Shining light on society’s outcasts

Actor and director Yoo Ji-tae says it is his own “taste” that draws him to the films that feature society’s isolated, rather than ones that deal with the wealthy or powerful.

His feature directing debut reflects that very taste telling the story of a young, abused migrant woman in search of survival and dignity. Titled “Mai Ratima,” the romance won the Jury Prize at this year’s Deauville Asian Film Festival.

“I think I’m particularly interested in stories of women who go against the odds,” Yoo said in an interview with The Korea Herald on May 28 in Seoul. “I am touched by the process of them becoming stronger, wiser as they struggle to make ends meet.”

The 37-year-old, who has starred in more than 20 films ― including Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” and Hong Sang-soo’s “Woman Is the Future of Man” ― is also known for his social activism and support for local independent cinema. In 2011, he served as the co-festival director of the 3rd DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival. He also has been working as a promotional ambassador for World Vision International’s Seoul office. He even studied social work in the Catholic University of Korea’s graduate program.

When asked what’s behind his attention to the underbelly of society, Yoo gave his answer after a pause.

“I think the fact that I was raised by a single mother has a lot to do with it,” he said. “My mother is a very strong woman.”

Yoo has been thinking about making a film about the socially marginalized for the last 15 years.

“In the beginning, I was thinking about doing a film about a teenager living in a small fishing village,” Yoo said. “And then the stories of migrant women in Korea drew my attention. I found out through my own research that about 10 mail-order brides from overseas countries get murdered every year (in Korea). I decided to make a film about them, and after my script was done, I had it read over by one of the women’s rights activists.”

In his movie, its eponymous mail-order bride Mai Ratima (impressively delivered by actress Park Ji-soo) ― which means “new life” in the character’s mother tongue, Thai ― runs away from her abusive in-laws in Pohang and falls in love with a penniless and homeless Korean man Soo-young (played by Bae Soo-bin). The two together moves to Seoul and eventually face a series of unexpected events, including betrayal.

“I read while doing my research that a lot of people from rural towns don’t know what to do when they arrive in Seoul for the first time,” Yoo said when asked about this depiction of Seoul in the movie, which is portrayed as harsh, expensive and difficult. “What struck me from what I read was that many of them find themselves running after getting off the subway, because Seoulites walk too fast and they are overwhelmed. I thought many migrant women would feel similar when they come to a foreign city and try to make it their second home.”

The actor-director married actress Kim Hyo-jin, who is eight years his junior, in 2011. The two share a lot of same interests and tastes, especially in literature, classical music and charity work. When asked what Kim said about his latest film, Yoo kept his answer short. “She just said, ‘Good job!’” he said with a smile.

“Mai Ratima” opens in local theaters on June 6.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)