Ohh Ohh... this is more like it.
We mentioned last month the change of plans regarding the remake of Kim Ki-Young's 1960 masterpiece 하녀 (The Housemaid), with director Gina Kim opting out, and leaving the choice of who was going to helm it (a "Internationally-renowned director," as the producers said) to only a few names. We suggested one between Im Sang-Soo and Kim Ki-Duk... and it will indeed be Im, who returns to Chungmuro after 오래된 정원 (The Old Garden) and a much too long hiatus - meaning that his French project is either postponed, or went belly up altogether.
But we saved the best news for last: Jeon Do-Yeon, fresh off two consecutive jewels - Lee Chang-Dong's 밀양 (Secret Sunshine) and Lee Yoon-Gi's 멋진 하루 (My Dear Enemy) - will in fact play the titular housemaid, role which was changed to a nanny to better fit the modern setting. Still nothing else announced other than the fact that casting will soon complete, and that shooting will start before the end of the year. But what looked like a rather unnecessary remake of what was already very difficult (if not nearly impossible) to top now looks like an immensely more intriguing question mark. Jeon Do-Yeon is the best actress in Korea, and Im Sang-Soo one of its most eclectic and talented directors. If you add what is likely to be another top name for Kim Jin-Gyu's role (the professor who falls for the housemaid), then this might become one to seriously look out for.
Produced by Mirovision, the film is aiming for a May 2010 release (so... Cannes premiere).
[Nate]
We mentioned last month the change of plans regarding the remake of Kim Ki-Young's 1960 masterpiece 하녀 (The Housemaid), with director Gina Kim opting out, and leaving the choice of who was going to helm it (a "Internationally-renowned director," as the producers said) to only a few names. We suggested one between Im Sang-Soo and Kim Ki-Duk... and it will indeed be Im, who returns to Chungmuro after 오래된 정원 (The Old Garden) and a much too long hiatus - meaning that his French project is either postponed, or went belly up altogether.
But we saved the best news for last: Jeon Do-Yeon, fresh off two consecutive jewels - Lee Chang-Dong's 밀양 (Secret Sunshine) and Lee Yoon-Gi's 멋진 하루 (My Dear Enemy) - will in fact play the titular housemaid, role which was changed to a nanny to better fit the modern setting. Still nothing else announced other than the fact that casting will soon complete, and that shooting will start before the end of the year. But what looked like a rather unnecessary remake of what was already very difficult (if not nearly impossible) to top now looks like an immensely more intriguing question mark. Jeon Do-Yeon is the best actress in Korea, and Im Sang-Soo one of its most eclectic and talented directors. If you add what is likely to be another top name for Kim Jin-Gyu's role (the professor who falls for the housemaid), then this might become one to seriously look out for.
Produced by Mirovision, the film is aiming for a May 2010 release (so... Cannes premiere).
[Nate]
More from The Housemaid
- Reviews: THE HOUSEMAID review
- News: US Trailer For Im Sang-Soo's THE HOUSEMAID
- Reviews: Fantastic Fest 2010: Housemaid (2010) review
- Reviews: TIFF 2010: THE HOUSEMAID Review
- Reviews: Fantasia 2010: THE HOUSEMAID Review
- News: Cannes 2010: Extended Trailer For Im Sang-Soo's THE HOUSEMAID Looks Like Korea's Best Of The Year.
- News: First Trailer Arrives For Im Sang-Soo's Remake Of Classic 1960 Korean Thriller THE HOUSEMAID
- News: Seo Woo Joins Jeon Do-Yeon in 하녀 (The Housemaid) Remake
- News: You Don't Mess with Kim Soo-Hyun
- News: Bad (?) News on the 하녀 (The Housemaid) Remake Front
Every movie with her in it is good in my book, so bring it on :)
Song Kang-Ho as the producer.
ACK! I meant professor. Been thinking too much about producers, I mean, ahem, producing lately, er, yeah.
Certainly wouldn't mind Song, but knowing Im, he might go for something a bit unique. Han Suk-Gyu already worked with him, and would be perfect as the righteous-looking professor with some hints of sleaze looming in the shadows. Also, she already worked with Choi Min-Shik and Song Kang-Ho, so Kim Yoon-Seok might be a possibility as well. Or they can do a killer reference to the original and cast Ahn Sung-Gi. If he can star as Lee Ha-Na's lover (who's, what, 30 years his junior?), Jeon Do-Yeon can work.
DIdn't think THE HOUSEMAID was all that good, but the concept was pretty rad. I felt like the characters in the source material were all but believable.