Rabbit and Lizard opens with a screening at PIFF
by javabeans
With the Pusan International Film Festival just a day away, stars are preparing to make their appearances, including Sung Yuri and Jang Hyuk, whose new film Rabbit and Lizard [토끼와 리저드] screens there.
This PIFF screening precedes the movie’s wide release later this month (which will be on October 22), and will be accompanied by an October 9 talk session with and an October 10 fan signing. (Watch preview below.)
Rabbit and Lizard is a melodrama-romance that follows the story of May (Sung Yuri), a woman adopted to the States who comes to Korea in search of her birth mother. Jang Hyuk plays a man suffering from a heart disease who may die at any moment. I’ll admit that the movie description hasn’t done much to excite me, but the preview gives it a nice, emotional touch.
Director Joo Ji-hong said of his lead actress in her film debut, “I think she absorbed the May character perfectly. Even though it’s her first film, she showed deep introspection and a sensitivity to her acting.”
Sung Yuri has been dogged with criticism throughout her career for her acting skills. At a recent press conference, she addressed those instances, saying, “In the past, I wanted to shoot a movie, but I felt a lot of pressure. It was burdensome to think of how my face would take up the entire screen and that my acting would be revealed to the whole world.” (I think she has improved a lot, but I’m confused by her sentiment — does that mean she feels “safe” in dramas to be less-than-skilled in her acting?)
Co-star Jang Hyuk said of Sung, “As we worked together on the film, I sensed that she is a sincere actor, and I think you will be surprised to see her acting.”
Sung added, “One advantage of being an idol-turned-actor is that I can stand in front of cameras more comfortably. However, I think you feel people’s interest and expectations more, and people’s reviews can be harsher so it’s easier to feel hurt. I’ve felt hurt because of mean reviews before, and it’s a problem I have to overcome.”
Via Arts News, Simin Newspaper, Asia Today
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Tags: film festivals, Jang Hyuk, Sung Yuri
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1 glitzyglam
October 7, 2009 at 2:56 PM
i'm sorry this is so random and not really on topic.. but WHY is the title to this movie like that?!?! i mean.. it could be like 토끼와 도마뱀 or like both in english..
lol maybe there is a reason behind this. it is bugging me for no reason :/
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2 samsooki
October 7, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Third in the group of pics.... guy lighting up, looks like he is enjoying it.
Smoking is so..... wonderfully addictive. Had to stop (cold turkey baby), of course, but that doesn't mean I don't miss it. I miss it lots and lots! It was extremely hard to watch Star In My Heart with every actor/actress lighting up everywhere (office, home, bedroom, bathroom, in the car, at the bar, in a restaurant... lolz). I wonder whether I will be able to watch Rabbit and Lizard without getting the urge to light up again....
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3 langdon813
October 7, 2009 at 3:05 PM
What a gorgeous trailer, the music is wonderful. I swear, Sung Yuri just gets more beautiful as time goes by.
Also, that first small pic of Jang Hyuk looks like Snow Queen Binnie to me.
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4 Javabeans
October 7, 2009 at 3:07 PM
@glitzyglam, that bothered me too. I keep misreading the title in my head as Tokki wa Jara (Tortoise and the Hare) since it rolls off the tongue. I'm curious as to what the lizard refers to -- I assume they use the English word in the movie. The rabbit line is in the preview where Jang Hyuk tells Sung Yuri, "I'll help you find your mother, if you'll find my red rabbit." (Now, what that red rabbit MEANS, I have no clue. There's a red rabbit on his dashboard that probably symbolizes something.)
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5 ColleenF-H
October 7, 2009 at 3:28 PM
I think it looks like a good movie, but I think it'll make you cry a lot. I like Jang Hyuk he's a good actor. If it is sad I don't know if I'll be able to watch it.
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6 theleenbean
October 7, 2009 at 3:34 PM
o samsooki...so i know this is going to sound horribly rant-y and preachy, and i'm sure you've been told this a million times, but as a student in a certain health profession, i feel obligated to tell you that smoking's bad for you. it's awesome that you've quit smoking (cold turkey no less!) and i just wanted to encourage you to keep resisting the urge to light up again. dah, stupid movies...why do they have to make smoking look so good? AND, why is a guy with a heart condition smoking?? o, my dear jang hyuk, you look better without that cigarette in your hand...
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7 bluebunny
October 7, 2009 at 4:31 PM
What's up with the title of the movie? After reading the description I'm just thinking oh great here's another movie where I have to get my tissues cuz it's gonna be a sad one. But how many movies have you seen where someone is dying from a terminal illness and meets someone who changes their life, etc?? It's been done with...You know what I mean? But the trailer got to me PLUS I think Jang Hyuk is a good actor so it's gonna be a watch for me.
