[Limelight] Kim Nam-gil's Interpretation of Japanese Colonial Era Western Action

Netflix 'Dojeok: Kal-ui Sori' Lee Yoon Role
Refreshing Western Action with a Wild Ethnic Flavor
Martial Arts Director: "An Actor Who Breathes Life into the Drama"

Netflix's Thief: The Sound of the Sword highlights the common people dreaming of a new life in Gando. Their tenacious vitality manifests as a wild ethnic spirit. Under Japanese rule, the latent blood of the northern nomadic horsemen erupts. They handle traditional weapons such as guns, swords, axes, and bows in a rough and aggressive manner. The exploits of Lee Yoon (Kim Nam-gil), who leads the vanguard, add another dimension: the frontier spirit central to Western expansion. Throughout, he leads with his gun, driving fusion and expansion.

Those who ventured into the vast American West had no one to rely on. Conversely, except for rules set by themselves or their groups, they were free from any constraints. Armed with a single gun, they embarked on the arduous path of conquest based solely on their own judgment. If others trespassed or caused harm, they retaliated in kind. Lee Yoon is half cowboy in this regard. In a world where law does not evenly apply and might is right, he draws his gun. He forms a rapport with the common people, achieving both social integration and the pioneering of Gando simultaneously.

This series of events is uniquely expressed through action. Kim Nam-gil focused more on close combat than simply shooting. He blocks chaotic and messy attacks with the Winchester barrel and strikes heads with the stock. Without relying on filming or editing tricks, he demonstrates agile movements and weapon handling. A representative example is the scene in episode 1 where he single-handedly confronts the Nodeoksan gang. The action of taking down ten men in one go is shown in a long take.

Martial arts director Jo Dong-hyuk said, "Even though the editing was not fast-paced, he showed amazing movements," adding, "He infused the action with the character’s traits not only in attacks but also in dodging and rolling, enriching the action." He continued, "We filmed for three days. Kim Nam-gil performed the long take up to the point where he ascends the stairs to meet Nodeoksan, but only the first-floor scene was included, which he regretted. We tried to make the gun-and-sword fighting, close to Western action, flow into wild swordplay."

Kim Nam-gil revealed, "There were more close combat scenes than I expected, so I thought a lot about how to utilize bayonet fighting." He explained, "At that time, a gun could be loaded to fire four or five shots. We had to increase the proportion of strikes using the gun or rely on other weapons. However, the character is not one who charges head-on. All actions start from a defensive stance. It only appears otherwise because of the emotions involved."

Lee Yoon’s infiltration goal is revenge. He also aims to rescue a kidnapped woman. Eon-nyeon-i (Lee Ho-jung), who confronts him in episode 3, is a character who first threatens him. However, the action style differs greatly from the Nodeoksan gang scene. The former has a strong sense of cruelty and savagery, while the latter is relatively refreshing and exhilarating. This is because Eon-nyeon-i stands on the boundary between good and evil.

Kim Nam-gil focused on creating various spectacles while leaving room for fusion. For example, when Eon-nyeon-i tries to shoot in the middle of Myeongjeong Village, Lee Yoon throws a basket to obstruct her view. He quickly dives backward to dodge the bullet and slides down with his head lowered to find cover. Seizing the moment when Eon-nyeon-i reloads, he picks up a kitchen knife dropped on the ground and throws it with all his might. The ensuing action is a melee. Close-range kicks and punches reminiscent of traditional martial arts fly wildly.

There is also action that fuses the styles of the former and latter. In episode 7, Lee Yoon and Eon-nyeon-i face Japanese soldiers and police. They assist each other in shooting and coordinate their moves, with many scenes showing them cutting or stabbing opponents with hairpins, daggers, and long swords. Although blood flows profusely, the stylish editing and emotional acting add a strong sense of exhilaration.

Martial arts director Jo explained, "Much of the action blending period drama (Japanese colonial era) and Western elements originated from Kim Nam-gil’s ideas." He added, "We designed the action flow separately with Lee Ho-jung and incorporated dramatic elements. Concerned about repetitive similar action, Kim Nam-gil volunteered for the second-floor corridor action scene. He is an actor who knows how to breathe life into a drama."

Kim Nam-gil said, "I was able to act freely because I was not confined to the framework of independence fighters." He continued, "Even borrowing heavily from Western-style action, I thought it was fine as it emphasized ethnic identity. I believed that the balance could shift in episodes dealing with the massacre of Koreans and other events. Through growth and reflection, the character will definitely change into a different person."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.