"Those who rated it 1 and those who rated it 10 call each other viral. But now I feel like I understand a bit about what the audience wants. Once we officially release the film, I expect more feedback, but from the reactions at the preview, I thought, 'I understand what these people want to see.' So, I felt the urge to take a gamble. Basically, making this kind of personal film while trying to gain everyone's recognition seems to lead to unhappiness. If I break down that fence, everything I have could collapse too. Right now, I think I'm working to not lose the audience that appreciates my films."
Her new film 'Student Teaching' is a high school horror-comedy about enthusiastic student teacher Eun-kyung facing a death mock exam against a ghost from the college entrance exam. Although it continues the narrative of her previous work 'Amoeba Girls and School Ghost Stories: Founding Day,' the production process was not smooth. While the previous film garnered 30,000 viewers and built a fan base, it still faced harsh evaluations in the market.
"'Amoeba Girls and School Ghost Stories' was originally planned as a series. We intended to continue with titles like 'Founding Day' and 'Student Teaching.' However, after 'Founding Day' attracted 30,000 viewers, expectations for the series diminished. While I'm grateful for the 30,000 viewers, it's hard to consider it a commercial success by the market's standards. So, instead of continuing the series title, we released it under the name 'Student Teaching.'"
The production environment also changed significantly. They had to complete the film with a budget much smaller than initially anticipated. Nevertheless, most of the staff who had worked on the previous film returned. For Kim, that time was also a survival process for making the film.
"We ended up filming with less than half of the budget we thought we needed. 95% of the staff were the same as the previous film, and they all had a passion for the project. At the start, I gathered the staff and said, 'The production cost is this much. It's less than half of what we originally planned. So, feel free to leave; I won't hold it against anyone.' Yet, no one left. Everyone stayed. We filmed by cutting down on what was possible. The actors also worked very hard. We shot tightly, and I edited the film myself to submit it to festivals, but I completely burned out."
A turning point came unexpectedly when 'Amoeba Girls and School Ghost Stories: Founding Day' was released on an online streaming service, gaining significant popularity. On social media, it was referred to as a 'Girls Night Movie,' revealing another potential.
"Last September, when 'Amoeba Girls and School Ghost Stories' was released on OTT, it became a 'boom.' It gained traction as a 'Girls Night Movie.' With an audience supporting the film, discussions about making 'Student Teaching' began. I often found myself emotional during that time. This film is about the friendship of girls. But as it became a 'Girls Night Movie'... isn't 'Girls Night' a time for friends to gather and share their friendship? Ultimately, I feel that the friendship and laughter of girls saved this film. I cried a lot reading the reviews."
The affection of fans for the previous work became an important guideline for Kim Min-ha in creating the sequel. He wanted to maintain the attitude that audiences loved while avoiding repeating the same story. He aimed to convey the message that 'girls win' while addressing the sadness of contemporary issues through the lens of educational authority and public education.
"What I wanted to keep as a series was the sentiment that 'girls do not die, girls win.' I wanted to carry that forward. What I wanted to do differently is that I believe comedy should contain the sadness of the times. While the previous work had sadness about competition, this film aims to capture the sadness surrounding educational authority, the disappearance of traditional schools, and the expansion of private education. So, I thought it wouldn't be the same as the previous work."
The issue of educational authority became a significant focus for Kim after his short film 'Burger Song Challenge' was selected as the closing film for the 2023 Education Film Festival. The closing ceremony coincided with the 49th memorial of the late teacher Seo Yi-cho and 'Public Education Suspension Day.' Teachers dressed in black filled the audience, and after watching the film, many expressed that they found comfort in it. Kim felt the weight of the reality of crumbling educational authority more profoundly than before.
"In 2023, my short film 'Burger Song Challenge' was selected as the closing film for the Education Film Festival. The closing ceremony was on the day of the 49th memorial of the late teacher Seo Yi-cho and 'Public Education Suspension Day.' Teachers dressed in black watched the film and told me they found comfort in it. I realized that the issue of crumbling educational authority was much larger than I had thought. From that moment, I wanted to create a film addressing the sadness surrounding this issue."
This experience also influenced the direction of 'Student Teaching.' Kim felt that the issue of educational authority was not just a social issue reported in the news but a sadness that the current era carries. In this process, he incorporated the disappearance of traditional learning spaces, the instability of public education, and the growing private education market into the film.
"As I became interested in the issue of educational authority, I realized it was much more serious than I had thought. It felt like more than just a social issue; it felt like a sadness of our time. So, I decided that 'Student Teaching' should include a story about educational authority. We were taught that 'we do not step on the shadow of our teachers' as a virtue. But I became curious about how that sentiment has disappeared. In that process, I also looked into the background of the disappearance of traditional schools. Shamefully, I thought traditional schools naturally disappeared during modernization, but I learned that there was history and sadness behind it. Those emotions intertwined, leading me to think about the instability of public education and the reality of the expanding private education market. It's strange and sad that while the number of students decreases, private education continues to grow. Ultimately, I believe all of this reflects the sadness of our current era."
'Student Teaching' does not provide answers to these issues. Kim also expressed a desire to create a moment for the audience to reflect rather than present solutions. He believes that embedding the sadness of the times within a comedic genre is his approach to comedy.
"This film does not provide answers. However, if it can serve as a moment for audiences to reflect on the issues of educational authority, the history of disappearing traditional schools, and the reality of expanding private education, I would consider it a success. I wanted to include the sadness of the times within a film that is meant to be enjoyed and laughed at."
The casting of Han Sun-hwa also aligned with this perspective. While choosing a popular face was part of the decision, Kim emphasized the importance of balancing comedy and sadness. He aimed for humor that is funny but not foolish, light yet not trivial. Han Sun-hwa resonated with this vision and helped anchor the film.
"I had many serious discussions with actress Han Sun-hwa. We talked about how to convey this sadness and how to make it funny without being foolish. She effectively anchored the film. For her, the comedic aspects were secondary; the primary focus was on the sadness of educational authority. She empathized with this sadness. Fans who come expecting Han Sun-hwa will see a different side of her talent in this work."
Finally, Kim reflected on the sentiments received from audiences who appreciated her previous work. Although the film elicited strong opinions, the responses from viewers who accurately understood her style and attitude left a lasting impression. In particular, a review stating, "Choosing the wrong answer because you know the right one" resonated with Kim as a guiding principle for the series moving forward.
"There was a line from a review of 'Amoeba Girls and School Ghost Stories: Founding Day' that deeply moved me. It said, 'Choosing the wrong answer because you know the right one.' In genre films, there is often a path considered the right answer. However, 'Amoeba' is seen as a film that continuously deviates and goes off-road. I thought, 'Ah, this is something I must not forget when making this series in the future.'"
* This article has been translated by AI.
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