lot during making the movie. I am sure I can show a variety of changes of myself in other movies in the future.

Question: In this movie, In-su’s sadness was deeply expressed. How did you feel and how much did you understand his feelings?

Answer: I felt so deeply sad all the way while shooting the film. And I am glad that you felt the same way. Actually, I feel as if I had revealed my own experience in this film, so it is a little bit shameful. It was so difficult for me to express the character. I normally try hard to create the character right in films but this time I tried to become the character, so I can say In-su and myself are almost the same.

Question: Even before the official release of the movie, many people from many Asian countries have shown their interest in it. Did such high expectation have an influence on your acting?

A: Thanks to the high expectation and a lot of interest, we were able to finish the movie well. I really appreciate that, but it is true that I felt stressed a lot. I know that the movie will open simultaneously in many Asian countries and it has drawn great expectations. I hope that the film will help many Asian countries culturally interact more.

Question: In the film, you seem to have expressed many complicated emotions without speaking, using only gestures and your eyes. How difficult was it?

Answer: We had to act with limited speech. Sometimes, we were not given any guidelines or even lines. I think director Hur wanted to capture the spontaneous reactions and responses from us. So this was a challenge, and while shooting, I felt like I was trapped in a dark tunnel.

Question: There are some scenes where In-su and Seo-young drank. And I heard you actually drank alcohol in such drinking scenes. How did drinking help you act?

Answer: That was the first time to actually drink and act. Personally, I like such scenes because I think they look so natural. It added reality to the film.

Question: Japanese fans are eagerly waiting for the movie. I was excited a lot and, at the same time I was a little bit worried about the bedroom scene. I found the scene beautiful, to my relief. Please tell Japanese fans that “you don’t have to worry about the bedroom scene.”

Answer: Thank you for enjoying the movie and finding it beautiful. The director cared a lot about its beauty. I hope that the audience can experience special love through this movie. And feel relieved and enjoy the movie.

Asked about “the intense bedroom scene,” Sohn Ye-jin said, “Since the movie is about the love of married couples, physical love cannot be excluded. But it was difficult for me to bear the emotions while shooting the movie. Seo-young and In-soo must have had a lot of thoughts on their minds to become immersed in the moment. It took nine hours to make the scene. Fortunately, I feel satisfied with the scene, because the feeling of In-soo and Seo-young is good.”

Question: Static acting stood out. Isn’t it difficult to act like that?

Answer: Lines were moderated, because there were not many words in my lines. I wanted to say a lot of things but I was not allowed concrete lines and situations (laughter). However, I think that is the strong point and the distinctive feature of the director. I felt sometime as if I was trapped in a dark tunnel. I can say with confidence that there was no false acting. I tried to accept moments sincerely.

Question: Tell me about the atmosphere of shooting site. The movie is serious but, I wonder, if there were funny episodes.

Answer: The subject is so serious that the shooting atmosphere was also serious. The overall situation of the movie is dark, and I also felt that way. The director likes the vivid feeling of the shooting site. So he did not tell actors what to do. He tried to capture the unalloyed response of the other actor by directing only one actor. In the process, interesting responses came.

Question: Please make some closing remarks.

Answer: Frankly, I worried a lot about your questions. But I am glad I had a comfortable conversation. I hope you will have a special experience about special emotions of love.