Zo In-sung Trained Three Months on Horseback for Na Hong-jin's Hope

Actor Zo In-sung revealed the process of working with horses for three months for the equestrian scenes in the film 'Hope'. On July 6, at the press preview and press conference for the film 'Hope' held at Megabox COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Zo In-sung shared behind-the-scenes stories regarding his horse riding training and the filming of the final action sequence.

3-month horse riding training and the final action sequence

Zo In-sung explained the intensity of the training, stating, “I actually practiced two to three times a week for three months.” He did not stay only at the practice field but kept working to build coordination with the horse by running on asphalt or climbing mountains.

The process of syncing with a horse, a living creature, was more difficult than expected. Zo In-sung said, “Unlike a car or a motorcycle, because it is an animal, there were times when I was flustered because if the horse's condition did not match mine, it could suddenly brake differently from my intention at any time,” adding, “It was a good opportunity to properly learn horse riding.”

Zo In-sung cited the final action sequence as the biggest challenge in this film. Mentioning Hwang Jung-min and Jung Ho-yeon, who performed alongside him, he conveyed, “It wouldn't have been easy for my colleagues who also drove cars and performed action alongside me, not just for me.” He then expressed confidence in the result, saying, “I feel so proud that a great scene emerged because we filmed it with such difficulty, and it was worth the struggle.”

Director Na Hong-jin's new work 'Hope' after 10 years

Director Na Hong-jin, who directed 'The Chaser', 'The Yellow Sea', and 'The Wailing', has returned with his new work 'Hope' after 10 years. In this work, Director Na focused on delivering the film's message through action rather than dialogue or detailed explanations. He explained, “This time, I had to express the message the film intends to convey through action rather than conversation or clear explanation.”

The filming location was Romania. Director Na revealed that there were difficulties during local filming because they could not bring in firearms as originally planned. To overcome this, the production team newly designed the sound by combining the most cinematically effective sounds rather than using actual gunfire sounds as they were.

Intense deliberation continued during post-production. During the editing process, Director Na deleted about 5 minutes of footage and then added about 3 to 4 minutes back. Certain cuts were reviewed multiple times, with versions reaching nearly 100. He said, “It was important which version would look most effective in a theater environment.”

A survival drama starting at Hopo Port near the DMZ

'Hope' is set in the Hopo Port branch office located near the DMZ. The story begins when the village branch manager Beom-seok (played by Hwang Jung-min) hears news from the village youths that a tiger has appeared. Depicting the events that unfold as the entire village enters an emergency, this film placed elements to stimulate the audience's imagination from the screenplay stage.

Regarding the existence of 'aliens' in the film, Director Na offered an open interpretation. He stated, “I wrote the screenplay thinking that the aliens are a part where various situations can be applied,” intending for each audience member to have different imaginations after the film ends. Regarding the ending, he added, “I felt that showing more would be redundant, so I gave it a sense of completeness in my own way.”

The work features Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, along with Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton. The film was invited to the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival and set a record by being pre-sold to over 200 countries and regions worldwide at the highest price in Korean film history.

Action Scenes Prepared a Year Before Filming

The production team prepared from one year before filming to raise the quality of the action scenes. Director Na immersed himself in the work of matching shots and creating storyboards with the staff, and put a lot of effort into the preparation process to implement the created storyboards into actual filming. This was a process to ensure the safety of the actors while preserving the realism of the action.

At the end of the press conference, Director Na confessed the pressure he feels as a director. He confessed, “The moment I least want to experience in my life is right now. As a director, I am very burdened and anxious.” He continued, “A film can only exist if there is a theater, and it exists because the audience is in the theater. I will do my best until the end for a good viewing experience.”

Director Na Hong-jin's new film 'Hope' opens in theaters nationwide on July 15.