Chapter 68:
Given the nature of Berlin with no direct flights, the party from "The Mysterious Garden" landed in Frankfurt and took a train to reach the hotel. By the time they completed their check-in, it was already well past midnight.
Rest well, we have the screening in 13 hours!
Han Yooil faithfully followed the advice of the production company staff. As soon as he lay on the bed, he fell asleep as if being drawn in.
As soon as the sun rose, Yooil received makeup and changed his clothes. Hwayeon, who became Yooils personal stylist, circled around him like a sculptor creating a masterpiece, meticulously checking every detail, even the strands of hair covering his forehead. Satisfied, she exclaimed proudly,
Perfect! Indeed!
After a quick meal, Yooil, dressed in a tuxedo, joined Gu Chanik and Hwang Yiwon in the film festival's support vehicle and set off. Red banners with bears standing up were hung around various parts of the city.
[Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin]
Well be arriving soon.
Han Yooil exchanged glances with Hwang Yiwon and let out a light sigh. As the car door opened, Han Yooil, dressed in a cobalt blue suit with his forehead partly revealed by his slightly tousled hair, stepped out of the car.
As soon as they got out, flashes began to erupt from all around. At that moment, familiar languages reached Yooils ears as he was waving with a gentle smile.
Hyeeeeung!
Startled, Han Yooil turned his head. He saw people reaching out over the fence.
Yooil!
Its Hwang Yiwon!
Kyaaak! So handsome!
People of different ages and genders were gathered together, waving their hands.
!
Unknowingly, Yooil found himself walking towards them.
How did you come here?
Excitedly, the crowd responded.
Were exchange students!
I came for a trip!
Weve been waiting for several hours~!
!
Yooil, having recently become accustomed to signing autographs, accepted notebooks and postcards from the people and signed them.
It must have been tough waiting.
Aaack! Not at all tough!
Of course, Yooil didnt think they were here solely because of him. After all, it was a film by Director Gu Chanik, and moreover, starring Hwang Yiwon.
Regardless, thinking about these people standing in the chilly weather for so long made him feel uneasy.
If only there was enough time.
He bowed his head to those he couldnt sign for and quickly followed after Director Gu Chanik.
Im sorry.
Gu Chanik moved with a tsk sound, but thankfully, he didnt seem too upset.
Youve become quite the star.
Director Gu mumbled, and only Hwang Yiwon smiled subtly.
* * *
Inside the noisy cinema with people moving seats or arriving late, a man walked in.
Born in Paris and a graduate of La Fmis, the young director Philippe Sciamma, who had been wandering around Europe making films, brushed his tousled curly hair back and sat down.
Philippe was very excited. What made his heart race was the return of Director Gu' with a new film after a long time.
I was really curious.
Watching the movie title appear with subtitles, he soon focused on the film.
Philippe, who watches at least one movie a day no matter how busy, nodded as Hwang Yiwon appeared in the first sequence. Hwang Yiwon had appeared a few times as the lead in Korean films he had seen.
That actor looks quite familiar.
Drenched in rain, Hyukjin (Hwang Yiwon), wearing a suit, stopped in front of a small store.
A flower shop that had already gone out of business.
It was a flower shop with no fancy sign or interior. But strangely, Hyukjin couldnt take his eyes off it.
Staring through the glass door at the crushed fog flowers on the floor, he slowly shifted his gaze.
[For Rent: 010-XXXX-XXXX]
As he stared intently at the note on the door, the first scene ended.
As the subsequent scenes showing the passage of time went by.
The scene of Hyukjin opening the flower shop appeared. Familiarly, he brought loads of flowers from the flower market and arranged them, passing by in a montage.
As Hyukjin was examining a red anemone, the door opened with a clear bell sound.
Are you looking for a part-timer here?
A somewhat awkward yet confident young man appears.
* * *
Philippe was watching the movie with a slightly deflated expression. It was because he couldn't see any of Director Gu's signature style he had been anticipating. However, separate from his dissatisfaction, the film was quite engaging. The story unfolded at a pace that was neither too slow nor too fast. But then, the film reached a scene where Sooil lashes out at a friend who came to visit him. That was the moment. The expression on Philippe's face, which had been indifferent due to the rather plain story, started to change gradually. The expression of Sooil, the young man conversing with his friend, was extraordinary. He wasn't the relaxed and approachable figure he was when working at the flower shop.
