[Edaily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] “I even thought this might be my last movie. I was really determined to give it my absolute best and push myself to the limit.”

Director Kim Jin-yu, who directed the film *A Flowing Journey*, spoke about his latest work. Ahead of the release of his new film—his first in six years since *I Am Barley*—Director Kim met with E-Daily and calmly shared the deep affection he poured into this project, much like the film itself.

“A Flowing Journey” tells the story of Chun-hee, who, after losing her husband, was preparing for a journey of her own when she encounters unexpected connections in her new apartment, causing a new melody to begin flowing through her once-quiet daily life. Kim Hye-ok plays Chun-hee, and Korean-American actor Justin Min plays Min-jun.

After completing the screenplay, Director Kim began casting. Although there weren’t many actors realistically available for the roles, she was driven by her determination to “do my best, even with a small-scale film.”

She shared that she wanted to include more stories featuring middle-aged and older actors, a group that rarely receives attention in films. Director Kim said that while watching Kim Hye-ok’s performance, she thought, “An actress this talented isn’t appearing in many films.” She also felt a small sense of responsibility to ensure that actors of various ages and their stories were featured in the film.

The film began when Kim Hye-ok decided to star in it after reading the script. Director Kim smiled and said, “Just being able to work with Ms. Hye-ok was enough for me.”

Director Kim described Kim Hye-ok as “a person like a rose.” He added, “She may seem sharp, but she’s truly a beautiful and lovely person,” his eyes welling up with tears.

Regarding Justin Min, he explained that he believed Min’s experience as a Korean-American who had lived in the West would help convey the character’s sense of being an outsider. Recalling the casting process, he said, “It might be an irresponsible thought for a director, but I had the mindset that ‘It’ll work out. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.’ I worked 108 times harder.”

He added, “Justin’s mother read the script first and told him she’d like him to take the role, so I heard he read it one more time,” and said, “I’m also grateful to Justin’s mother.”

Park Dae-ho, who is an active musician, made his screen debut with this film. Director Kim posted a casting call in the group chat for the piano department at the Korea National University of Arts, where Park Dae-ho is a student. After two weeks with no responses, a candidate appeared just before filming was set to begin. Director Kim smiled, saying, “The moment I saw Park Dae-ho, I thought, ‘That’s Seong-chan.’”

Director Kim said, “His body remained perfectly still, but only his eyes moved. There were moments when I was surprised, wondering, ‘How did he do that?’” He added, “I felt he was someone who instinctively understood emotional expression and flow.” He also shared some behind-the-scenes details about the role of Jo Seong-chan, played by Park Dae-ho. “Jo Seong-jin and Im Yun-chan—those names felt so natural,” he said with a laugh.

Director Kim also filmed a scene that wasn’t in the script. After wrapping up filming, he happened to see Kim Hye-ok touching a wardrobe, and Director Kim and the production crew, who were tidying up the set, all raised their cameras at once. Director Kim said, “It was a cinematic moment for me, too. We were all seeing the same thing, and that’s what we ended up capturing.”

He said that tears would naturally well up whenever he looked into Kim Hye-ok’s eyes. Although he was tempted to capture more of the emotions the actress evoked, he deliberately held back. Observing the character’s sorrow from a appropriate distance, without exaggerating it—that was the approach Director Kim wanted to maintain in this film, which deals with death.

In fact, *A Flowing Journey* began as a romantic drama. Director Kim conceived the story while watching a scene of conducting in Ryuichi Sakamoto’s film *Koda*. He imagined the moment when a deaf person experiences music through a conductor and envisioned a love story between the conductor and the deaf person, centered on the vibrations of sound and emotional exchanges beyond sound itself.

Later, the direction of the story shifted. The theme of death began to come into focus, and he felt it was a question he, as a creator, needed to ask himself. He recalled moments when his friends with disabilities would casually say, “I want to die,” when they were drunk. To Director Kim, those words became a question he could not simply brush aside.

“Flowing Journey” is a film that follows the final days of characters facing death. While it tackles the difficult subject of assisted dying, it does not push viewers toward a specific answer but rather invites them to reflect on each individual’s life and choices. Director Kim focused on avoiding the sensationalization or imposition of death, maintaining a distance that allows the audience to reflect naturally.

“It was important to encourage people to think about death,” Director Kim said. “The topic of assisted dying is something some people may not accept, while for others, it might be something they hope for. I wanted to let the audience think about it naturally, without forcing them in any particular direction.”

His thoughts led him to ponder, “What if there were options outside of hospitals for those facing death?” As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Director Kim said he dreams of spaces like barrier-free resorts where people with disabilities and their families can travel comfortably. “I think we need a place where people can gather, have a drink, enjoy cultural activities, and savor this world a little more before facing death,” he said.

Throughout the interview, he struggled to hold back tears several times while talking about the actors and the film. He was as sensitive and kind-hearted as his films. I found myself hoping that Director Kim’s warm heart, his worldview, and his work would continue to flow.

Director Kim said, “I felt this might be my last film. That’s why I was so determined to give it my all.” He added, “I want to make warm, diverse films. If given the opportunity, I’d like to give my all to anything.”

He continued, “Isn’t it precious to have a movie that allows people to take a brief respite at the theater? I hope this film serves as a moment of respite for the audience.”

“A Flowing Journey” is currently playing in theaters nationwide.