Kim Jong-kwan returns to omnibus format with 'The Table: Day and Night'

Director Kim Jong-kwan released his new 80-minute omnibus film 'The Table: Day and Night' on the 4th, following a four to five-year period of preparation. The film features eight actors portraying four pairs of people engaged in conversations at a single cafe over the course of one season.

Director Kim Jong-kwan has returned to the omnibus dialogue drama format with his new feature film, 'The Table: Day and Night.' Released on the 4th, the film captures the stories of four pairs of people who stay at a single cafe during the passage of one season. Kim Min-ha and Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa and Zhang Lu, Shim Eun-kyung and Lee Hee-joon, and Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi engage in conversations with varying times and temperatures. The filming was completed in 11 days, following a 4 to 5-year period from initial conception to release.

Why He Returned to the Omnibus Format

Kim cited his experience filming 'The Table' as the starting point for this new work, noting that the previous project was enjoyable and had become a cherished memory over time. This led him to want to work in the same format again. Scriptwork for 'The Table: Day and Night' began around 2021 and moved into full production in 2023. The director stated that he arranged the four episodes in the order he had decided from the beginning, aiming for a comfortable experience for the audience despite a subtly sophisticated structure.

The film overlays the stories of different couples within the space of a single cafe. These include a brief encounter in a neighborhood, a reunion of middle school friends, the first meeting between a web novel writer and a film director, and the conversation between long-term lovers. As the title suggests, Kim described it as a story about two sides. Just as day and night appear differently in the same space, he explained that every story has two sides. He expressed hope that the film will remain with people even 10 years from now.

11 Days of Filming and 4–5 Years of Preparation

The filming for this work lasted 11 days. While Kim described the process as extremely simple, he noted that the act of making such a film is not small or trivial. Given that it took 4 to 5 years from conception to release, he described the period as a process containing his life, stating that in some ways, he feels he is telling stories by staking his life on them. He stated that he currently feels at peace.

Kim also touched upon the recent viewing environment. He noted that in an era of heavy consumption of Shorts and Reels and video production via AI, some people might find the film more boring or uninteresting than 'The Table' from 10 years ago. Conversely, he suggested there would be people who could find what they lack in this film. He expressed a desire to persuade the world of the belief that this kind of work is sufficiently meaningful. In that sense, he said the selection as the opening film for the Busan International Film Festival felt like a response.

Casting Method for 8 Actors

Eight actors participated in this film: Kim Min-ha, Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Zhang Lu, Shim Eun-kyung, Lee Hee-joon, Jeon So-young, and Kim Dong-hwi, each taking on different episodes. Kim said the actors likely agreed to the project because they were aware of his work through 'The Table' or other projects. While he could not guarantee large fees, he noted that they are all artists with tenacity. He expressed a sense of responsibility to ensure that actors find satisfaction not just in the results, but in the process, noting that one can become a protagonist even with only two or three filming sessions.

In particular, the episode featuring Han Sun-hwa underwent the most rehearsals. Kim stated that the episode was quite difficult because the structure required all dialogue to consist of actions and reactions, with Han Sun-hwa performing 90% of the actions. While considering an actor to portray a character who speaks almost like they are delivering a monologue, he decided that Han Sun-hwa could create an intense character by twisting the charm she showed in 'Work Later, Drink Now.' He added that he had many concerns during the casting stage because Zhang Lu had to handle only the reactions, and they worked together to build details during filming as if staging a play.

Casting Shim Eun-kyung and the Tone of Hye-jin

Hye-jin, played by Shim Eun-kyung, is a web novel writer. Kim wanted the relationship between Hye-jin and Dong-nam to appear lovely. Since Hye-jin is a role with strong sexual desires and confidence, Kim believed Shim Eun-kyung could make those qualities ultimately appear lovely. He expressed that exceptional casting sometimes provides power.

It is reported that Shim Eun-kyung asked several times why this role came to her. According to a related article, during a press conference held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Shim Eun-kyung remarked that the calm atmosphere on set made the actors feel comfortable. She noted that although she was nervous before the first shoot, she felt her mind calm down and gained the courage to try. She also mentioned that encouraged by the director, ad-libs and ideas flowed. Kim added that there are times when he gains certainty while listening to an actor read the script.

Kim Min-ha stated in a related article that the beautiful film was completed thanks to the introverted nature of director Kim. She noted that introverts have a unique, stubborn sound, seeing great power in whispering and murmuring. Jeon So-young mentioned that the dialogue is good and suggested that viewers focus on the dialogue while observing the actors' subtle facial expressions. Shim Eun-kyung suggested it would be good to watch the film and reflect on what kind of story one's own life might be.

The Connection to 'The Table'

Kim pointed out the connection between this new work and 'The Table.' His previous work was a film shot over 7 days about events occurring at a single table in a florist's studio decorated as a cafe. He recalled the fun of the process where Han Ye-ri sat at the table one day, followed by Im Su-jeong the next, with the space serving as a stage for the actors.

As the title suggests, he explained that day and night, reality and dreams, and experience and imagination are intertwined. He stated that there is no dream without reality, and that they are similar yet different. He explained that Hye-jin's setting of pairing a cafe employee and the owner as a romance, the perspective of viewing Sang-mi's story as delusion or belief, and the future the final lovers cling to are all based on reality but belong to a different world. He revealed that Hyun-o, in the first episode, is a character who looks into a small world to find meaning, hoping to serve as a metaphor for the entire story.

Kim said that creation allows both the viewer and the creator to learn about a world different from their own, and he hopes this work creates such a connection. From being selected as the opening film for the Busan International Film Festival to the 11-day shoot, 4–5 years of preparation, and the omnibus structure involving 8 actors, 'The Table: Day and Night' was completed based on the working methods Kim has long maintained. Whether the film receives further responses remains for the audience to decide after its release.

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