2 hours Ago By [email protected](KoreaTimes)
Actor Hyun Bin poses during a press conference for the upcoming movie “Harbin” at a theater in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul The film "Harbin," which tells the story of Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910) , an independence activist who sought to break free from Japanese colonial rule, strived to capture the unwavering determination of the lieutenant general of the Korean resistance army and his comrades, director Woo Min-ho said Wednesday. "Even after arriving in Mongolia, we had to travel three more days to reach the filming location.
It was all unpaved roads and just getting there exhausted us," the director said during a press conference in Seoul. The movie was filmed in three locations: Latvia, Mongolia and Korea. Woo noted that temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius in Mongolia were particularly challenging.
"The prerequisite for filming this movie was that we shouldn't be comfortable, in order to capture General Ahn and other independence fighters' spirit," he said. "Although it's incomparable to what they went through, we believed we needed to experience hardship by visiting remote places and vast wilderness to understand even a fraction of their efforts, difficulties and mindset." Actor Hyun Bin takes on the role of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun in the movie “Harbin.
” Courtesy of CJ ENM The big-budget movie, reportedly costing about 30 billion won ($21.5 million), highlights independence activists who risked their lives fighting for Korea's independence in the early 1900s. The film centers on Ahn (portrayed by Hyun Bin ), who shot and killed Ito Hirobumi, Japan's first prime minister and resident-general of Korea, in Harbin, China, in 1909.
The director, best known for his 2015 film "Inside Men" and 2020 film "The Man Standing Next," revealed that he entrusted the role of Ahn to Hyun with the belief that only he could fulfill it. "It was an undeniably burdensome role because he was a real person and a great historical hero," Woo said. "Therefore, we needed an actor with the physical stamina to endure such a demanding role.
I thought Hyun Bin was perfect for Ahn Jung-geun. I believed he could endure and overcome it." Hyun also admitted to feeling pressure about portraying this renowned historical figure.
"As I was playing a real historical figure, the pressure and responsibility were considerable. On the other hand, I was grateful just to have the opportunity to portray such a meaningful character," Hyun said. "Above all, this was my first work with the director, and I could feel his sincerity, determination and passion for this project.
In the end, I think choosing to appear in this film was the right decision." To portray the independence fighter, Hyun said it took about nine months to prepare and film. "(Filming this movie) was a continuous process of learning about, contemplating and imagining the general.
Before carrying out his mission, General Ahn must have experienced anguish, frustration and sadness as a human being like us. Nevertheless, I wanted to express the conviction and will he needed to achieve his goal," the actor said. Actor Lee Dong-wook, left, plays the fictional independence fighter Lee Chang-seob in the movie “Harbin.
” Courtesy of CJ ENM Actor Park Jung-min, who played another independence fighter, Woo Deok-sun (1879-1950), also took a careful approach when portraying the historical figure. "Playing a real historical figure required an extremely sensitive and delicate approach," Park said. "Since there weren't many remaining records, I first had many conversations with the director and referenced books containing trial records.
" Lee Dong-wook, whose character Lee Chang-seob is a fictional independence fighter, revealed that he struggled to ensure the film accurately depicted these activists' deeds. "The actors discussed whether we could have been independence fighters if we were born in that era, but the answer always seemed to be no," he said. "So, we worked hard with the mindset that we shouldn't dishonor their gratitude.
" Woo explained why he had returned to the historical drama genre for the big screen, following his previous work "The Man Standing Next," which dealt with the assassination of former President Park Chung-hee in 1979. "General Ahn Jung-geun and the independence fighters' spirit moved my heart. In fact, I had a feeling that 'Harbin' would be the most challenging work I've done, but I started with the determination to face this challenge," the director said.
“Harbin” will be released in theaters on Christmas Day..
