[Sportschosun, Jo Ji-young] Actor Kim Hyang-gi has been invited to the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) with the human drama 'Hallan' (directed by Ha Myeong-mi, produced by Whenever Studio and Eonjeorado).
'Hallan,' starring Kim Hyang-gi, has been officially invited to the 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF). Kim Hyang-gi and director Ha Myeong-mi are expected to attend the festival together.
The screening carries added meaning as an exhibition related to the Jeju April 3 Incident, linked with the Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation, is also set to open in New York at the suggestion of Whenever Studio.
In 'Hallan,' Kim Hyang-gi played A-jin, a mother who flees to Hallasan to escape the suppression forces, then risks everything to come back down the mountain in search of her daughter Hae-saeng (Kim Min-chae), who was left alone in the village.
Kim Hyang-gi immersed herself in character analysis starting three months before filming. She also visited Jeju locations with the staff to better understand the environment and emotions of the people living there at the time. She devoted special effort to practicing the Jeju dialect, earning praise from locals for sounding natural and delivering a convincing performance as a woman who lived through a tragic era.
In the film, Kim Hyang-gi portrays an extreme journey that includes crossing mountains and throwing herself into the cold sea. She conveyed restrained breathing, a steady gaze, and the emotions carried in the Jeju dialect with fine detail. The performance was praised for going beyond a character defined simply by maternal love, instead bringing the real history of those who struggled to survive amid the tragedy of the Jeju April 3 Incident to the screen and prompting audiences to look again at a history that had been fading from memory.
At the time of its release, 'Hallan' drew more than 30,000 viewers, overcoming the limitations of independent film distribution. Even after its theatrical run, interest has continued in Korea, with ongoing requests for community screenings through online individual purchases as well as schools, institutions, and groups.
The response overseas has also been notable. In Japan, after opening on April 3, the day commemorating victims of the Jeju April 3 Incident, the number of theaters expanded to 45 thanks to word of mouth from audiences. Some theaters have also decided to extend screenings, underscoring the film's unusual long-run momentum for an independent art film.
The film has also continued to receive special screenings in Europe, including showings at Finnish master Aki Kaurismäki's Cinema Laika and at Cinema Orion in Helsinki. Following its competition screening at the Florence Korean Film Fest in March, it is also scheduled to meet local audiences again in July with an encore screening in Florence Square. Having been invited from Japan and Europe to the New York Asian Film Festival in North America, 'Hallan' will continue its efforts to introduce the history of the Jeju April 3 Incident on the global stage.
Along with 'Hallan's' unusual global success, Kim Hyang-gi is also establishing a unique presence by proving her wide-ranging acting spectrum. After being recognized for her sincere performance in the historical independent film 'Hallan,' she recently also demonstrated box-office power through the Coupang Play series 'Absolute Value of Romance.' The series became a sensation, gaining strong popularity in overseas markets soon after its release. As she continues to achieve global success across both artistic merit and mass appeal, and across both the big screen and OTT platforms, attention from the entertainment industry and beyond is focused on her next steps.
Set in Jeju in 1948, 'Hallan' follows the powerful survival journey of a mother and daughter who cross mountains and the sea to stay alive. The film stars Kim Hyang-gi, Kim Min-chae, Hwang Jung-nam, Kim Won-jun, Choi Seung-joon, Kim Da-huin, Kang Chae-young, and Kang Myung-joo, and was directed by Ha Myeong-mi of 'Her Hobby.'
Jo Ji-young, soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
