"Bigwang," a film bringing together Ryu Seung-ryong — who won enormous love for the drama "The Story of Kim Bu-jang, Who Owns a Home in Seoul and Works at a Major Company" — and Ha Ji-won, has confirmed its release for Sept. 2 and unveiled its launch poster and trailer on the 9th.
Directed by Lee Ji-won of "Miss Baek," the film tells the story of Joong-gu (Ryu Seung-ryong) and Nam-mi (Ha Ji-won), a top-star celebrity couple living a glamorous life whose relationship fractures with the sudden appearance of Joong-gu's daughter Dong-ju (Kim Si-a). Eight years later, they chase the truth to save Dong-ju after she becomes entangled in an unexpected incident.
The launch poster leaves a striking impression with the back view of Ryu Seung-ryong as Joong-gu, evoking the weeping willow and the umbrella-carrying figure depicted on the "bigwang" card from hwatu, the traditional Korean flower-card game. The accompanying trailer opens with a narration by Ha Ji-won as Nam-mi, conveying the meaning behind the title "Bigwang" and the emotional tone of the film.
Released alongside the poster tagline "The card that shines brightest in a moment of crisis," the trailer draws on the symbolism of the bigwang card to foreshadow a family holding on to one another through hardship. The story of a frog leaping toward the weeping willow until the very end to avoid being swept away by rapids symbolizes the characters' unyielding will and family love.
"Bigwang" is the new film from director Lee Ji-won, who won Best New Director in the film category at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards for "Miss Baek." Lee, who later demonstrated a delicate directorial touch in the drama "Climax," plans to expand on the message of salvation from her previous work, portraying deep connection and healing within a family.
Ryu Seung-ryong plays Joong-gu, once a top baseball player whose life collapses after Dong-ju's appearance. He is expected to display his signature weighty presence through the figure of a father who throws everything away to protect his daughter. Ryu, who led numerous box-office hits including "Masquerade," "Miracle in Cell No. 7," "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" and "Extreme Job," has continued to show a wide-ranging acting spectrum through dramas such as "Moving," "Low Life" and "The Story of Kim Bu-jang, Who Owns a Home in Seoul and Works at a Major Company."
Ha Ji-won plays Nam-mi, once a top star who falls from grace after Dong-ju's appearance and now works to make a living. As a character unable to turn away from Dong-ju, who reminds her of her own childhood, Ha is set to deliver a nuanced portrayal of a complex emotional arc.
Kim Si-a plays Dong-ju, reuniting with director Lee Ji-won. Kim, who made her debut in "Miss Baek" after beating a 600-to-1 competition rate, has since shown distinctive performances in works including "The House of Us," "Ashfall," "Kill Boksoon," "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" and "Sweet Home." In this film, she expresses the anxiety and wounds of Dong-ju, a girl placed at the center of an incident following her friend's death.
Acclaimed actors Kim Hae-sook, Kim Sun-young and Kim Young-min also join the cast as characters who band together to protect Dong-ju, completing a solid acting ensemble.
"Bigwang" is expected to deliver deep emotion and tension through the journey of a family in crisis rediscovering one another.
