Song Joong-ki explores the meaning of adulthood in 'Hopeless'

Movies

Published: 04 Oct. 2023, 17:07

Song Joong-ki explores the meaning of adulthood in 'Hopeless'

Actor Song Joong-ki plays Chi-geon, the middle boss of a crime ring, in the upcoming film "Hopeless" which was invited to the Cannes International Film Festival this year. [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

Song Joong-ki, an actor whose prolific career has attracted just as much attention as his illustrious personal life, came to realize what it means to be a real adult with his newborn son and his upcoming film "Hopeless," which was invited to this year's Cannes International Film Festival.

“A real adult is hard to find, and such a person is someone who knows what responsibility is,” Song said during an interview with reporters on Sept. 25. “My character Chi-geon in ‘Hopeless’ is a questionable person in that sense, and I ultimately think that he was irresponsible with regards to what happens in the ending.”

“Hopeless” surrounds Song’s character Chi-geon and newcomer Hong Xa-bin’s Yeon-gyoo, in a dark neo-noir thriller about a crime ring and the people who get involved with it. Yeon-gyoo is a teenage boy who falls under the wing of Chi-geon, a middle boss of the local gang. Yeon-gyoo finds a father figure in Chi-geon, but their relationship is turbulent and Chi-geon’s intentions are unclear throughout the film.

Actor Song Joong-ki

“I think this film is a melodrama about two men,” Song said, referring to Yeon-gyoo and Chi-geon’s relationship.

“The film does not involve too much of the plot and focuses on the relationships between these two characters. I was drawn to the script at first because the film and story posed a different kind of cinematic grammar than most other films."

"I would compare ‘Hopeless’ to very sticky gum that won’t come off your shoes no matter how hard you try, to put it metaphorically," he continued. "And like I said, it is about what makes someone a real adult, which is a question that has been close to my heart recently, ever since my son was born.”

Song welcomed a baby boy into the world with his wife Katy Louise Saunders earlier this year, garnering massive media attention regarding his marital and personal life. Song's marriage to Saunders is his second, after getting a divorce with former co-star Song Hye-kyo in June 2019. The actor's personal life has been the center of media scrutiny ever since.

A scene from "Hopeless" starring actor Song Joong-ki [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

“I was initially apprehensive about all the attention, especially some of the negative comments directed against my wife,” Song said.

“But now that my son has reached 100 days since his birth and I have had the time to reflect on the nature of the attention that I have received, I am grateful for everything. I have realized that the way to build myself as a real adult and a professional actor is to be confident and proud about myself and what I do.”

Being invited to Cannes this year — Song’s first to the prestigious film festival — was a unique experience even for Song, who has had numerous hit films and dramas up until now and is used to the spotlight.

“The European audiences and industry people such as distributors and buyers were very keen on ‘Hopeless’ and showed a lot of interest,” Song said. “I personally think that our film is not the most forgiving or approachable work out there, but I think that perhaps the foreign audience prefers that kind of challenge. I am of course worried about what the Korean audience will feel and say regarding ‘Hopeless.’”

Another reason Song took on the role of Chi-geon in “Hopeless” is because he said the film shared similarities with “The Shameless” (2015), a Korean neo-noir film that had been invited to that year’s Cannes. “The Shameless” is one of Song’s favorite films — one which he has watched over and over, according to the actor.

“In ‘The Shameless,’ the two main characters’ relationship is very complex and multidimensional, which I loved,” Song said. “I think Chi-geon’s and Yeon-gyoo’s relationship is also of that nature. We are unsure what Chig-geon’s intentions are in his taking care of Yeon-gyoo, whether or not he really cares for the boy, and if Yeon-gyoo really does look up to Chi-geon. I like these kinds of layered character studies and relationships.”

A scene from "Hopeless" starring actors Song Joong-ki, far left, Kim Hyung-seo, center, and Hong Xa-bin [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

But Song was also careful not to draw too much attention to his own character, saying that Hong's Yeon-gyoo is the real protagonist and center of “Hopeless.”

“I decided to participate in ‘Hopeless’ without receiving any payment because I know that I am the more well-known actor out of the two of us, but I loved this story and wanted it to be told, and knew that if I appeared in it this film could catch more people’s eyes,” Song said. “But the story isn’t Chi-geon’s but Yeon-gyoo’s. I hope to make that clear.”

On the title of the film and whether “Hopeless” is about hope or despair, Song left the answer vague and asked the audience to decide for themselves.

“The story is a very dark one, seemingly without any hope for the main characters, but I think each viewer will approach it differently,” Song said. “I look forward to reading commentary and reviews from the Korean audience once the film is out.”

“Hopeless” opens in theaters on Oct. 11, and Song is set to participate in an Actor's House session at the Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Wednesday and runs for 10 days.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]