'If Wishes Could Kill Season 2': Director Park shares what he wants to explore in new installment
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"What could I say to the perpetrators? I wish they could go through the same hell at least once. Every time I see cases where punishment by law is difficult, even setting aside any rational reasoning, I think, 'Enough, I just wish they would just experience the same thing.' And I believe survivors of domestic violence need attention. Simply being there with them can have a small yet positive impact."
Jeon So Nee expresses what drew her to a story centered on domestic violence in an interview held on November 10 in Seoul for the Netflix series As You Stood By.
As You Stood By tells the story of Eun Su (Jeon So Nee) and Hui Su (Lee You Mi), who decide to kill Jin Pyo, Hui Su's abusive husband, to escape a hellish life.
Jeon So Nee began by saying, "Because I poured so much of my heart into it, I think that made me even more afraid when it was about to be released. I was so nervous that I didn't even look at the calendar for about two weeks before the release. I didn't know when there were five days left, or three days left. I think I wanted to pretend I didn't know, to look away from it. When it finally came out, I was trembling."
When asked why the role held such deep meaning for her, Jeon said, "While playing Eun Su, I found there were so many things about her I could relate to. As I got to know and build the character, there were moments when I discovered things about myself that I hadn't known before. I felt grateful to Eun Su, and there were definitely moments when I felt grateful to the director as well." "There are moments in my past that I regret, moments that have influenced me, but sometimes I don't fully understand why I've become the way I am. But through Eun Su, I realized that those lingering regrets from the past might actually be what drive me today."
As for her understanding stories about domestic violence, Jeon explained, "It's a delicate subject, but it didn't feel entirely distant from me. I was able to have conversations with people [who suffered from it], and I don't think I was completely unaware of the emotions they've lived with. Even if I haven't personally experienced the same things, given my own life experiences, it didn't feel like a story too far removed from me. No matter how much I study or prepare, I don't think I could ever approach it with complete confidence and without regret. But to portray it truthfully, I had to first convince myself. When I watch something, I'm not only influenced by the literal subject matter. For instance, just like how watching a movie about first love might remind me of my mother, I think emotions or situations themselves can be metaphorically applied to other stories. So rather than focusing only on what a story is about, I think more about what questions it leaves behind and what thoughts it inspires afterward. This story might bring comfort and courage to survivors, but also people who haven't had such experiences wouldn't see it as someone else's story. I wanted to show that these emotional connections can be powerful."
When she was asked if she's ever had that crazy side of herself come out in real life, she said, "I don't think I've really had that happen. If it came out more often, would I have acted better than I do now? I guess I just don't have much courage. Even when I feel wronged or angry, I end up just stomping around, unsure what to do, and the matter ends unfairly. I can't say a word properly in the moment and then regret it afterward. Maybe that's why I'm drawn to characters like Eun Su, who manage to pull off something cool."
Eun Su stood by as her father abused her mother, but later, upon discovering that her best friend Hui Su is suffering domestic violence at the hands of her husband, she plans to murder him. Regarding the moral dilemma of justifying murder in her character's actions, Jeon So Nee said, "I don't know if what I'm saying now is right or wrong — my thoughts might change later — but since it's not reality, I see it as expressing [those ideas] through action within the story. We're storytellers, after all. So even though it's fiction, I wanted to show people two characters who, within that world, rescue each other through their own strength and reclaim their freedom. At least within this story, I wanted them to be able to make that choice."
Talking about the source of Eun Su's strength to save Hui Su, Jeon So Nee speculated: "The reason Eun Su built her career was that she believed she had to support and protect her mother on her own. But as she lived on and faced the reality of her mother's circumstances, she realized she couldn't just throw everything aside and run headlong. I read somewhere that people have a kind of superhuman strength when acting for someone else. When it's for ourselves, we tend to hesitate and be cautious, but when it's not for us, we can be bold and do things we didn't think we could.
Back in school, Eun Su was obsessed with the curtains, but Hui Su took her side without asking [much], which must have meant a lot to her. Since she knew the pain personally, she probably carried regrets from not having been able to save her mother as a child, so she likely thought she could save someone now. I think she felt that by helping Hui Su, she was also saving herself in a way."
"I feel grateful to be able to tell a story like this. While acting, I notice aspects of my character that I wish I could adopt for myself. It's true that life can be difficult, and doing something for someone else is not easy. I feel very thankful that I got to meet a story where I could empathize, speak, act through, and live as Eun Su."
Concluding, she offered a message to viewers who haven't seen As You Stood By yet.
"Domestic violence is a disturbing topic, so episodes 1 and 2 may feel uncomfortable. But what if you start by thinking, 'This is fiction'? Even so, later on, it may feel like a real story. If you watch it with a light heart, there are really many stories you could explore using that as an excuse."
As You Stood By is available for viewing on Netflix.
