"Pilot" is a remake of the 2012 Swedish film, "Cockpit" and the Korean adaptation revolves around a pilot who disguises himself as a woman to hide his identity and return to the cockpit after losing his job due to inappropriate remarks about women.
In an exclusive interview with Aju Press at a café in Seoul last week, Kim opened her talk by saying, "Producing a film for commercial release is like winning a lottery," referring to her "lucky streak." Kim added, "I feel very fortunate to have had my work shown on the big screen, as such opportunities often depend more on luck than on cinematic artistry."
Luck aside, bringing the film to life was not easy for Kim. She spent considerable time contemplating how to adapt the original Swedish film, released about a decade ago, to still resonate with Korean viewers today. "My goal was not merely to reproduce the original, but to reinvent it," she said. "I tried to make the story more plausible and humorous, hoping to create a more compelling version overall."
Nevertheless, solely focusing on creating a fun-filled film was not what she wanted. "The film follows a protagonist who is unaware of his flaws, blinded by his wealth and fame. When he loses everything, he desperately tries to regain his former status by disguising himself as a woman. This misguided path eventually forces him to confront his shortcomings and grow as a person," she explained.
When asked about the most challenging part for her as an up-and-coming filmmaker, "Directing movies, in general, brings enormous pressure, because you are not the only one doing this job," Kim admitted. "You have to coordinate with hundreds of staff who work together."
But at the same time, she also expressed her pleasure in collaborating with them, which created synergy for better results. "During filming, I was able to share ideas with the cast and crew, whose extensive experience offered me fresh perspectives."
Born in 1985, Kim studied filmmaking at Konkuk University and Korea National University of Arts. She first came into the limelight with her 14-miute short "A Perfect Sight" in 2009.
"A little luck came along the way throughout my career, but I also believe in hard work," she said. "I didn't wait for something magical to happen. Instead, I strived to seize every chance and did my best at every step I took. This attitude paid off, after all."
