(Movie Review) Fact and fiction merge as South Korea`s leading ladies come together

(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- "Frankly said, actresses can't stand the idea of
sharing the limelight. They have to be at the center of attention, be the most
beautiful and popular person on the scene at all times," says Lee Mi-suk, who
plays Lee Mi-suk in "The Actresses" -- or wait, is it the character Lee Mi-suk,
played by actress Lee Mi-suk, who says the lines?
A semi-improvisational movie featuring six actresses each playing themselves,
"The Actresses" has the audience constantly wondering just how much of the story
is real.
Made without a script and filmed on a scene-by-scene basis with the actresses
improvising their performances according to given situations, the movie walks a
fine line between documentary and fiction, presenting a rare chance for people to
steal a "legal peek" into the lives of top celebrities.
"Instead of creating something fictional, I thought it would be interesting to
feature each actress' charm by letting the women do some real talking," director
of the movie E J-yong explains.
Six actresses, their age varying from 20s to 60s, come together for a Vogue
magazine photo shoot on Christmas Eve, each secretly discomforted by the idea of
sharing the limelight and spending the whole day alongside one another.
Meeting for the first time, Korean Wave queen Choi Ji-woo and former beauty
pageant winner Ko Hyun-jung raise their voice over a trivial matter and get into
a childish fight which has Choi running off the set.
Model-turned-actress Kim Min-hee gets upset over a remark by a staff member that
men don't find skinny women attractive while Kim Ok-vin, the heroine of "Thirst,"
is anxious she is too chubby to be an actress.
Veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung tries to show composure but can't help feeling like
a free-rider in the glamorous photo shoot while Lee Mi-suk is blue over a recent
divorce that made headlines without her intention.
"This is more like a Christmas nightmare," the editor of the photo shoot hisses
to her colleague as the atmosphere dampens.
But with a bit of champagne, the actresses begin to reveal their inner thoughts
and bond, exposing themselves more than they ever have in front of the camera.
"The Actresses," clearly appears less concerned with finish or coherence than
with authentic, on-the-fly shooting of a moment.
While the overall story -- if there is one at all -- lacks the elements necessary
for a full feature, the small talk among actresses delivers surprising amount of
humor, emotion and warmth, proving that gathering all six into one screen is
enough to "make a scene."
Director E, who was first inspired to make the film after going out for a drink
with actresses Youn and Ko in 2007, said he focused on conveying the "reality" of
the actresses' lives.
"I had set up certain boundaries, but many elements depended a lot on the skills
and talents of the actresses themselves," he said. "I thought it would be a lot
more genuine if the story was delivered through their lips, especially as the six
women can be said to represent Korean actresses as a whole."
E, known for his refined style and cinematic talent of hitting the feminine
nerves, has helmed several hit films including the critically acclaimed period
drama "Untold Scandal."
"The Actresses" became the third of E's creations to be invited to the Berlin
International Film Festival's Panorama section, which screens 18 films considered
to have well-balanced art and commercialism.
Actress Ko said she and her colleagues talked from the "bottom of their hearts"
while shooting the movie.
"I cannot even remember everything we talked about. One minute we were laughing
and the other minute we were crying -- just like in real life."
With the six actresses agreeing to take part gratis, "The Actresses" took about
1.5 billion won (US$1.3 million) to make, a surprisingly low budget considering
the prominence of the actresses and staff.
The movie will hit the local theaters Dec. 10.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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