Dinner with Home without me
An interview with Hyunjung Kim, director of Home without me
How did you get the inspiration for Home without me?
This film reflects my autobiographical experience. When I recalled my childhood, I always felt about isolation and loneliness. I have already become an adult after a long time, but I still want to understand the lonely feelings that dominate me, so I decided to make this film.
Why did you want to make a film with teenagers?
It was like a challenge. I knew it was not easy to shoot with teenagers, but I thought I wanted to try more. Above all, I hope this story to have a child’s eye on the world and adults.
How much are you interested into children’s expectations and needs, do you have future projects on this theme ?
Perhaps this is the last movie that directly reflects my childhood. In fact, my main issues are women, relationships and complexes, rather than childhood itself, so I am going to make a film that shows this.
How many sororities are there in Korea? Why did you pick sorority application as the young sister’s hope and goal?
I don’t know what these days are about, but in my teenage years, it was more natural for girls to have relationships than girls and boys to hang out freely and build friendships. And I also wanted girls in this film to be curious and envious of Girl Scouts to emphasize the subject.
How much did you write Home without me with fear of loneliness and need for love as your characters motivations?
In fact, at the time of writing, I did not feel those emotions. When I made up my childhood experience as a story, I was judging rationally (about the structure of story) rather than feeling about what to emphasize and omit. However, in certain scenes, I wrote reminders of the similar emotions as much as possible, usually when the main character Saeyoung was idle rather than doing anything. For example, standing around watching a train passing by a crossing, or watching a TV in the living room alone after arguing with a friend.
Would you say that the short film format has given you any particular freedom?
I think that short films would be more free than feature films in determining the ending. Of course, it can not apply it to all short films, but short films are well worth just showing the world and the phenomenon itself closely, I think the writer is relatively free in the ending.
If you’ve already been to Clermont-Ferrand, could you share with us an anecdote or story from the festival? If not, what are your expectations for this year?
I am currently at the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival. Actually, I thought my film was also a historical drama in 1998, and it was a strong Korean color, so I was wondering how the French would think about the film. I had an interview for the movie on Sunday, and it was amazing to know that the feelings of the French people are similar to those of the Koreans.
Where to watch your film after the festival?
There is no festival to be decided next. However, when I get back to Korea after the festival, I will shoot a new short film in May, and I hope that the film will be shown again to the audience.
Are you taking part in other events during the Clermont Ferrand Film Festival?
Yes, I am. I watched movies of other sections and also attended the short film market. On Tuesday I attended the master class of Korean director Hongjin Na, which was quite long but it was a good time.
Home without me is being shown in International Competition I1.
