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Journalism of Courage
Just over a year ago, 78-year-old Kim Eul-Boon was happy at home in her remote village in the South Korean province of Choongbuk and never wanted to leave.
But after starring in one of South Korea’s highest-grossing films this year, The Way Home, everything has changed for the woman who had never before seen a film, let alone acted in one.
Kim, who plays a hunch-backed mute grandmother in the film which opens in New York, Los Angeles and Spain on Friday, is now swamped by adoring fans who pour into her village by the busload, the film’s director said.
The movie, Lee’s second feature film, opened in South Korea in April and out-performed all Hollywood movies with takings of $21 million.
Lee scoured the countryside to find the perfect leading actress who lived up to the image of her own loving, now-dead grandmother, she said.
Lee was ready to give up her quest when she stumbled across Kim. Lee was drawn by her wrinkled face, but, fearing she would dishonour her family, Kim resisted Lee’s pleas before finally agreeing to take the role.
The grandma in the movie gives unconditional love to her grandson visiting from the capital of Seoul, where working mothers and Kentucky Fried Chicken dinners have created South Korea’s worst nightmare — spoiled city kids. The Coke-guzzling, Spam-chomping seven-year-old played by Yoo Seung-Ho is so disrespectful of his grandmother that he even steals from her.
She gives and gives and still draws a circle above her heart in a sign-language apology for ‘‘not being able to accommodate to the boy’s needs.’’
Her silence signifies an untainted nature, Lee said, and the grandma eventually wins the boy’s heart.
A predictable story line, yes. But the wizened old woman has become all the rage in South Korea. Websites and fan clubs affectionately call her ‘‘Woori Halmuni’’ or ‘‘Our Granny’’.
Overwhelmed by it all, Kim was at first uneasy and has slowly been getting used to her fame, the director said. (Reuters)
