‘Bogota: City of the Lost’ Song Joong-ki “The Most Desire-Filled Role I’ve Played So Far”
Attendees included actors Song Joong-ki, Lee Hee-joon, Kwon Hae-hyo, Park Ji-hwan, Cho Hyun-chul, Kim Jong-soo and director Kim Seong-je, who shared insights about the movie.
Song Joong-ki introduced the film, “‘Bogota: City of the Lost’ depicts the story of Guk-hee’s family, who, having lost hope in Korea after the IMF crisis, travel to Bogotá, Colombia in search of a new beginning. It’s a narrative about survival and the challenges faced along the way.”
He added humor by commenting on his bright attire, “Since all my seniors wore black today, I, the youngest, decided to wear something more cheerful.” Park Kyung-lim joked “You look like the prince of Colombia“, eliciting laughter.
When asked why he chose to take part in this project, Song Joong-ki explained, “The story of conflicts among Koreans, especially when set in a foreign land, intrigued me. I was curious about how the struggles of Koreans would be portrayed against the backdrop of South America’s scenery. The outcome is as captivating as I had hoped.”
Regarding his character Guk-hee, Song Joong-ki described, “The character evolves depending on age and circumstances. Among all my recent roles, this one is the most driven by raw ambition. Guk-hee’s desires stem from a need to survive, coupled with a sense of responsibility. This sense of responsibility and survival instinct made the character deeply compelling.”
Song Joong-ki talked about the character’s appearance, “I typically don’t like wearing accessories or buying them myself, but observing the locals in Colombia, I noticed they wear a lot of jewelry. So, I decided to wear earrings and cut my hair short to match the role.”
Reflecting on his experience learning Spanish for the film, Song Joong-ki revealed, “It was challenging but enjoyable. Spanish has a unique rhythm that made it exciting, even more so than when I learned Italian for ‘Vincenzo’. I can still speak some Spanish now, though most of what I learned are curse words, so I’ll refrain. I can manage phrases like ‘I’m hungry’, ‘This is delicious’ or ‘Hurry up’.“
Touching on the era depicted in “Bogota: City of the Lost”, Song Joong-ki remarked, “The film revolves around the aftermath of the IMF crisis. While it highlights family dynamics and immigrant struggles, I focused more on the universal concept of responsibility rather than the specific historical context.“
Song Joong-ki, who played the character from his teens to his 30s, admitted, “The scenes were filmed over four and a half years ago, so fortunately, I look a little younger in them. There was, of course, some pressure, but it wasn’t unlike the challenges I’ve faced with other projects. During the pandemic, which everyone endured, I concentrated on what I could contribute as a lead actor. I realized that no matter what I do, it won’t change everything. My role was to do my best within the scope I was given. Meeting Park Kyung-lim today, I feel overwhelmed with emotion, knowing that the film is finally reaching audiences. I’m grateful and humbled, and I’ll promote this movie with these feelings in my heart as we approach its release on December 31.”
The film “Bogota: City of the Lost” follows Guk-hee (Song Joong-ki), who heads to Bogotá, Colombia with his family after the IMF crisis. There, he becomes entangled with Soo-yeong (Lee Hee-joon) and Sergeant Park (Kwon Hae-hyo), the influential people of the Korean community. The movie is set to be released on December 31.
Source: Daum
