Park Jin-hee and Park Ji-yoon in Grape Candy

8 July 9, 2011July 4, 2011

by javabeans

Park Jin-hee (Giant, The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry) and singer-actress Park Ji-yoon (Lie To Me) have been cast as the leads in a movie titled Grape Candy, whose tone is described as “mysterious and delicate.” There’s something about the description and the premise that reminds me of the dark indie film Bleak Night, and while it doesn’t sound nearly as grim, I’m intrigued.

The background for the story takes place in high school, when one girl in a trio of friends dies. Years later, the other two women run into each other as adults, and the movie depicts “the growing pains experienced by its leading ladies as they experience pain, mystery, and truth.”

Park Jin-hee and Park Ji-yoon will play those two women, neither of whom can live entirely freely in the present because of the trauma of their past. A third role will be played by Kim Jung-nan (President, Creating Destiny, You’re My Destiny).

I like both leading actresses, though I’d say Park Jin-hee’s by far the more experienced one. She’s got a lovely screen presence that can be both warm and vulnerable (see: The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry and My Mom), as well as a nice comic touch. Not that she’ll be using that in this movie, it sounds like. Park Ji-yoon, on the other hand, barely had screentime in Lie To Me, and made me wonder if her role was intended to be bigger at the outset. (There was all that weird chemistry/tension with her boss-friend Kang Ji-hwan, which went nowhere.) However, I do think she’s got an appropriately enigmatic air that seems in keeping with the tone of this movie.

Grape Candy was the winner of the audience and the Artreon awards (for best project) at the 13th International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul, in the Pitch & Catch competition category, which honors films that “open doors to a new future” for the Korean film industry. Given that this movie hasn’t begun filming yet, I’m guessing we’re talking about a different version upon which this feature film is based.

Directing is Kim Hee-jung, who earned recognition for her sensitive portrayal of the psyche of a teenage girl in Girl Thirteen. Grape Candy begins filming this month.

Park Ji-yoon

Kim Jung-nan

Via Osen

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1 Pat

July 9, 2011 at 5:23 AM

i loved PJY in Lie to me - she's stunning! PJH isnt so bad to look at either :) looking forward to this!

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2 Pat

July 9, 2011 at 5:24 AM

one more thing..........koreans have the best looking woman in the world!! (married to one!) :)

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tweetiepie

July 11, 2011 at 12:12 PM

Always nice to see guys here!! ;)

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3 vic

July 9, 2011 at 8:06 AM

park jin hee was gorgeus in giant

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eb

July 9, 2011 at 10:09 AM

i loved her in giant, too! it was such an amazing drama.

this does sound a little like "bleak night" (which was also a very well-written film...you could see how different emotional needs, expectations, and perceptions led to the fracture of three close friends).

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4 mud

July 9, 2011 at 2:06 PM

I adore Park Jin-hee<3 She, Kim Sun-ah and Chae Rim are my trio of awesome actresses with lotsa heart. I always perk up whenever there's news about them. It's because I'm usually won over by woman who play the Bridget Jones-like role of the everywoman, and they played it so smacking good.

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5 poyi

July 10, 2011 at 3:33 AM

JinHee is alarmingly cute

but i sense alot tearful scenes in this one

melodrama = not really my thing

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6 Webster

July 11, 2011 at 9:12 AM

It always seems like the weekend entries get such little notice. :( From what I've seen of Park Jin Hee's work, every single one is a keeper. I found her first in 'Please Come Back, Soon Ae' when I tuned in watch the my favorite vampire, Shim Hye Jin. Jin Hee pretty much stole the show in that one. She's an incredible talent and powerfully easy on the eyes...