[Dispatch=Reporter Lee Ajin] "Even though it's my work, I tear up every time I watch it."(Director Lee Joon-ik)

A film that evokes empathy across generations has arrived. Through the familiar concept of 'home-cooked meals,' it unfolds the ways different generations and characters have lived and the emotions accumulated within them.

The mother, who has been responsible for the family's meals every day, is exhausted. The patriarchal father reflects on the past time belatedly. The children's generation faces the parents' years hidden behind the home-cooked meals they took for granted.

Added to this are the deep skills of actors including Jinyoung, Lee Jung-eun, Byun Yo-han, and Park Ji-yeon. Though a simple story, they completed a family drama that moves the heart through deep emotional lines.

The film 'Father's Home-Cooked Meal' held a press screening and press conference at Lotte Cinema Jamsil in Seoul's Jamsil-gu. Director Lee Joon-ik, Lee Jung-eun, and Jinyoung attended.

'Father's Home-Cooked Meal' is based on a webtoon of the same name. It depicts the story of Ko Ha-eung (played by Jinyoung), who has never set foot in the kitchen his whole life, challenging home cooking for the first time for his wife An Soon-ae (played by Lee Jung-eun), who suddenly cannot cook one day.

Director Lee attempted vertical cinema for the first time with this work. He said, "I wanted to capture the characters' emotions more deeply. When I thought of a portrait, I realized that vertical format might be more effective than horizontal format."

Rather than flashy incidents, the film looked into the daily lives of an ordinary family. The director explained, "I particularly brought in the daily lives of past generations because I wanted to evoke nostalgia. I wanted people who are not of the short-form generation to watch this work."

Each episode runs approximately 2 minutes. The beginning, middle, and end had to be completed within a short time. To not lose the characters' emotions within the fast pace, the director employed the methods of psychological drama.

He pointed out, "Rather than showing the relationships between characters, I focused on each character's inner world and position. Instead of two-shots or three-shots, I tried to reveal the psychology by quickly intercutting the characters."

Lee Jung-eun took on the role of An Soon-ae. She is a character who lived her whole life in a patriarchal household, preparing meals for her husband and sons. At some point, she begins to change as she develops doubts about the meals she has served.

In her previous work 'Zombie Daughter,' Lee Jung-eun played a comic and spirited grandmother. This time, she revealed the face of a warm mother and wife like any household might have.

The starting point of the character conception was her own parents. Lee Jung-eun said, "If fathers held the initiative in the household in the past, now I think it's a world where mothers hold the initiative."

She continued, "My mother also staged a rebellion against my father in the household. Thinking about what my mother might have been thinking then and what the situation was like, I developed the character."

She paid particular attention to the ending scene. Lee Jung-eun recalled, "Because the format moves quickly from episode to episode, I tried to act in a way that would provoke the audience's curiosity."

Jinyoung took on the role of Ko Ha-eung. Ko Ha-eung is a hard-working head of household. He has worked tirelessly for his family. At the same time, he has relieved the stress accumulated in the process at the dining table.

Jinyoung realistically expressed a head of household with affection for his family behind a blunt exterior. Even within the short running time, he built up the character's emotional lines densely.

He also had many concerns about the new format. He said with a laugh, "At first I had many worries, so I even asked AI. It actually told me that short-form acting and film acting are different."

The shooting environment was also different. The camera and staff were positioned just about four steps away. Jinyoung said, "At first it felt awkward."

Ultimately, he chose the straightforward approach. He added, "Rather than the acting method AI taught me, I did it the way I've always done it. I tried to raise the quality by focusing on doing the acting itself well."

Finally, Lee Jung-eun said, "I hope you will follow the story of the film itself. Then I think the small-looking screen because it's short-form will appear large."

Jinyoung said, "Regardless of box office performance, I would be satisfied if audiences just thought it was fun. I hope those who came with them share comfortable and fun emotions together."

Meanwhile, 'Father's Home-Cooked Meal' opens on September 9.

<Photos provided by Raisin Snack>