Go away.
He looked like a child wishing to disappear from the world.
From that moment on, Philippe's gaze continually followed Sooil's expressions. The actor playing Sooil was fascinating to watch. Even in the same cut, the tone, gaze, and facial muscles subtly changed every moment. All of these elements worked together like intricately aligned gears.
That actor must have calculated every second for this performance.
Such a performance couldn't come without it. But what was peculiar was that these calculations weren't noticeable at all. All those detailed elements were as natural as breathing or moving a finger. Philippe was fully engrossed in the film, his body glued to the chair. Before he knew it, the film was nearing its end.
I wanted to ask you when we met.
Don't speak.
But I'm okay now.
Sooil, who was bleeding from his mouth, managed to smile. The young man who suffered from knowing too much is dying. Amongst the withering flowers of various colors, Philippe bit his lip without realizing it as he watched Sooil die. A terribly beautiful sequence. Its beauty paradoxically made the young man's death seem inevitable and fated, like Ophelia's death in Hamlet.
It's cold.
Then, the flowers begin to move. Philippe, who thought the film was about to end, widened his eyes. It wasn't just movement. The withered flowers among the broken bottles miraculously came back to life as if someone had hit the rewind button. Was this Sooil's illusion, Hyukjin's, or the flower shop that harbored them? It was unclear, but the unexpectedness made the sight even more impressive. Then, a close-up of Sooil's eyes fills the giant screen. Along with the reflection of the flowers in Sooil's eyes, his weary voice is heard.
You see that It's not just in my eyes, right?
Instead of answering, Hyukjin reaches out to touch the newly blooming flowers in front of him.
So that's why those cuts were included.
Philippe nodded. He understood why the inserts of flowers swaying in a windless room were needed. At that moment, Sooil's voice resonates. The words he whispered to the flowers, unbeknownst to anyone.
I wish.
A wish unheard by even Hyukjin, let alone the audience.
I wish I could go back to when I knew nothing.
The flowers, the sole listeners to that wish, fill the screen. And then, fade out. While all the audience holds their breath looking at the screen, Hyukjin opens his eyes. He realizes he is standing in a funeral home. There, with a face young enough to be just a middle schooler, is Sooil. Hyukjin is drawn towards him as if bewitched.
Are you a friend of my dad?
At Sooil's innocent question, Hyukjin shakes his head.
I came to see you. There's something I wanted to tell you.
He slowly places his hand on Sooil's head. And then he speaks. As if reciting a spell.
From now on you dont need to find answers to every problem.
Even if there are answers to the problems?
Not all answers will make you happy.
The boy doesn't respond easily.
Hyukjin knows how smart and bold this boy is.
That's why he decides to wait patiently, confident that he won't be surprised by any answer.
But you can't always be happy, right?
Hearing the boy's response, Hyukjin lets out a hollow laugh.
It's only now that Hyukjin realizes.
He must have given this kind of answer countless times, maybe even dozens of times.
Yet, he speaks again.
Then, do as you wish.
I'll be waiting.
The young Sooil looks up at Hyukjin with an inscrutable expression.
As the credits roll up accompanied by music imbued with quiet, deep sorrow, applause fills the cinema.
A few people quickly stand up. Triggered by them, reporters and spectators who were there for coverage begin to rise too.
Director Gu Chanik and the cast also stand up and bow several times to the audience, seemingly not expecting the standing ovation.
Philippe was among those sending a standing ovation.
Yet, even as he clapped, he felt a tinge of unease.
Looking at the movie itself
Yes, it was good. The craftsmanship and direction were flawless.
Still, I can't say it was completely satisfying.
Fans of Director Gu's work would inevitably feel a pang of disappointment.
Until eight years ago, Gu Chanik made films that were far from traditional narratives. The deliberately fragmented characters and settings disrupted comfortable viewing, but Philippe liked the ambiguous and unfriendly world created by Gu Chanik. He was always ready to dive into that sea of leaps as willingly as a fish.
If I had watched this film without knowing the directors name, I would never have thought it was a work of Gu.
Philippe swallowed his complex emotions, waiting for their conversation.
Soon, the director and two actors joined the host and interpreter on stage. The host lightened the mood with some casual conversation before starting with the questions.
This film seems quite different from your previous works, what do you think about that?
Well thats a tough one.
After a small cough, Gu Chanik continued slowly.
