The universal appeal comes from the subdued tone of the movie
arising from the introspection of the production team.
At the premier of Crossing in Tokyo, the director, Mr. Kim Tae
Gyun said “We were not able to disclose even a tenth of
the reality of North Korea. However, I feel that the heavy load
on my heart has been reduced a little now that we have finally
brought this work out to the public eye.” Director Kim
Tae Gyun is known for his entertaining movies, such as Volcano
High, the digital action movie.
What motivated him to make Crossing?
About ten years ago, Mr. Kim happened to see footage of starving
street children shivering in a market in North Korea. He was
shocked to know the reality lying so close to South Korea, where
food is so plentiful. This footage touched him deeply, and he
felt he should make a movie about the children. He was unable
to get the project started, however, since he knows the limitations
of the movie business. But four years ago, he finally made up
his mind to move forward and initiated production.
Because of the controversial topic of Crossing, the lead actor
Cha In Pyo three times refused to play the part of a North Korean
defector when repeatedly asked by the director. He feared that
he might become entangled in political ideologies. He was also
concerned about risking the romantic image he had built up. Cha
In Pyo prayed for some time before finally accepting the role.
In the two weeks following the June 26th release of Crossing
in South Korean movie theaters, attendance surpassed one million.
Box office numbers continue to rise.
The Korean Film Council announced that it has selected Crossing
as the Korean submission to the 81st Academy Awards for the Best
Foreign Film section.
In the movie, when the husband is told that his wife has died,
he wonders “Does God only exist in rich countries? If not,
why does He let North Korea stay this way?”
