Director Yeon Sang-ho Praises Shin Hyun-been's Experimental Performance in 'Face'

Director Yeon Sang-ho has lauded actress Shin Hyun-been's dedication to her role in the film 'Face', revealing the unique casting process behind her performance.

In an interview held on the 15th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Yeon discussed the intricacies of his latest film. 'Face' tells the story of Lim Dong-hwan (played by Park Jeong-min), the son of a renowned blind stone craftsman, Im Yeong-gyu (played by Kwon Hae-hyo/Park Jeong-min), who investigates the truth behind his mother's death after her skeletal remains are discovered 40 years after her disappearance.

Shin Hyun-been portrays Jeong Yeong-hee, the mother of Lim Dong-hwan and wife of Im Yeong-gyu. Intriguingly, neither her husband nor her son has ever seen her face in the film.

When asked about the casting, Yeon shared, "I casually asked, 'I wonder who would take on a role like this?', and Shin Hyun-been readily agreed, stating she was very open to experimental acting, even without her face being shown." This led to him immediately offering her the part.

He further elaborated, "Shin Hyun-been put significant thought into the role. She discussed camera angles and how certain body parts, like her shoulders or hands, would be utilized to convey emotion." Yeon emphasized that they aimed to capture these nuanced expressions during filming.

"Throughout the shoot, her performance was so compelling that we sometimes forgot her character's face wasn't visible in the latter half of the film. The character's emotions were powerfully conveyed," Yeon noted. He attributed this success to her meticulous work on vocal delivery and mannerisms.

Yeon also highlighted the strong chemistry among the cast, mentioning Park Jeong-min's input on depicting past scenes with more emotional expression. "Shin Hyun-been, in response, adjusted her tone and speech patterns to match, demonstrating considerable effort and a strong conceptual approach to her character, especially given that voice would be her primary expressive tool," he concluded, expressing his gratitude.

(Continued in Interview ③)

Shin Hyun-been made her acting debut in 2006 with the play 'King Lear'. She has since showcased a wide range of acting skills across numerous projects. Her profound emotional portrayals have consistently earned critical acclaim from audiences.