November 3, 2023
In Conversation with Hur Jin Ho
Last night, Hoxton Radio attended the premiere of ‘A Normal Family,’ from the acclaimed South Korean film director and screenwriter, Hur Jin Ho, to celebrate the opening gala of the London Korean Film Festival 2023.
‘A Normal Family’ wowed audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year and is eagerly anticipated to premiere in South Korea in 2024, offering a unique and captivating global cinematic experience.
Amid the glittering lights and the palpable excitement in the air, we spoke with the visionary filmmaker himself, Hur Jin Ho, as he unveiled the inspiration and creative process behind his remarkable new film.
Very nice to meet you and Congratulations on your new film, how are you doing today?
I’m doing well, I’m very happy also because today commemorates the 140th year of a relationship between Korea and the UK, and I’m honoured to be at the BFI, which is celebrating that and my latest film.
So you’ve made feature films, short films, and also a TV show. Given the recent developments surrounding the writers’ strike in the TV and film sector, has this had any impact on the Korean film and television industry?
I don’t quite think it has directly affected Korea, as of yet, from what I can tell, lots of Korean directors and actors are in support of them. The biggest challenge is how the industry is structured, instead of any profit from the creations of creators going back to the creators themselves, a lot of services like Netflix are directly taking those profits. And given the popularity increase of Korean film and tv, and more Korean content on Netflix, it would be a growing concern for Korea.
Regarding your latest film, I’d like to discuss the shift from your previous, more lighthearted works. What motivated you to delve into a more profound and serious narrative that explores themes of morality, ethics, and the depiction of individuals within society?
I was looking for a change in the conversation to tackle more substantial and important topics. These are subjects that shed light on the diversity of people in our society, representing various social classes. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers, but this film explores how specific moral choices influence people’s actions, and how these actions can lead to significant consequences that affect everyone involved. These things are things no human being can be free of.
Incredibly intriguing – now, on a lighter note, is there anything that really gets your creative gears turning? Maybe a particular source of inspiration or some favourite tunes to get you in the groove?
I no longer drink much at all, but I used to drink a bit whilst listening to some music to get my creative juices flowing, especially when I’m converting an idea into a script, I would listen to a particular track on repeat to set the scene and organise my thoughts. Just yesterday evening, I was walking across Westminster Bridge, and ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley was played by one of the buskers, and coincedentally that’s theme song for one of my dramas back in Korea.
We all love a bit of Jeff Buckley, and Hallelujah is certainly one of many that sticks out. Thanks so much for speaking with us today!
Hur Jin Ho has no socials, but click here to find out more about his filmography
Words by Amber Chow