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| Actor Song Kang-ho plays the role of detective In-ho in the upcoming disaster blockbuster, "Emergency Declaration." Courtesy of Showbox |
Actor says theme of new film aligns with coronavirus pandemic
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Song Kang-ho is set to show another film for the year as the lead of the new disaster blockbuster, "Emergency Declaration," following the drama film, "Broker," that won him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
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| Actor Song Kang-ho / Courtesy of Showbox |
"As we live, we will come across disasters that shouldn't happen, whether small or large. But I think the important thing here is how we process it and work through it. And this film has a message on what we should value the most during that process, which I resonated deeply with," he said.
The action disaster film follows a terrorist attack on a flight bound to Hawaii from Korea. When a passenger dies suddenly on the plane that the suspect of a terrorist threat is on, tension and panic erupt both among people on board and on the ground.
Song plays the role of the detective In-ho, who first looks into the threat the suspect made online. As he investigates, he finds that it is more than a threat and helps the government in the operations to save the lives of all on board.
It is led by director Han Jae-rim, who helmed the historical film, "The Face Reader," (2013) and the crime film, "The King" (2017).
The director noted, during the film's press conference this week, that the film intends to zoom in on the nature of humans through the disaster story.
"When faced with a disaster, humans go through a phase of fear, becoming weak and criticizing and blaming others. But despite this, the reason we are getting through the coronavirus pandemic is that we are human and can make logical decisions," he said. "I'm not trying to depict a grandiose sacrifice but am trying to say that maybe we can overcome a catastrophe if we pay attention to these trivial aspects of human nature."
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| A scene from the disaster film, "Emergency Declaration" / Courtesy of Showbox |
The actor shared that he was intrigued by how the director unfolds different stories of people who cope with disaster in their own ways.
"I felt that director Han has portrayed the stories of various people going through a catastrophe, in a mature, calm manner," he said, adding that the film's theme aligns with the COVID-19 pandemic that many struggles to go through.
"As we all are going through a tough time, I wish that (audiences) can find hope through this movie. Not that we have overcome the disaster, but I hope they can feel the meaning of community and think about what we should value through experiencing the movie," he said.
The story goes back and forth to follow people on the plane and on the ground. Faced with physical and political obstacles to helping passengers on board, people on the ground face dilemmas with limited options.
Song shared that in portraying his character, it was difficult for him not to try to make it too emotional in working his way through the operation on the ground.
"Having (the story) set on a plane was unique, I think. If it was a ship or train, there are stations that it can stop by. But on an airplane, you can't get any (physical) contact under any situation," he said. "So from In-ho's perspective, I tried to portray the realistic dilemma and the sympathetic feeling. But I felt that it should not come out too depressingly or too emotionally. So I discussed a lot on how I should express those points with director Han."
"Emergency Declaration" made its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year, screening in the non-competition section. It is set to hit local theaters on Aug. 3.
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