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French director Bong Joon-ho and Song Kang-ho are greedy, who came to Korea to shoot a movie with Bae Doona

Leading actor Bae Doona and French director Eric Latigo, who screened the world’s first French film’#I Am Here’ at the 24th Busan International Film Festival in 2019. [사진 부산국제영화제]

– “People confess’I love you’ on the Internet and exaggerate their personal things. The moment Stefan in the movie puts the hashtag (#) saying’I am here’, he’s not actually there. It is a movie where you find the true meaning of’I am here’.”
French director Eric Latigo (57), who portrayed the journey of French chef Stefan, who came to Seoul to meet social media friends Sue in the movie’#I Am Here’. It was the first in the world to unveil a film at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival. I interviewed him by e-mail ahead of its release in Korea on the 14th.

French movie’#I Am Here’ released on the 14th
French star Alain Shaba, breathing with Bae Doona
Director Eric Latigo “Korean quarantine is excellent…
It’s a country where the rich culture and arts bloom”

French star Alain Shabaa goes to Seoul to meet Bae Doona

– In Korea, he is known as the music movie’Miracle Velier’ and the suspense product’Big Picture’. Following the romantic’How to remain single after marriage’ with French national actor Alain Shaba (‘Die’s”Preferences of others’), 70% of the total was filmed in Korea. Bae Doona took on the opposite role. Stefan, who has neither noticed nor countermeasures, struggles with hash tags to find the number of lost contacts. Filming took place two times, the fall of 2018 and the spring of the following year. It contains Yeouido and Jongno Tower, Gwangjang Market, and Cheonggyecheon in full bloom of cherry blossoms. When I asked him the reason for the filming in Korea, he replied, “Because it is a country where rich culture and art are blooming.”

A romantic comedy film'#I Am Here' in which French actor Alain Shabah and Bae Doona breathe.  70% of the total was filmed in Korea.  In the scene of Incheon Airport, where the protagonist Stefan stayed for more than 10 days, the director and writer stayed at the actual airport for about a week to write a screenplay. [사진 NEW]

A romantic comedy film’#I Am Here’ in which French actor Alain Shabah and Bae Doona breathe. 70% of the total was filmed in Korea. In the scene of Incheon Airport, where the protagonist Stefan stayed for more than 10 days, the director and writer stayed at the actual airport for about a week to write a screenplay. [사진 NEW]

How did Bae Doona cast it?

“I was introduced 10 years ago thanks to my friend Nicholas Geskiere (fashion designer). I have always liked Bae Doona’s freshness, mystical looks, and various faces. I love the appearance of Bae Doona when he seeps into the space. There is dignity. He is a very rare actor who can digest everything from comedy, writer’s film, action, and drama.”

Like a tourist movie, it contains every corner of Korea from Incheon Airport.

– “If you go to a new city, don’t you have a desire to experience various food and places? In Seoul, various cultures and changes of the times are all gathered in one space. I was able to portray the opposite characters of Stefan and Sue while showing both the old and the modern imagery.”

Stephan (Alain Shaba, from left), who came to Korea from'#I Am Here', finds it difficult to find the number of social media friends (Bae Doona).  It also contains the scenery of a narrow street in Seoul.[사진 NEW]

Stephan (Alain Shaba, from left), who came to Korea from’#I Am Here’, finds it difficult to find the number of social media friends (Bae Doona). It also contains the scenery of a narrow street in Seoul.[사진 NEW]

Stefan says that Koreans treat themselves as invisible people.

– “If Europeans are used to’touching’ each other a bit, Koreans seem to be closed to that. When I met Donna before I knew Korea, I thought that Koreans were open and curious about various things and absorbed well, but when I came to Korea, it took time to get acquainted with people. I was also stimulated by the aspects of Korean people I didn’t know well.”

Korean style’Nonchi’, the Jongmyo road where the soul goes is interesting

– Among the things he was inspired by was the Korean style’Nonchi’. “At the stage of the scenario, the author found it as a subject for cultural differences,” he said. “The French are straightforward. Each country has a different culture, and it is fun to learn while interacting with each other.” In the scene where Stefan went to’Jongmyo’, there is also an explanation of the way the souls of the kings travel. “When I went to Jongmyo, I was impressed that there was a path of souls and people should not step on it and leave it empty,” he said.

Bae Doo-na plays the mysterious number of Korean women in’#I Am Here’. Two years ago, when he first released the film at the Busan Film Festival, he confessed, “I did works in the United States and Japan, but if I am in a foreign film with a Korean background, I will definitely tremble.” [사진 NEW]


Bae Doona, who participated in a conversation with the audience at the screening of the Busan Film Festival, said, “It was so good that Alain Shabara and the best actor were in sync for a while. It was difficult to practice pronunciation with and Skype, but at a good opportunity, I learned French.”

‘Memories of Murder’ Bong Joon-ho is a genius… Song Kang-ho is also greedy

– Director Latigo picked Song Kang-ho as a greedy Korean actor. “After seeing’Memories of Murder’ at the 2004 French Cognac Film Festival, I fell in love with Korean films. I love Song Kang-ho too.”

“I was really curious about who the director was while watching’Memories of Murder’. How did the detectives’ investigation into the labyrinth be expressed in that way? It’s a genius. I saw it. I was very shocked by explaining the difficult part easily and simply.”

This is the appearance of French director Eric Latigo with the lead actor Alain Shaba at the filming site of the movie'#I Am Here'.  The Korean release name was translated into English from the hashtag that Stefan, the protagonist of the play, says'I am here' on SNS, and the original title in French is'#jesuisla'. [사진 NEW]

This is the appearance of French director Eric Latigo with the lead actor Alain Shaba at the filming site of the movie’#I Am Here’. The Korean release name was translated into English from the hashtag that Stefan, the protagonist of the play, says’I am here’ on SNS, and the original title in French is’#jesuisla’. [사진 NEW]


He also shared his experience with director Bong Joon-ho in 2019 at the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon. “I met them for about 10 seconds before going on stage. He told me how much he liked his work, and director Bong Joon-ho answered’thank you’ kindly. It was a’cool’ meeting.” He said, “I ate dinner with Director Park Chan-wook several times in France.” It’s very unique.”

Good at K quarantine… I hope that the memories of Korea will be well passed on

– It was released under Corona 19 after two years of filming in Korea. When asked about the current situation, he said, “The situation in France is very complicated because of corona now.” “There is no comedy. France currently does not care about its people and has no budget anymore. I am really disappointed.” He said, “It seems that Korea has been very good at quarantine since the coronavirus outbreak.”

“It’s a virus that hit the world. Each country has its own policy according to its values, religion, society, and government. Koreans are different from us (France), so they listen to each other well. I went to Korea to shoot this wonderful (movie) and made a lot of memories. I hope this movie can tell a new story to all of you (Korean audience).”

Reporter Na Won-jeong [email protected]



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