On June 15, a press screening for 'Eye' was held at the CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul. Director Yeom Ji-ho and actors Shin Min-a and Kim Nam-hee attended the event.
'Eye' is a suspense thriller about Seo-jin, who is gradually losing her sight due to a genetic disease, as she investigates the mysterious death of her twin sister.
Director Yeom Ji-ho stated, "Since 'Eye' is a thriller, I focused on setting it up so that the audience can easily follow the story. I paid a lot of attention to maintaining a balance that is neither excessive nor lacking in its subtlety."
He added, "While I see this film as a thriller, I also believe it is about love. I contemplated whether the actions portrayed as love are truly love, and what real love is. I hope the audience reflects on these aspects while watching the film."
The film is based on the 2011 Spanish movie 'Julia's Eyes.' Director Yeom noted the emotional differences between Spain and Korea, highlighting how these distinctions influenced the adaptation.
Yeom explained, "The emotional nuances between European and Korean audiences are intriguingly different. I considered how the narrative style would resonate with Korean viewers and worked hard to ensure it felt emotionally coherent for them."
In the film, Shin Min-a portrays Seo-jin, a photographer losing her sight due to hereditary optic neuropathy, who investigates her twin sister Seo-in's suspicious death. Seo-in, on the other hand, is a successful potter who meets an untimely demise.
Shin Min-a shared, "I focused on expressing Seo-jin's emotions and fears as she gradually loses her sight. I aimed to make the complex relationship with Seo-in relatable for the audience."
She added, "As the film builds to its climax, I also worked on conveying Seo-jin's fear and curiosity about the identity of the perpetrator."
In this project, Shin Min-a took on the challenge of playing two roles. Although the characters share a face, they possess distinct deficiencies and desires, creating suspense throughout the film.
Shin Min-a explained, "I viewed them as entirely different characters. While Seo-jin and Seo-in look alike, their personalities and aspirations are different. Seo-jin has her own shortcomings and feels a complex mix of emotions, both protective and envious, towards Seo-in."
She continued, "Seo-in is focused on her art but worries about being a burden to her sister. Since the two characters were clearly defined, I approached them as if they were from different works. I was curious about how it would feel to see my face appear twice in one frame, and after watching the film, I found it fascinating that the two characters appeared distinct."
Portraying a character losing her sight was also a challenging process. Shin Min-a collaborated closely with Director Yeom to depict Seo-jin's changing vision and sensory perception.
She said, "We had many discussions about the points at which she gradually loses her sight. I even experimented with changing the position of my eyes, but I aimed to capture the details of Seo-jin's situation."
Shin Min-a recalled a scene in the latter part of the film where Seo-jin, after surgery, is filmed with bandages over her eyes. "Since I couldn't see, my hearing became sensitive to even the smallest sounds. Even though I tried to gauge my position and situation before closing my eyes, my heightened hearing and fear made me feel disoriented. I acted with the thought that Seo-jin must be experiencing immense fear and difficulty. I hope the audience can feel the fear I experienced while portraying her."
Shin Min-a described 'Eye' as a film that raises questions about relationships. She reflected, "While playing Seo-jin and Seo-in, I thought about love, obsession, protection, and the dynamics of relationships before and after being together. It seems to be a film that explores love and obsession among Seo-jin, Seo-in, Do-hyeok, and their mother. I believe it encourages viewers to reflect on their relationships with loved ones."
Kim Nam-hee plays Do-hyeok, a detective who, while wary of Seo-jin's obsession, becomes her eyes in the pursuit of Seo-in's death. As he gets closer to the truth, he intensifies the audience's doubts and confusion.
Kim Nam-hee expressed, "From the moment I read the script to now, I've been contemplating whether my character and the film align with its intended message. I wasn't very confident, so I discussed a lot with the staff while working on the project."
He also shared his struggles with acting, saying, "There were times when I felt I couldn't do it. The pressure was significant. However, thanks to the director and the producer's clear explanations, I was able to act with courage. I tried to show the evolution of Do-hyeok's character."
Having seen the completed film for the first time in theaters, he remarked, "It didn't feel like my movie; I watched it as an audience member. I was surprised by the performances of my seniors and found the final scene shocking. From an audience perspective, I lost track of time while watching. I thought the performances were excellent, and the film offered a shocking auditory and visual experience."
Finally, Director Yeom emphasized, "We put a lot of effort into the sound and visuals of this film. I believe viewers will feel a lot when they watch it in theaters. I hope audiences will come to see it."
Shin Min-a added, "Personally, I am very happy that it is being released in theaters. Many people are showing interest in Korean films these days, and I hope 'Eye' will also be loved as a thriller."
Meanwhile, 'Eye' is set to be released on June 24.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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