Reuniting for the new film 'The People Upstairs,' Ha Jung-woo, Kong Hyo-jin, Kim Dong-wook and Lee Hanee bring their on-screen chemistry to life again in a sleek fashion spread and candid conversation.
'The People Upstairs' is a remake of the Spanish film 'Sentimental,' unfolding over one long night after an upstairs and downstairs couple―fed up with nightly noise―finally sit down to share dinner, with fireworks to follow.
On her first impression of the script, Kong Hyo-jin admitted, “When I read an early, very literal pass, I thought, ‘This isn’t for me.’ I said no a few times. But I got curious about how it could evolve if we built it together. I also trusted that Ha Jung-woo wouldn’t force jokes just for laughs―so the film wouldn’t veer off course.”
Kim Dong-wook added, “The original is understated―gentle in its emotions, conflicts and humor. In the adaptation, Ha Jung-woo’s flavor of comedy clicked everything into place. Of all my projects, this might be the one where I followed a director’s notes most faithfully. I had absolute confidence he was the one to make this script sing.”
Lee Hanee shared a peek behind the scenes: “Everything on set was locked in place, so the only things moving organically were the four of us. Their words―those wildly different, unexpected colors―were irresistible.”
Marking his fourth feature as a director, Ha Jung-woo praised his cast from behind the camera: “With Hyo-jin, every take was unpredictable―editing was tough in the best way. It’s astonishing how a 20-year veteran can still channel that raw, uncut energy. Dong-wook’s character, Hyun-soo―a film director―has roots in the Heung-chul role he played in ‘Take Off.’ He grumbles, says exactly what he thinks, acts nonchalant, yet he’s endearingly loose. Dong-wook wore Hyun-soo like a tailor-made suit. And Lee Hanee’s line deliveries just crack me up―she tosses off incredibly bold lines with such ease. Apart from the legendary Kim Hye-ja, no one delivers them that elegantly.”
Asked what he hopes audiences take away, Ha said, “Restoration―of some kind of relationship. Whether you’re a couple or a family, time together can dull the edges. Through this sudden, almost absurd situation, they see each other’s bottom line and find something real. I didn’t want to end it neatly or politely. I wanted that feeling to drift to audiences―almost like a scent. If you lean into the emotions and the nuances, I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Lee Hanee added, “Being married taught me that keeping a relationship going is like tending a low flame―it takes steady work. In any relationship, sometimes you have to crash and shut down before you rebuild. This movie is like a jolt of shock therapy that crashes into your life and jump-starts change.”
'The People Upstairs' opens in theaters on December 3.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)