The late actor Kim Sae-ron's final film "Guitar Man" is unveiled to the world.

On the 21st, a press screening and a media briefing for Kim Sae-ron's final film "Guitar Man" took place at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul.

"Guitar Man" is a musical film that depicts the loss and love of a genius guitarist, who tries to find hope through music amidst a harsh reality. The protagonist "Ki-cheol (Lee Seon-jeong)" is a genius guitarist living a wandering life due to lack of money. Introduced by a friend, "Ki-cheol (Lee Seon-jeong)" becomes the guitarist of the live club band "Volcano" and seeks hope in the world by working alongside the members of "Volcano," including keyboardist "Yoo-jin (Kim Sae-ron)."

In particular, as the unfortunate story of late actor Kim Sae-ron, who played "Yoo-jin," has garnered great attention, director Lee Seon-jeong, who played the lead role of Ki-cheol, shared his thoughts.

On that day, the director said, "Initially, I cast Kim Sae-ron and had a meeting, and I know it was a tough situation. However, we plan to release it around late May next year. Until then, I hope she can quietly reflect, have a period of self-restraint, and rise again to soar into the major leagues," and he expressed his desire to keep that promise.

"So, as we proceeded somewhat hastily, there are some regrettable aspects. The release on the 30th will have a bit more editing," he said, adding, "While working on it, I had to see Sae-ron's face continually. That was the hardest part. I can't forget it. I had to see her every day in the editing room. It's all the moments we shared together. As I kept seeing her while editing, she appeared in my dreams," he confessed.

He also noted, "The second hardest thing is that she should have been sitting here with me today. I feel embarrassed and sorry to be here alone. I shed some tears while watching the film’s end. No matter how many times I edited it, the story of Kim Sae-ron seems so unfortunate."

He revealed the behind-the-scenes of casting Kim Sae-ron. The director said, "There was another actor who was almost cast before Sae-ron. However, when considering whether to meet Sae-ron in the end, there were indeed some reservations. There were cases where films were shot but could not be released. It's true that there were people advising against it because if the issues weren't resolved by then, the release might not happen."

He continued, "However, during the meeting, that day, Sae-ron showed great enthusiasm for the film. She came thoroughly prepared, having carefully reviewed the script and expressing where she wanted to make changes. She asked if we could practice together and when we could find time. That made me very happy," while also expressing sadness, "It's unfortunate that a friend who could have appeared in so many better films showed such passion in my movie. I was grateful, but also worried, and I pushed forward with it. I decided to cast Kim Sae-ron because of her bright smile. It seems I did it according to my conviction."

He also reminisced about Kim Sae-ron on set, stating, "That time was probably when Sae-ron was going through the toughest period. She had shared her struggles with me while we ate together, but she didn't openly express it. Usually, she stayed in the car a lot. It must have been suffocating for her to avoid people in a small car for hours. However, interestingly, she completely transformed when standing in front of the camera. I realized how great of an actress she was. Despite the circumstances, she hardly had any NGs. When it came to acting, she was truly a professional."

He remarked, "Of course, as a person, there were times of trouble between us while acting. But even amidst that discomfort, when it came to acting, she was kinder than anyone else. So, I felt strongly, 'This girl is meant to be an actress. She will grow even more outstanding.' While she shared various personal pains and frustrations, I feel it's not really my place to discuss her private life. It's true that she was struggling, but when it came to acting, she was incredibly excited."

Meanwhile, the film "Guitar Man" is set to be released on the 30th.

[Photo] OSEN DB

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