Actor Kim Hye-ja appeared with junior cast members of '여전히 찬란하게' in a video on the '문명특급' YouTube channel to discuss the film. The video’s title praised Jaejae’s interviewing and hosting while adding that she was a little over the top. The film is Kim’s first film appearance in nine years, and she plays Sun-ok, who reunites after 60 years with the best friend who shared the most brilliant time of her life. Kim described the film as a story of teenage friendship and love, saying that although the premise might sound familiar, viewers needed to see it to understand it.
Kim said she initially did not want to take the role because film work would be difficult and returning after a long interval felt daunting. Director Song Il-gon sought to persuade her in a long letter, encouraging her not to be afraid and to act as she knew how. Kim agreed to join the film after the director persuaded her six times.
Kim said she hoped viewers could cry while watching the film and come away feeling softened. Host Jaejae agreed, saying there were times when people sought out a film that made them cry to release pent-up feelings. Kim said she had acted while thinking of something that reassures people even as they cry, and had tried to find hope in the work.
Listening to her junior co-stars, she expressed affection for them, saying she found them admirable and well spoken. She also asked viewers to look kindly on the younger actors. She expressed sadness about the path they were taking, saying she sometimes felt sorry for the younger actors and had wondered to herself why they wanted to act.
Kim won the television grand prize at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2019 for the drama '눈이 부시게'. In her acceptance speech, she urged people not to ruin the present with regrets about the past or anxiety about the future, and to live for today. In this interview, she said they had approached the work sincerely and immersed themselves in their roles, hoping viewers would feel that sincerity.
Kim attended the 31st Busan International Film Festival and later cancelled a scheduled stage greeting ahead of the press screening for '여전히 찬란하게'. '여전히 찬란하게' is scheduled for release on October 21.
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