As you know, the era of film movies has passed. It's been quite a while since movies in Korea stopped being shot on film. I, too, started making movies by cutting and splicing film. The end of the film era was a big wound a loss for me. Many have embellished my movies with complex words, but in truth, the movies I made are like a grown child who cant let go of their mother. The lament of an old man who can't forget the past and a film director.
It was an unexpected answer.
The young French director adjusted his posture.
Even those who were looking at the floor or ceiling turned their gaze to the stage, captivated by the candid story about his films from the veteran director from the East.
Yes. Movies are a lament for me. In that sense, this movie is also in the same vein. You might think its completely different on the surface but I dont think so.
Gu Chaniks voice resonated in the quiet cinema.
Some of you here might know. After my daughter died, I couldnt make films for a while. I couldnt let go of her.
Ah.
Philippe unwittingly let out a sigh.
But the moment I read the script written by my daughter, I understood. This was the lament she left behind. Except for the fact that the subject of that lament was me, it's not much different from my previous works. I think my answer might be too long for the question.
Oh, not at all, Gu. It was a beautiful and profound story. Thank you for sharing.
After that, the atmosphere became more serious, and the Q&A continued. A few questions and answers were exchanged, and someone raised their hand to ask a question.
The acting of the two lead actors was impressive, especially the actor who played the role of Sooil. I understand hes a newcomer. How did you come to cast him? Was there something special?
To be honest, Im not a director who expects a lot from actors.
Director Gu Chanik continued without any change in his expression.
But it was different this time.
Oh, really? How was it different?
Thats something this guy will explain.
And then, Gu Chanik passed the microphone he was holding to the side.
!
Yooil, who suddenly received the microphone, looked around the audience with a bewildered face.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes were focused solely on him.
Um
After pondering for a moment, Han Yooil began to speak.
When I first met the director, he told me he disliked teen stars'. And when we parted that day, he entrusted me with the lead role.
Wow!
I guess he thought I was not like typical teen stars.
A quiet laughter spread through the audience. Yooil, with a faint smile, continued.
Its all thanks to the director's faith in me.
It was a statement loaded with undeniable, profound sincerity.
There were a few more questions, but due to the tight schedule, the answers had to be brief.
Ah, its already this late. As it's the last one, Ill ask. Please be honest. Do you have any complaints or requests for the director, Han?
The host winked, implying the conversation wouldnt leak, even though it was clear that the reporters present had been taking notes since the screen rose, so whatever was said wouldnt remain secret.
Yooil looked at the sparkling eyes gazing at him.
In this situation, he decided to answer honestly.
There is a small complaint.
Oh! What is it?
Han Yooil replied with a slight frown.
You said theres a delicious pho restaurant in Berlin, but you still havent told me the name of the place.
What!
The host laughed heartily, making comments like, Gu, it seems your actor is full of complaints, what will you do?
The screening ended in a cheerful atmosphere.
* * *
The next day at lunch.
Yooil finally got to visit the rumored pho restaurant. It was a place with a striking red sign and a terrace.
Hwang Yiwon ordered a bibim salad noodle, and Gu Chanik ordered beef pho. Yooil ordered the same as Gu Chanik.
You made a good choice.
Yooil waited for the food while setting the table and looking around. The interior of the restaurant was bustling with office workers and tourists.
Although he felt sorry for Director Gu, Yooil was wondering how tasty the pho could be.
But the moment he took his first bite, he realized he had been very wrong.
!
The warm, savory taste with a hint of umami tantalized his taste buds. The crunchy bean sprouts and the thick, tender meat, along with the perfectly cooked noodles, were a perfect harmony.
Director Gus words were no lie.
Its really delicious, Director.
Gu Chanik grumbled as if saying, Would I lie to you, but the corners of his lips slightly curled up.
Hwang Yiwon also emptied his bowl with a satisfied face.
The three left the restaurant patting their full bellies.
I never thought Id find a pho hotspot in Berlin.
Its a city of immigrants, after all.
Hwang Yiwon, having said that, glanced at Director Gu and then whispered that he personally preferred kebabs bought from the street.
Once you have a doner kebab here, youll think about it from time to time.
That was the moment.
A man in his mid to late 30s with curly hair had been following them.
Who is he?
His face was familiar. He was the one who sat at the diagonal table in the pho restaurant.
The man asked in English with a unique accent.
You are Director Gu, right?
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