Singer-actor Kim Dong-wan's Movie Picks

Kim Dong-wan [10Asia]

We all know who Kim Dong-wan is. He is a member of Korea's oldest idol group Shinhwa which debuted in 1998, transformed into a so-called 'upright man' through several TV series and is now familiarly recognized as 'uncle' after completing his mandatory military services last December.

But we do not know Kim Dong-wan yet. He is resuming his activities for the first time in a while and although he could have made 'safe' choices by either resuming his singing or acting career, he headed for the theatrical stage for the first time in his life to take on a musical where his wardrobe would consist of a blonde wig and fancy skirt. It is definitely not easy to imagine the point of contact between the Kim Dong-wan we know and "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," a legendary musical based on John Cameron Mitchell's movie of the same name that tells of transgender rock singer Hedwig from East Berlin. However, he had an attitude that is positive enough to laugh off concern that "Hedwig" may be becoming to commercial since he was cast for it and said he has "never been afraid of being evaluated." For him, everything starts from his belief: "I've been a celebrity who is neither particularly good nor bad at doing things so I'm hoping to lean more toward being good at what I do by working on something that doesn't suit me" since he has overcome one obstacle after another during his career driven by people's remarks that "he will fail."

That is why "Hedwig," the so-called 'triathlon of musicals' from having to dress up as a woman, act out a character surrounded by prejudice and being a one hour and forty minute-long monologue, will be a difficult yet anticipated challenge for Kim who said there will be "a lot for me to gain but nothing to lose." Below are his movie recommendations from amongst the ones he watched while preparing for "Hedwig."

1. "Hedwig And The Angry Inch"
2000 | John Cameron Mitchell
“Hedwig is beautiful, humane and artistic. He's attractive in the sense that no matter how hard of a time he's having, he'll focus on what he likes and stay himself. Also, the Hedwig I'll get to express will be like me -- someone who has been through all sorts of ups and downs in life although still young. (laugh) I really went through a lot when in my twenties and when I'm in certain situations, there were moments that I felt I was truly alone. I'm sure what Hedwig experienced was worse but I think we're similar in that sense -- that we both don't get very angry nor very sad and that we're composed but that it comes from all the painful experiences we've been through. That's why the message I want to focus on is 'forgiveness'."

For Hansel, living in a small apartment with his mother in East Berlin, listening to an American radio station through which he would hear David Bowie and Iggy Pop sing was his only indulgence until one day, he is given the opportunity to go to the U.S -- an American soldier proposes to him under the condition that Hansel becomes a woman. However, due to a botched surgery, he ends up going to the U.S. with a dysfunctional one-inch mound of flesh. Although the life Hansel faces is not all sweet, he is the most attractive character in movie history, finding love amidst despair and healing the pain of betrayal with music.

2. "Farewell My Concubine"
1993 | Chen Kaige
“This movie is from a long time ago but I watched it again recently while preparing for 'Hedwig.' It was very sad to see the process of how people who do art, get caught up in the maelstrom of history and are suppressed by thoughts and ideologies. I think characters in movies that are set in modern Chinese history, including 'Lust, Caution,' are all like that. That's why 'Concubine' made me think a lot of thoughts and feel a lot of emotions but regardless of all of that, is a very beautiful movie."

"Farewell My Concubine" follows the story of two boys at a Beijing opera training school in China when warlords were in power in 1925, depicting on their relationship which starts out as a friendship but develops into that of love, then jealously and then love and hate. And the movie ends with Cheng Dieyi (played by Leslie Cheung) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) getting ready to give the last performance of "Farewell My Concubine" in 1977. The portrayal of the lives of Beijing opera singers which gets shaken up by major incidents in modern Chinese history including the invasion of the Japanese military, the Communist Party's rise to power and the Cultural Revolution, is the most cutting report on the relationship between artists and the times they lived in as well as being a beautiful drama.

3. "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
1994 | Stephan Elliott
“Someone recommended I watch this after I decided to take on 'Hedwig.' And it's a road movie about men who perform at clubs after disguising as women in which I was impressed by how they'd look like beasts before they dress up but sing and dance with extremely captivating expressions on stage. I also like how proud they were of their performances no matter what other people would say about them."

Tick (played by Hugo Weaving) and Adam (Guy Pearce), working as popular show girls at a night club in Sydney of Australia, are asked to perform at a hotel in Alice Springs, a remote town half way across the country. So they leave on a school bus they name 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' with Bernadette Basinger (Terence Stamp), a recently bereaved transsexual woman, and on the way, they are faced with prejudice and exclusion by people but they do not become embarrassed nor regret the way they have chosen to live their lives.

4. "Velvet Goldmine"
1998 | Todd Haynes
“I've liked rock music since I was in my teens and 'Velvet Goldmine' is actually a movie where the cast and music were so powerful that I don't remember much about the story itself. I completely immersed myself into the movie because it felt like the character was based on Kurt Cobain. 'Hedwig' too revolves mainly around rock music so although I don't know if I'll do a good job with the musical, I do think the fact that it's a genre I've always liked will help."

The story of Arthur Stuart (Christian Bale) facing the past while digging into the truth behind the death of '70s glam-rock star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) ten years after he was shot dead. The energy created through mystery, love and hate, music and growth is explosive.

5. "La Maison De Himiko"
2005 | Isshin Inudo
"It's actually hard to pick a single reason to what I like about good movies. I think good movies are good because they were great in every aspect, from the art to the characters, and they work well together. In that sense, 'La Maison De Himiko' is a well-made movie but also a project that sexual minorities will relate to. When I visit Japan and go to bars there, I noticed that in many cases, it isn't pretty women that are the people who are most at ease and act delicately but rather those who are born as men but regard themselves as women. And they're a lot of fun and comfortable to talk to. This movie too gives off the same vibe."

Saori (Ko Shibasaki) has lived her life despising her gay father Himiko (Min Tanaka) who left her and her mother a long time ago when one day, her father's lover Haruhiko (Joe Odagiri) finds her and tells her that his father will not live for long from cancer. Saori decides to work at 'Maison De Himiko,' a silver town for homosexuals that Himiko runs, looking forward to the inheritance she'll receive from him but slowly starts to open her heart after meeting with lonely people with different stories.

※ Any copying, republication or redistribution of 10Asia's content is expressly prohibited without prior consent of 10Asia. Copyright infringement is subject to criminal and civil penalties.

Reporter : Choi Ji-Eun five@
Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@