Kukje Market, one of the main backgrounds of Ode to My Father, is an old traditional market in Shinchang-dong of Busan. When the Japanese departed Korea on the heels of Korea’s liberation, the market took shape there. It soon expanded and was known for its large amounts of U.S. military supplies after the breakout of the Korean Conflict and goods smuggled via Busan Port. Even today, the market is bustling with people and business. The story of Ode to My Father unfolds mainly in and around the market. Director YOUN who enjoyed big success through Haeundae (2009), shed a new light on Busan with warmth.

 

Its story unfolds with Duk-soo who has gone through the turbulent modern history of Korea since the Korean War in the 1950s. Duksoo was a young man with many dreams, but he never lived for his own interest. He struggles for his family during his entire life, withstanding the pain of his era. He settles in Busan as the head of his family after losing his father and younger sister while fleeing his town during the Korean War. As he grows up, the times are tough. Duk-soo drudges away at work to support his mother and two siblings, but it wasn't enough. When he gets older, Duk-soo decides to fly into Germany as a miner and meets his wife-tobe, working as a nurse. However, his stable and happy life is shortlived. The Vietnam War breaks out and Duk-soo voluntarily goes to the war site for a new job and gets amputated. Even after returning from the war, he is drawn into the vortex of Korea’s tempestuous modern history. One day, a campaign program for the reunion of dispersed family members allows Duk-soo to reunite with his younger sister who he lost during the evacuation. Duksoo expresses his regret and sadness through tears.

 

Ode to My Father is commonly called Korea’s Forrest Gump (1994). This is because Duk-soo, the hero of Ode to My Father directly embraces the modern history of Korea just like Forrest Gump. Ode to My Father inked three million admissions within ten days since its release and it recently passed the ten million admissions milestone. Cross-generation sympathy played a key role in the film’s remarkable success. The first Korean megahit of 2015 reminded the middle-aged and the elderly of their past and drew nostalgia. The modern history of Korea and experiences of the older generation came across as dramatic and fresh to the younger generation.

 

 

 

I had my first child in 2004. The milestone made me think of my father who had passed away. I never had a chance to say thank you, and dreamt to make a film about fatherhood for him. However, in order to express the times set in the film, we needed at least USD 10 million. At the time, I was a failed director due to the weak box office performance of Crazy Assassins (2003). Who would invest in such a director? However, after the box office hit Haeundae in 2009, I was able to start working on Ode to My Father.

 

I needed an actor with a wide spectrum, who would be able to cover the character from his 20s to his 70s. There are many actors who would be able to cover the 30s to later years, but I could only think of HWANG Jung-min for Duk-soo in Ode to My Father. Also, I thought his personality was very close to my father and me. We’re direct, but we have good intentions.

 

Many people think that KIM suits a powerful character, but in reality, she is very feminine. There were several scenes when authenticity was crucial, especially the scene where she cries her heart out, trying to save her loved one. I couldn’t think of anyone else but KIM. Also, I was interested in showing a different side of her that people were not aware of. Has anyone seen her romantic comedy? It is a newly found KIM Yun-jin in Ode to My Father.

 

I was thinking about what location would be most suitable to show the historical changes in Korea during our parents’ generation and landed on Kukje Market. We went around the city of Busan a few times and then built a set in the town of Gi-jang. To create the massive market, the production design team had to work on the set for two to three months. Although we fell in love with the set, we couldn’t keep it for very long. So on the last day of the shoot, we used it in the explosion scene. Watching the set burn down really made us sad.

 

The old coal mine in Czech Republic, which was shot as the German coal mine, actually had real coals. It was the perfect place for the shoot. We were able to utilize actual machinery that was used in that time, creating a realistic atmosphere. The actors really gave their all for these tough scenes, so it was most memorable to me. Not only that, many Czech staff members and supporting actors praised KIM Yun-jin’s performance. She has never studied German before, but her German skills were quite impressive. She practiced day and night to perfect her pronunciation and accents and the results were phenomenal.

 

Many people recognize me as a comedy director, but I wanted to prove that I can make well-made commercial films. I really wanted to make a good film.

 

I think you’ve proved yourself through the Berlin International Film Festival’s invitation.
It’s definitely an accomplishment. One of the Berlin programmers had commented that Ode to My Father is a well-made human drama in front of the backdrop of Korean contemporary history. But the comment about “emotionally charged” made me the most ecstatic. I’m very curious to find out what the international audiences will think of this film. It has a very strong Korean color to it, but with the global relevance to family, love and fatherhood; I think it’ll be relatable to everyone. I can’t wait to see their reactions.