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8 wils
October 7, 2009 at 4:42 PM
why is it 'toki and lizard', not either 'toki and do-ma-bam' or 'rabbit and lizard'?
This is my guess. Rabbit is something Eunsol (Jang Hyuk ) wants to find out, and Lizard is the tattoo on May (Sung Yuri)'s back. May is from the States. I wonder if the director would want to raise some sort of identity issue by using the word 'lizard' as it is spoken.
I am so excited that the trailer is so good.
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9 Nikki
October 7, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Looks good. Sad, but good. I think the lizard refers to a birthmark Sung Yuri's character has on her shoulder. It apparently looks a bit like a lizard and is her clue to finding her birth parents.
As for Sung herself, she has improved quite a bit over her last two dramas. I never thought she was horrible as some have, but it's great that she's improving. Maybe her comment meant, and this is what I would think if I were an idol-turned-actor- being one of many in a drama cast (even if you are the lead), well you're one of many. People may still tune in for the story or other actors. But, if you're the lead of a movie - you're carrying that thing. Sure, some actors carry dramas, but a lot of the time people tune in for the storylines and the cast as a whole. I've rarely heard of people tuning out because they dislike just one actor.
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10 moonyuri332000
October 7, 2009 at 7:25 PM
It a movie that SUNG YURI CAST main actress. Can we think jang hyuk & yuri look good when together But I think movie will success. waiting that.
Love to SUNG YURI ^-^
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11 etsy
October 7, 2009 at 8:23 PM
The trailer looks BEAUTIFUL. For some reason, it reminds me so much of a New York movie.
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12 lanlan
October 7, 2009 at 9:24 PM
I do not want to waste my valuable time with Sung Yuri's film or whatever. I just finished Swallow the sun and that's more than enough for me to handle. She does not have any acting skill. It's so boring with her wooden stiff face. If it's not because of the story, I would stop watching the rest of the drama.
I am so happy not to see her face ever again! Such a pain to watch her in any drama.
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13 Javabeans
October 7, 2009 at 10:00 PM
I find it HILARIOUS that this page has attracted smoking/cigarette spam, per my spam filter! LOL. Thanks Samsooki! ;)
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14
October 8, 2009 at 2:16 AM
heeeeeeeeeeeeeee
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15 yvhsien
October 8, 2009 at 2:26 AM
@samsooki
I know what you mean. Once in the blue moon, I feel the urge too (I've quit for 10 years) when really stressed or watching shows like "Star in my Heart". But what keeps me from lighting up is that I know I've done the right thing quitting for my health and those around me especially my child. Also, I keep reminding myself it's a nasty habit.
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16 yvhsien
October 8, 2009 at 2:28 AM
JB, sorry...I hope my post don't bring more cigarette/smoking spams.
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17 Toya
October 8, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Maybe it's like Crank with the "lil' strawberry tart" reference to his heart? The "red rabbit" reference I mean.
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18 jae
October 8, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Jang Hyuk is an actor I've always adored. But ever since he got out of the army he's been losing weight like crazy! And I just saw the preview of his 2nd guesting in Family Outing and darn, I definitely wish he'd gain back weight. ><"
I'm kind of interested in seeing this movie. I mean, it wouldn't be in PIFF if it doesn't bring anything to amuse audience, ne? Hopefully the preview wasn't just for front too.
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19 Jenna
October 9, 2009 at 12:34 AM
they probably got the idea from Beatrix Potter..and i adore Peter Rabbit..
but hey! there's Jang Hyuk..he's hot with a ciggie..!
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20 Dramaking
October 13, 2009 at 6:30 AM
Looks great! Too bad it won't release in the states. If anyone can find it once it comes out hook a brotha up! I think Sung Yuri's improved by leaps and bounds since "Prince's First Love" which was an atrocious drama, so I'm excited to see it.
As far as smoking I think everyone who has smoked feels the urge. I quit about 5 years ago but everytime I watch "Madmen" my lungs quiver with yearning. I know I know it's bad etc etc but they call it addictive for a reason. Plus it just looks so damned cool!
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21 Gloria
February 7, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Isn't it tokki and lizard because may is from america ? haha iono
and @ 12: maybe you should try seeing her acting in hong gil dong (: haha she gained a lot of popularity from them. but like javabeans said before, i dont think she's very good at nuanced/ subtle acting? :/ iono maybe she'll improve.
haha even if she's not a strong actor yet, i really think she has improved :O i havent seen swallow the sun though so i dunno if she took a step back haha
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22 owl
September 22, 2014 at 8:04 AM
Oh no, trailer is gone! Something about the description reminds me of I'm Sorry I Love You (So Ji-sub), maybe it's the short life span cloud of doom hanging in the air and the searching for parent themes.
Did anyone see Innocent Thing (movie) with Jang Hyuk and Jo Bo-ah (Surplus Princess)? where everyone went off their own deep end ?
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