Breaking Clichés with Kim Hye-ja

This is my third “Actor’s Tribute,” and I couldn’t think of a better actress to write about than Kim Hye-ja. There is something about the way she acts that keeps me thinking about her long after the movie or drama is over.

I first became fascinated by her through Mother, directed by Bong Joon-ho. I remember watching an interview where Bong said that Kim Hye-ja was the reason he decided to write the script and make the movie. I can understand why! Her character, an unnamed mother who will do whatever it takes for her son, is heartbreaking.

When I think about performances that have left a strong emotional impression on me, I often think of Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables. I have written about this before in my posts about Lee Byung-hun and my beloved Mr. Sunshine. But then I watched Our Blues, where Kim Hye-ja shares the screen with Lee Byung-hun, and once again I found myself watching an actress who can reach that same emotional depth.

What I love about Kim Hye-ja is the way she can be vulnerable and strong at the same time. Her characters never feel like simple versions of what a woman is supposed to be. There is always something more underneath.

That is what makes her so fascinating to me. She has spent decades bringing very different women to life, and somehow she continues to surprise me.

I hope I get to see her in many more roles.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia