[Drama 2020] The School Nurse Files, 보건교사 안은영

[Helena]

 

Credit: theswoonnetflix

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https://www.hellokpop.com/featured/the-school-nurse-files-unleashes-magical-world-with-an-eccentric-heroine/
“The School Nurse Files” Imaginatively Portrays A New Type Of Heroine

By JACQLIMMM | September 24, 2020

NETFLIX-PRODUCED SERIES, THE SCHOOL NURSE FILES, UNLEASHES A COLORFUL, MAGICAL YET STRANGE WORLD STARRING AN ECCENTRIC HEROINE.

Based on the award-winning novel of the same title by Chung Se Rang, The School Nurse Files creatively presents Ahn Eun Young (Jung Yu Mi) as a refreshing type of heroine.

 

THE NEW FEMALE SUPERHERO

“The School Nurse Files is a story about a not-so-perfect female warrior coming to terms with her own power.” – Director Lee Kyoung Mi.

Ahn Eun Young is not your typical female warrior. In fact, she is as strange as she can be in trying to save everyone from invisible blobs of jellies. Far from the usual display of a heroine’s strength and physical power, Ahn Eun Young is an awkward soul with quirky and eccentric ways of moving around. She also struggles internally about her inevitable fate of having to fight the jellies in secret.

Jung Yu Mi who portrays Ahn Eun Young has a lot to say about her character. To Jung Yu Mi, Ahn Eun Young is more than just her quirky persona. Ahn Eun Young is a character of polar opposites – someone who appears weird but tough; brusque but loving; and some who struggles but continue to fight on.

Apart from having special powers that allow her to save other people, Ahn Eun Young touches others through her warmth and comfort. This is something that Jung Yu Mi hopes the viewers would feel as they watch The School Nurse Files. 
 

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IMAGINATIVE PORTRAYAL AND CREATIVE POWERHOUSE

Being based from a novel with a strong fan base, The School Nurse FIles’ creative team has made every effort to live up to capture the essence of the Chung Se Rang’s writing.

The novel’s loyal fans have given their pompous seal of approval to Jung Yu Mi as the perfect actress to portray Ahn Eun Young; and to Director Lee Kyoung Mi as the perfect visionary to translate the imaginative world of jellies into a TV series.

In an interview, Director Lee even says, “I was terrified I might not be able to satisfy the imaginations of the book’s fans, but I was able to push through that, because this vast creative world was so much fun.”

Fans are in for a visual treat with the series’ well-thought of fantasy elements made possible by delightful computer graphics and Director Lee’s creative eye.

 

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MAGICAL AND MEANINGFUL WORLD

“I wanted to send out the message that even if you’re different, you can go forward by combining forces with others.” — Chung Se Rang

The School Nurse Files is one of the award-winning novelist, Chung Se Rang, most famous works. It has become so popular that Chung Se Rang had to write a full blown novel from a short story out of her friend’s experience as a teacher.

The message that Chung Se Rang wants to convey in the novel is simple, “Even if you are different from others, if you are misunderstood, if you are not perfect or you are always making mistakes, when you connect with others and put your strengths together, you can always move forward.”

“I wrote the book in the hope for a world where people look after each other without becoming isolated,” Chung Se Rang says in an interview.

True to Chung Se Rang’s tone, Netflix has adapted the series and has kept the cheerful, bubbly character of the novel. It still highlights the burden felt by Ahn Eun Young, keeping her character intact, while establishing a bigger world of magic around her with Hong In Pyo (Nam Joo Hyuk).

 

Watch The School Nurse Files exclusively on Netflix.

[Helena]

https://www.hellokpop.com/review/the-school-nurse-files-3/
K-Drama Review: “The School Nurse Files” Grips Our Curiosity With Its Oddly Bizarre Plot

By JACQLIMMM | September 26, 2020

ON SEPTEMBER 25, THE SCHOOL NURSE FILES, UNVEILS ALL OF ITS SIX EPISODES AND EXPOSES THE ODDLY STRANGE AND ECCENTRIC WORLD OF AHN EUN YOUNG AND HONG IN PYO.

This Netfix-produced series veers away from the regular K-Drama mould. There are no steeping love stories nor arising family conflicts. It is neither set against any of the more common Korean folklores; instead, there are crumbs of religious and Chinese literary references. The School Nurse Files then entirely focuses on the story of Ahn Eun Young, how she struggles to accept her fate and powers, and the bizarre world she lives in.

TITLE: THE SCHOOL NURSE FILES
STREAMING PLATFORM: NETFLIX
THEME: EERIE, ECCENTRIC, SUPERNATURAL, SUSPENSE
LENGTH: SEASON 1 – 6 EPISODES
BROADCAST DATE: 25 SEPTEMBER 2020
MAIN LEADS: JUNG YU MI, NAM JOO HYUK
OVERALL RATING: ****

 

QUICK PLOT ROUNDUP

Jung Yu Mi plays Ahn Eun Young, the school nurse with supernatural abilities to see ghosts and the jelly, monster-like creatures. Invisible to others, Ahn Eun Young has been fighting off the jellies alone using the unlikely combination of a rainbow-colored toy sword and BB gun. She has accepted it as her lone fate until she discovers that Hong In Pyo can recharge her powers and help her win the battle against the jellies.

Nam Joo Hyuk portrays Hong In Pyo, a classical Chinese teacher and the grandson of the school founder. He has accidentally unleashed the jellies out of containment putting the entire school and all the students in danger. While he is the cause of the chaotic and eccentric mess with the jellies, he is also the only one who can help Ahn Eun Young beat them.

While Ahn Eun Young and Hong In Pyo team up to save the entire school, other teachers in Mong-Iyeon are from feeding off from the jellies to satisfy their own selfish desires.

 

 

BEST MOMENTS *SPOILER ALERT*

JUNG YU MI’S PORTRAYAL OF AN ECCENTRIC FEMALE SUPER HERO

Jung Yu Mi perfectly portrays Ahn Eun Young as the awkward, seemingly frail but internally tough school nurse who possesses supernatural powers.

 

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IMAGINATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE JELLIES

In an interview, Director Lee Kyoung Mi mentions that visualizing the fantasy elements especially the jellies has been very crucial for this series. It also turns out to be a really difficult process.

The jellies, which are really invisible blobs of human desires, come in many form in the series. They can be either a living thing, an animal, a plant or even a dead person. Some are good and protects the school from harm while the other can become highly dangerous.

Here are the most notable ones from the series:

Humanoid Jellies – These are the jellies that come in human form due to the intense emotions like love, anxiety and fear. They are like ghosts but not quite as they can show up even when their hosts are still alive.

Monster Jellies – These are the animal-like jellies (octopus, toad, whale) that become darker in color when they are contaminated. The smaller, more see-through they become, the weaker they are. Some protect the school from harm such as the big blue whale jelly but the others are dangerous such as the jellyfish and octopus.

 

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Heart Jellies – These are heart shaped jellies that pop up like fireworks whenever Ahn Eun Young successfully kills a jelly.

 

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NAM JOO HYUK’S CHARM IN PLAYING HONG IN PYO

Hong In Pyo is a very monotonous, dorky character in The School Nurse Files. However, with Nam Joo Hyuk playing the character, In Pyo has been given a subtle charm with a heart-warming chuckle.

 

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ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES OF MONG-IEYON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The School Nurse Files’ narrative will not be complete without the adventures and misadventures of Eun Young and In Pyo’s students entangled in their own.

They are after all the reason why Ahn Eun Young and Hong In Pyo work so hard to team up and fight off the dangerous jelly creatures.

 

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AFTERTHOUGHTS

The School Nurse Files is eerily quirky and strange; on the paranormal side but not a tad bit scary. One has to get past thinking what the series is all about to appreciate it. Its narrative is somehow intentionally left incomplete but its cinematography makes up for it.

All six episodes feel dark, uncomfortably eerie and humid of the high school student’s sweat. This will then be broken by pops of colors either from the jellies or Ahn Eun Young’s weapons.

We definitely see Netflix giving all the creative freedom to Director Lee Kyoung Mi into translating Chung Se Rang’s bestselling novel to a TV series.

We echo the novel’s fans when they say that Jung Yu Mi is the perfect actress to play Ahn Eun Young. She definitely is! Nam Joo Hyuk likewise does a very good job playing Hong In Pyo; he has certainly added that subtle charming dimension into the ominous feels of the series.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The School Nurse Files is not for an audience wanting and looking for a mainstream, feel-good plot. We recommend it to someone who can appreciate an unconventional story with a creative portrayal of suppressed emotions and human tendencies.

(PS. This review is written by someone who has not read the actual novel of Chung Se Rang’s The School Nurse Files. Hence, we cannot give perspective as to how close or far Netflix has adapted the novel for TV.)

Watch The School Nurse Files exclusively on Netflix!

[Yinye]

I do hope there is a part 2 because of this quote:

“The ending of season 1 will leave people wondering what kind of adventure awaits? What is the story between Eun-young and In-pyo that left untold? I want these questions to linger in the mind and remain in the heart of our viewers. “ 

 

Because this is me - wondering and wishing for just a few more episodes lol like I will be happy with just six more episodes where we see EY and IP team up to really fight the jelly and see their relationship deepen.

 

 

[Helena]

https://www.allkpop.com/article/2020/09/5-reasons-why-the-school-nurse-files-is-a-visual-social-masterpiece
5 reasons why 'The School Nurse Files' is a visual & social masterpiece

Posted by ishani-sarkar

Netflix is quickly taking over the K-Drama industry, one brilliant piece at a time. On September 25, 2020, Netflix released their original series ‘The School Nurse Files’ starring Jung Yu Mi (Nurse Ahn Eun Young) and Nam Joo Hyuk (Hong In Pyo). All 6 episodes of the mini-series were released at once making it a perfect weekend binge. Plain horror or slapstick comedy too boring for you? It’s time you check out this series, made every bit with genius aestheticism and social commentary all under the garb of colorful little jellies. Here are 5 things that make the series truly brilliant.

The Background

 

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The scene of action is a school set up by a private foundation, ‘Safe Happiness’ built by our male protagonist Hong In Pyo’s grandfather. We soon find out that the school building was built on top of a pond where lovers committed suicide out of despair. Over time, young people that were wronged in love were even thrown into the waters of the pond. The aquatic life in the pond grew monstrous from eating human flesh and the pond was ordered to be filled up. Safe Happiness decided, at the call of Hong In Pyo’s grandfather that a school would be built on top of it. Over time, In Pyo grew up and became a Chinese character's teacher at the school, just as his grandfather would have wanted. However, an even darker secret lingers in the basement, which only one company can sterilize – Ilgwang Sterilization. Only one instruction is given in regards to the basement – it must be sterilized every 6 months and solely by Ilgwang. However, it’s been quite a while since Ilgwang has not shown up to sterilize the place.

The Superhero and Her World

 

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Ahn Eun Young works at Mon Lyeon High School as a school nurse. A friend of hers recommended this job to her. Ever since she was a child, Eun Young has seen things unknown to the human eye. Psychological evaluations proved futile and there was never any solution to this extra pair of eyes that she’d developed – one that was not physical but definitely spiritual. She can see ghosts, spirits, energy and everything else imaginable that should belong to another realm. Energy manifests itself in her world as jelly-like creatures that assume various worldly shapes. Even the slightest bit of negative emotion swells up and turns ugly at the bat of an eyelid. This beautiful symbolism perfectly captures just how important feelings and emotions are for the proper functioning of society. Negativity festers and ruins everything in its wake. While it appears insignificant and nothing out of the ordinary to the mortal eye, pain, hurt, anger, resentment, regret, and other such emotions carry enough weight to completely turn one’s life upside down. Even obsessive attachment can hinder one’s judgment, as we see from the story of Wan Su and Min Woo. Not all of these jellies are malicious, however. A calm whale-shaped jelly floats by over the school at night and tiny little octopus-shaped jellies hop around happily. Hong In Pyo is surrounded by a beautiful iridescent aura that protects him from any harm, representing all the good energy that he is made up of. What looks like literal gold and pixie dust, always surrounds anything that is positive and has healing energy.

 

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At the mere touch of his hand, Eun Young feels energized and rejuvenated. The complication of the story creeps in when Eun Young and In Pyo transgress into the basement and the struggle that ensues is a perfect representation of the importance of mental health. As always, any sort of power is never exclusive to one, and therefore, there’s always a distinction of good and evil. While Eun Young uses her ability to help and protect, others, like Mackenzie, use it in manipulative manners, profiting off of the debilitating power of negative energy to reach one’s own ends. At the end of it all, when all is said and done, Eun Young’s colorful world of jellies stands no chance before the world she sees right through. Having found love at the touch of a hand, Eun Young considers her simple human relationship with In Pyo much more appealing than any supernatural realm of jellies and spirits.

The Basement

 

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The basement has long been used as a symbolic stand-in for what’s unknown or the Id, as Freud would have it. The human mind is divided into the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. The Id is always right at the bottom, covered by the Ego in the middle which is further held in place by the Superego. While the superego acts as a form of ‘discipline’, keeping the unwanted and the “wrong” down in the unconscious, the ego is the middle ground where everything is stable. The Id is the home for anything repressed, reject, and “obscene”. Whatever the human mind considers inappropriate is shot down to the unconscious where it lingers until it can manifest itself in the conscious mind. Nothing can stay hidden forever, especially not the Id and as much, the negative energy lurking within the basement, in absence of proper sterilization is oozing out into the school premises. The basement held all the pain of what could only be thousands of lives, human or otherwise that were lost to this pond and within this pond, once it got filled. The overflow of this energy starts affecting students one by one until In Pyo turns the Apji Stone within the basement over, uncovering something that can only be called a hell-hole of negativity. With the Id now finally out into the world, it wreaks havoc, turning the students into zombie-like mindless creatures, running to jump off the roof. This represents just how fatal oppressed emotions can become. Bottling things up and putting a tight lid on it can never ensure that they won’t resurface to threaten one’s very existence. The basement becomes a macrocosm for the struggle inside every person’s heart, their reservoir of emotions, and how they choose to deal with the same. Unless the pain and hurt you’re harboring deep inside is acknowledged, dealt with, and cleansed on a regular basis, it will take monstrous forms to haunt you in your present. 
 

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When Eun Young defeats these hideous manifestations, all that remains is a million heart-shaped jellies that dissolve into the ground like vapor, taking the idea further that nothing is inherently evil, even when they look like mud monsters. All they need is the right amount of goodness shown to them. While Eun Young delivers this via a BB gun and pellets charged with In Pyo’s energy, anyone else can do that with self-love.

The Lore

 

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After thorough research and through In Pyo’s knowledge of the Chinese characters, the duo finds out about the “breathing hole”. As it turns out, Hong In Pyo’s grandfather was well into the study of Feng Shui. Feng Shui, literally meaning “wind and water,” is a traditional Chinese concept linking the destiny of man to his environment. Grandfather had been able to locate the breathing hole, which happened to be under the site of the school, and by controlling the breathing hole, one would be able to bring massive luck to one’s side. The breathing hole had an unimaginably powerful aura that drew those with weak aura in. As a result, people would keep jumping into the pond, having been drawn in by the energy of the breathing hole, which was why the pond would have to be gotten rid of. The fact that it only affected those with weak auras explains why not all of the students are affected by the energy from the basement at any instant. The energy of the breathing hole was attracted to human laughter and as such, In Pyo’s grandfather aimed to channel the energy through building a school over the pond and having the kids perform laughing exercises regularly. This also explains why the students burst alternatively into hysterical laughter and wailing whenever the energy would be affecting them. The transgression into the basement also drew in bad luck mites in huge numbers which led to the creation of Hye Min, existing only to exterminate those mites. Having lived thousands of life cycles in this very neighborhood, living for one purpose only until a limited amount of time, she knew the lore behind the breathing hole and her lead helped the duo hugely in their investigation.

The Social Commentary

 

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One thing ‘The School Nurse Files’ gets across perfectly well is the fact that some evils in society are so insanely ridiculous and sickening that there has to be some external supernatural force controlling them for them to be acting this way. Homophobia, ableism, discrimination based on wealth, class, and status should never be existing in human society in the first place. Yet the fact that they do and the fact that they keep ruining lives is an extremely real and menacing truth. Kang Sun, Eun Young’s friend faces an unfortunate passing due to an accident and he makes it evident that no one cared because he was poor and insignificant. His existence as a ghost represents a nexus of conflict between the human and the other, symbolizing the gaps among various social classes. This sentiment can be referred to as the “Han”. It is an inherently Korean sentiment defined as ‘a sense of unresolved resentment against injustices suffered, a sense of helplessness because of the overwhelming odds against, a feeling of total abandonees, a feeling of acute pain of sorrow in one’s guts and bowels’. In Korean ghost stories, ‘Han’ is not a grudge against an assailant but a feeling of self-pity which holds spirits back from peacefully crossing over to the light. After meeting the one long lost friend that understood him, Kang Sun disseminates into thin air. When the basement is opened up and the negative energy let loose, it makes the teachers and students lose their minds as they look down on Radi and Hye Min for being a couple, Hye Min for being poor and a potential new student (and in turn, In Pyo) for having a disabled leg. To any good human being, such behavior is unacceptable, to say the least, and it seems as though people would have to be seriously possessed by evil to act that way. Yet in the real world, it still persists but along with it, live thousand of Ahn Eun Youngs ready to fight for what’s right.

 

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https://hype.my/2020/197351/jung-yoo-mi-nam-joo-hyuk-the-school-nurse-files/
Jung Yoo Mi & Nam Joo Hyuk Talk “The School Nurse Files” Roles & More

by Syahrul | September 29, 2020

 

Did you hear? Netflix has finally released its latest original K-drama titled “The School Nurse Files” (보건교사 안은영)! Directed by Lee Kyoung Mi, the series stars Jung Yoo Mi (정유미) and Nam Joo Hyuk (남주혁).

We recently had the opportunity to join the virtual press conference which was held live from Korea. During the session, the two lead actors dished some insights on the fantasy series as well as their on-screen chemistry.

In sharing with us about her role in “The School Nurse Files”, Yoo Mi said, “The character Ahn Eun Young has an ordinary name, but she has an extraordinary ability to see these jellies, those things that other people cannot see. She’s a school nurse. Whne she starts working at this school, she feels something mysterious.”

As for Joo Hyuk, he described his character Hong In Pyo to have a unique aura surrounding him. He acts as a “human charger” (which we often refer to as power bank) for Eun Young whenever she runs out of energy after defeating the jellies. Together with Eun Young, the dynamic duo work together to fight the slimy creatures to protect the school.

The lead couple were also asked on how they approached their characters upon reading the script. In this case, Yoo Mi said that she was drawn to the story’s quirkiness that combines well with the subjects featured in addition to the warm message that accompanies the overall plot. “It’s an honour for me to play the role and I can’t wait to see the fulfilment of its live action. Hopefully, the drama will touch the viewers’ hearts just like how the novel did to its readers,” the actress shared.

On the other hand, the Hallyu heartthrob pointed out on how he found the material fresh. However, Joo Hyuk shared that “he felt the challenge to play the role well and bring depth to him”. He added that he didn’t feel much burden in handling the role as a Classical Chinese teacher and teaming up with Eun Young in fighting the jellies.

Having said that, we bet a lot of fans out there are curious on the duo’s chemistry on-screen. In answering that question, both Yoo Mi and Joo Hyuk pointed out on the comfortable working environment when they started shooting.

When talking about their first impressions towards each other, Yoo Mi said that she has known Joo Hyuk for being quick-witted and creative in getting familiar with his character. Surprisingly, Joo Hyuk felt that it was the other way around! According to him, both of them were able to create an amazing synergy, thanks to Yoo Mi’s lead.

We definitely look forward on how the chemistry worked out on screen!

“The School Nurse Files” is available to stream on Netflix.

[Helena]

Credit: https://twitter.com/netflixkr/

 

 

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BEST NETFLIX ORIGINAL KDRAMAS OF 2020 ACCORDING TO NETIZENS

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Original: https://theqoo.net/hot/1636616910
English Translation: https://bloomingtalk.blogspot.com/2020/09/best-netflix-original-kdramas-of-2020.html

 

 

 

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https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-school-nurse-files-review-a-gloriously-demented-netflix-k-fantasy/
The School Nurse Files Review: A Gloriously Demented Netflix K-Fantasy

by Adi Tantimedh | September 27, 2020

The School Nurse Films, which just premiered on Netflix, is a glorious slice of insanity. A high school nurse can see supernatural creatures menacing the students and has to fight them off with a plastic toy sword and a BB gun, as you do. The title does not tell you that this is not a documentary. Or maybe it is. Who knows? Either way, this is the most gloriously demented new show on the streamers, and it could only come from Korea.

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Jung Yoo-Mi in "The School Nurse Files", Netflix

Jung Yu-Mi, previously seen as the pregnant wife in Train to Busan, plays Ahn Eun-young, the nurse of a high school who can see auras and the supernatural creatures that linger around people. Called "jellies". They look like giant, evil emoji or animal candy. And they can take people over and make them hurt themselves. That's when Eun-young has to beat them up with her plastic sword. All hell breaks loose when the new Classic Chinese teacher Hong In-pyo (Nam Joo-Hyuk) unwittingly breaks a seal that unleashes the evil that was kept prisoner in the school. Now they have to fight the jellies that only she can see. He thinks she's nuts, she's completely off-kilter, which is a romantic comedy meet-cute right there, and the fact that he has a special unique aura and can recharge her energies after she's drained makes her need him in the fight. As the school nurse, it's her job to keep everyone safe and healthy, damn it!

Think a Korean Buffy with a skewed female perspective that's aware of how inherently absurd it all is and not afraid to snark about it, but also embrace it completely. The supernatural creatures are called "jellies". They're like giant evil candy. That says it all about this show. Either you're with it or you're not.

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"The School Nurse Files" key art, Netflix

Adapted from the novel by Chung Se-Rang by the author and director Lee Kyoung-Mi, one of South Korea's up-and-coming female directors, School Nurse Files has a goofy, gleefully nutty energy with a lot of hilariously berserk setpieces involving supernatural combat against jelly monsters. Surreal social satire and Korean slapstick comedy abound. Jung Yu-Mi is the centre of the show with her deadpan performance as someone who considers menacing supernatural creatures only she can see as a major annoyance rather than cosmic horror or unspeakable peril. Nam Joo-Hyuk complements her as a bewildered comic foil and reluctant partner in the war against the jellies. At six episodes, there's no slow-down or bloat in the show's pacing, and it ends leaving you wanting more. It's a burst of adrenaline-laced bubblegum pop that's exactly what we need right now.

The School Nurse Files is now streaming on Netflix.

[Helena]

https://screenanarchy.com/2020/09/now-streaming-the-school-nurse-files-fight-monsters-save-kids-eat-lunch.html
Now Streaming: THE SCHOOL NURSE FILES, Fight Monsters, Save Kids, Eat Lunch

Directed by Lee Kyoung-mi ('The Truth Beneath'), the Korean series, now streaming on Netflix, stars Jung Yu-mi and is a wonderfully wild sci-fi fantasy concoction.

By Peter Martin | September 28, 2020

Nurse! Nurse! Why are my fellow students becoming weird bubble people? Also, what are you doing about the monster underneath the school?'

The School Nurse Files
Now streaming on Netflix.

Certifiably impossible for me to describe without waving my arms in the air, a new series from Korea happily hops between genres like it doesn't even care.

 

It does care, of course, and even more than its often silly shenanigans might suggest. Indeed, it's easy to be caught off guard by the six-episode series, filled as it is with high-spirited high school hijinks. New nurse An Eun Young (Jung Yu-mi) sees beyond outward appearances, however, quickly discerning that strange monsters that resemble floating bubbles of jelly are what is causing havoc among the young students.

Too bad that the students (mostly) have little idea what she's talking about, so An Eun Young loads up her trusty BB gun/weapon with plastic pellets and wields her plastic toy knife with abandon in order to vanquish the foes that are plaguing her school. That's good, since, by the conclusion of the first episode, students are being driven nuts by the weird jelly-things, impelled to desperately try and clamber over the rooftop fence of the school and plunge to an early grave.

 

An Eun Young finds a comrade in fellow teacher Hong In Pyo (Nam Joo-hyuk), who has a compulsion to tie knots and to teach others how to tie knots, and so he becomes a willing partner with An Eun Young as they endeavor to save the students and vanquish the mysterious monsters.

Directed by Lee Kyoung-mi, the first episode begins as a lightly comic show before darkening into something much wilder and unpredictable; the second episode mostly plays out again with the lighter side of things, yet even more thoughtful and touching. What's marvelous about the series is that it shows more of the director's range.

She made her directing debut with Crush and Blush (2008), but her sophomore feature, The Truth Beneath (2016), was a crackling thriller that freely added other elements into its rich narrative broth. More recently, in her short segment of the Persona anthology film, titled Love set (2019), she again played against what might be anticipated, bringing to vivid life a personal dispute played out on a tennis court.

Rather than binging all six episodes at once, I've been savoring them, one at a time. The episodes I've watched all have a pleasant aftertaste, like a fizzy soda without the bad effects upon the body.

Now Streaming covers international and indie genre films and TV shows that are available on legal streaming services.

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http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200927000197
Online content for the Chuseok holidays

By Song Seung-hyun | Sept 29, 2020
        

Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, is all about families returning to their hometowns and paying tribute to their ancestors by visiting graves and sharing a big meal. Also, the Chuseok holidays are the busiest time of the year for movie theaters with lots of new family movies being released.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has the Health Ministry strongly encouraging the public to stay home and keep a safe distance during the nation’s major traditional holiday. 

Although following the government’s safety guidelines may take away some of the joy of Chuseok, there is loads of online content to keep everyone entertained through this year’s five-day holiday period.

The following is a brief introduction to some of the online offerings that people can check out during the holidays. 

Poster of Netflix’s new original series “The School Nurse Files” (Netflix)

‘The School Nurse Files’ from Netflix

Netflix Korea’s main feature for the season is its new original series “The School Nurse Files,” a spokesperson told The Korea Herald.

The fantasy original series was released Sept. 25, less than a week before the traditional holiday. The series, based on the popular novel “School Nurse Ahn Eun-young” by Chung Se-rang, will be a great comfort to those staying home during the holidays and feeling a little lonely.

“The School Nurse Files” begins by introducing main character Ahn Eun-young, played by Jung Yu-mi, who has a special ability to see monsters called “jellies,” which are created from the residue of human desire but are not visible to other people. Throughout the six episodes, Ahn protects students from jellies together with another teacher, Hong In-pyo, played by Nam Joo-hyuk.

The global platform operator also recommends movies “Enola Holmes” and “The Devil All the Time,” and TV series “Ratched,” which were all released in September. 

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Scenes of Watcha’s exclusive TV series “Devs” (Watcha)

 

Exclusive content from Watcha

Local company Watcha recommends its exclusive content for those staying home during the holidays.

Watcha normally introduces one exclusive new show per month. “But in September, we introduced two -- ‘Hanzawa Naoki’ and ‘Devs’ -- targeting the Chuseok holidays,” Watcha spokesperson Heo Seung told The Korea Herald. 

New episodes of the popular Japanese TV series “Hanzawa Naoki Season 2” have been released exclusively on Watcha every Wednesday starting Sept. 9. The TV series is about banker Hanzawa Naoki, played by Masato Sakai, who fights against an authoritarian and corrupt company culture. 

“Devs,” an American sci-fi thriller TV series created, written and directed by Alex Garland, was released to Watcha users Sept. 23. Main character Lily Chan, played by Sonoya Mizuno, is a software engineer for a quantum computing firm called Amaya. Lily starts investigating her company’s secretive development division, Devs, in the belief that it is behind the disappearance of her boyfriend.

Watcha will also offer South Korean comedy films like “The Hit Man,” “Inseparable Bros” and “Exit.”

 

 

The more, the better -- Wavve

While other platforms focus on differentiated and exclusive content, Wavve is focusing on promotional events. Wavve will be providing 6,000 movie titles, including Korean family films “Inseparable Bros,” “The Hit Man” and “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds.” Wavve also said it is offering prizes, such as an LG TROMM dryer and a Marshall Stockwell II Bluetooth speaker, for people who watch the most content between Sept. 25 and Oct. 15. 

 

 

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com) 

[itsmeash]

This seems like it'll be a fun show. I'm looking forward to it.

[Helena]

Credit: The Swoon YouTube 

 

Credit: https://twitter.com/netflixmy/

 

Credit: SOOP YouTube 

 

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https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/columns/2020/sep/30/home-theatre-the-school-nurse-files---delightfully-droll-and-immensely-inventive-k-drama-20541.html
Home Theatre: The School Nurse Files - Delightfully droll and immensely inventive K-drama

A fortnightly column that focuses on notable content available on the streaming platforms around you, and this week, it's The School Nurse Files, streaming on Netflix

Nithya Gnanapandithan (@XpressCinema) | Published: 30th September 2020

 

Spoiler

 

Netflix Originals aren't always, well, original. The streamer's approach seems to favour quantity over quality and a good chunk of the offerings tends to be, in my experience, safe and somewhat ordinary. Their new South Korean mini-series The School Nurse Files, however, is a far cry from safe and ordinary. It's one of the most delightfully novel shows to have graced their catalogue. Based on the award-winning novel School Nurse Ahn Eun-young by Chung Serang — and written by the author herself in association with director Lee Kyoung-mi — the six-episode fantasy series is centred on the titular school nurse Ahn Eun-young (a fabulous Jung Yu-mi) who can see things others can't. Eun-young calls these things jellies and describes them as the traces left behind by people's desires. In effect, they are physical manifestations of emotions. Sometimes jellies linger even after a person is dead, she tells us. So, in effect, she can see dead people. But Eun-young is nothing like Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense. She's a self-appointed superhero of sorts who quietly goes about saving people, armed with a toy sword and a BB gun. 

As you'd expect with a premise like that, there's a lot of humour on offer and a healthy dose of quirkiness too (special shout out to those ducks). But the show manages to not go overboard with it. A character like Eun-young could have easily turned into a caricature — I mean, here's a woman who goes around attacking invisible monsters with a lit-up toy sword. The wonderful thing about The School Nurse Files is how Eun-young's character is treated and developed over the course of the series. We first meet her as a child, confused and scared of her special power, and quickly jump ahead to her as the grown-up whimsical school nurse. It's only quite late in the series that we learn how that transformation occurred and it's surprisingly moving. Jung does a brilliant job of balancing the manic energy of Eun-young with her inherent goodness and humanity. 

The same can be said for the way Lee Kyoung-mi deftly steers the series from the deliriously fun and fantastic early episodes to the thought-provoking and touching later ones. The arcs of the mite-eater Baek Hye-min and Eun-young's childhood friend Kim Kang-sun are so affecting, it's hard to believe we're watching the same show that had us laughing at Eun-young trying to play off her monster-fighting as Zumba. Episode five, in particular, hits hard. Eun-young wants to help Hye-min live past 20 (the age at which the mite-eater always dies). The latter asks, "Is it nice to grow old?" When Eun-young replies with decided negative, Hye-min questions why she is suggesting it for her then. It's a good question. This episode also contains the aforementioned glimpse into the transformation of Eun-young's character from the brooding child to the weird and wonderful adult. 

So, we've got comedy, fantasy and drama, but how can you have a K-drama without romance? The School Nurse Files has its share of that too, but again in its own special way. Eun-young's romantic interest and partner-in-crime-fighting is Chinese Characters teacher Hong In-pyo, who has a special aura around him that protects him from harm. In-pyo can also recharge Eun-young by holding her hand — sparks literally fly when the two touch. But the romance is understated and remains as a sort of romantic tension throughout. It's refreshing this way and the little hints we get of it (Eun-young's expressions of jealousy, for instance) are the more adorable for it. 

Also refreshing is the choice to write Hong In-pyo as someone with a disability without leaning hard on that aspect to draw sympathy for his character. Eun-young only mentions in passing how it is odd to see someone like him (with the protective aura) with an injury like that. In-pyo, on the other hand, is drawn to Eun-young not despite her eccentricity but because of it. "I find being normal boring," he tells her. "Unless it's something bad, it's better to be weird than ordinary." 

I quite agree with In-pyo. And that applies to TV shows as well as people. It's not without its flaws (the villains' angle is a bit muddled), but if you want to see a Netflix Original that is truly original, and would rather watch something weird than ordinary, The School Nurse Files is the series for you.

[itsmeash]

I hope enough people watch this so we can get a Part 2!!

[Helena]

Credit: The Swoon YouTube

 

 

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https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/372076/chung-se-rang-and-her-inspiration-for-the-school-nurse-files/
Chung Se-rang and her inspiration for ‘The School Nurse Files’

By: Ruth L. Navarra  | Philippine Daily Inquirer / October 04, 2020

It is the responsibility of the adults to protect students from the unseen monsters that threaten them. This is the premise of Chung Se-rang’s “The School Nurse Files.” The Netflix Original series is based on the book with the same title that Chung wrote.

The heroine of the story is Ahn Eun-young, a school nurse who can see jellies. Some of these jellies are good and some of them are bad. And the inspiration for this character is Chung’s best friend who is a nurse.

“(She) has shared a lot of her experiences at work with me. I often get inspired by the sensibility and humor of young contemporaries and also from the public and private life,” Chung told Super K. “I often get inspired by the sensibility and humor of young contemporaries and also from the public and private life.”

Since Chung majored in education in college, she has a lot of friends who are now teachers. “School is a space that everyone is familiar with, and I respect teachers and nurses as professionals who contribute to a healthy society. I wanted to create something cute and fun to express my respect for these professionals. I love adding slight, cheeky fantastical twists to a universal experience.”

There’s nothing more fantastical than colorful jellies floating above the school building and hanging out on the walls. She said that these creatures were inspired by ectoplasm that was popular among spiritualists in 19th-century Europe.

Fantasy writer Chung Se-rang’s novel has been turned into a Netflix Original Series.

Huge opportunity

Chung said that it’s been a huge opportunity for her that Netflix readily offered to collaborate with her in doing the series. She knows that it’s rare for new writers to have the opportunity to tell their story not only to the Korean audiences, but to audiences around the world.

“I’m happy to see companies like Netflix providing more opportunities for Asian creators to express their voices. I was so excited I almost couldn’t believe it was happening. I first shared the news with my spouse, who is always very supportive of my work,” she said.

She may be a new name in the K-drama world but she is a rock star in the literary world. She has her own loyal fans who love the fantasy she creates. Fantasy is the genre she has chosen because she said it allows her to write with metaphors of great scale without restriction.

“For example, the jellies are not just cute monsters, but they represent different human desires—the desire to be loved, the desire to have more and the desire to win—and when these desires go haywire and get distorted, they trigger a chain of events. Fantasy allows you to visualize it. I thought, if we could see the manifestations of desire, we could probably see both the beautiful and ugly sides of the world,” she said.

Eun-young sees these dual worlds more clearly than anyone. Chung said that it must feel isolating to fight when no one recognizes her effort and everyone misunderstands her.

“There are people like Eun-young in real life—heroes in our daily lives who are taken for granted and not given enough credit. Fantasy is a very powerful tool that mirrors our world,” she said.

 

Spoiler

Nam Joo-hyuk, Chung Se-rang, “The School Nurse Files” director Lee Kyoung-mi and Jung Yu-mi. —NETFLIX PHOTO

Who would you say is your biggest literary influence?
Ursula K. Le Guin is my favorite writer and the biggest literary influence.

Do you see yourself writing more drama series after this? Or do you have more novels that will be adapted into a drama soon?
Some of my other novels will be made into films, but I’m not personally involved in the process of making the films. Given the opportunity, I’d love to continue to work on more series—they are interesting in a way that a novel isn’t.

I don’t want to stop myself from watching all the professionals of different fields bringing their expertise and abilities into making films or series. Seeing great possibilities spark makes me want to write better.

How did you choose the parts of the novel that you would include in the six-episode series?
Stories that are interesting as text, but are difficult to bring to screen were left out. For instance, parts that would require animals to act were excluded due to its practical challenges.

Certain episodes in the novel were excluded either because they were too short or too long. Parts of the novel that were selected and included in the series focus more on Eun-young’s emotional journey, her sense of responsibility and her connection with the students.

 

Spoiler

Nam Joo-hyuk plays In-pyo who supports Eun-young as she tries to save the world —NETFLIX PHOTO

How was it collaborating with director Lee Kyoung-mi, the actors and everyone in the production to give life to your characters?
I can control 100 percent of the writing process for a novel, making a series requires collaboration of about 200 people. As a writer, you need to make a compromise on having full control on the story. That being said, having an endless flow of ideas that enrich the story was such a stimulating experience for me.

I would get questions on what kind of clothes Eun-young would wear, what In-pyo’s room would look like, and how big the basement of the school would be—the exchange of hundreds of questions and discussions and the outcome of that process is something that I would’ve never achieved on my own.

I enjoyed the excerpt from the “The School Nurse Files” available online. I want to know if Baek Hye-min is going to make an appearance this season? Or are you saving her for a possible Season 2?
Baek Hye-min will be the loveliest character of this season. Hye-min has a sensitive and kind heart that Eun-young wants to protect. I can’t go into any more detail because I don’t want to spoil the story. Personally, Hye-min’s story is one of my favorites, and you will not be disappointed.

How did you find Jung Yu-mi and Nam Joo-hyuk’s portrayal of your characters?
The two actors had amazing chemistry and it amplified the charm of the story. I cannot imagine Eun-young being portrayed by anyone else but Jung Yu-mi. I could see the facial expressions of Eun-young days after watching the series.

It’s the expression of someone who is kind but honest without exaggeration of her emotions; tired, but determined to keep fighting for what is right. Nam Joo-hyuk added a lot more depth to In-pyo and created a multidimensional character. Watching In-pyo, portrayed by Joo-hyuk, makes me want to learn more about his untold stories.

 

Spoiler

Nothing is too weird in the world of Chung, not even a regular cameo of a badling of ducks. —NETFLIX PHOTO

[Helena]

Credit: The Swoon YouTube

 

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https://zapzee.net/2020/10/07/the-school-nurse-files-director-lee-kyung-mi-says-if-it-wasnt-for-jung-yu-mi-there-would-be-no-ahn-eun-young/
‘The School Nurse Files’ Director Lee Kyung Mi Says “If it wasn’t for Jung Yu Mi, there would be no Ahn Eun Young”

by krishkim

The world of The School Nurse Files is peculiar but special. Director Lee Kyung Mi (Crush And Blush, The Truth Beneath) did not see the world introduced within the novel as something bizarre. Instead, she noted Ahn Eun Young’s remarkable growth even in her lonely fight.

Credit: Netflix

Director Lee chatted about various stories about her project through an online video interview.

“What I wanted to show the most is Ahn Eun Young’s growth. You know, a growth drama in which some who wants to escape his or her abilities goes through a series of events and eventually accepts the fate in front and moves on to the next level.”

This is the first time for Lee, who always wrote her own screenplay, to produce someone else’s creation.

“I read the screenplay, which the writer wrote up to episode four, and the original novel and talked about what we should take or throw away. The novel was composed as an omnibus, and we chose to woven into Ahn Eun Young’s growth drama and designed it as a prequel concept of a hero film. The novel is cheerful, bright, and warm, but I wanted to put my interpretation in it because there is something about death and extinction. I got the okay from the producer and the writer and then built up the structure from there.”

The School Nurse Files is hard to define as “a certain genre,” and some viewers complain about the unfriendly development that shows little or no explanation.

“The School Nurse Files is a cheerful fantasy occult growth drama. It may be a strange structure to people, but I thought we should just forge ahead with our work like a barefaced cartoon. Rather than explaining the process or characters’ minds and delivering them kindly like conventional dramas, I directed them as episode-by-episode form as if you had to clear a certain stage in the game to move on to the next stage.”

Jung Yu Mi, who was the number one choice during the casting process to writer Chung Serang and fans of the novel, enlivened the series by taking the role of Ahn Eun Young, while Nam Joo Hyuk’s casting as Hong In Pyo added a different picture.

“I thought if it wasn’t for Jung Yu Mi, there would be no Ahn Eun Young. I hoped people would remember and think of Ahn Eun Young’s lunatic and shiny face even after finishing the series. Looking at that face gives you a certain pleasure, and Jung Yu Mi herself is a delightful person. As for Hong In Pyo, I first thought of a middle-aged man when I read the novel. But Netflix asked me to consider Nam Joo Hyuk. I have a fondness for the actor, and after hearing the offer, I broke out of the box and thought to myself, ‘Why should Hong In Pyo be an old man?’ I met him personally, and we just hit it off, so he joined the project.”

Will The School Nurse Files be able to become a seasonal drama?

“Nothing has been mentioned or decided about season 2. But I did lay the groundwork for season 2 in season 1. I tried to put it in there so that it won’t be too vague no matter who directs it. I’m sure there won’t be too many difficulties in continuing the story to season 2.”

Source (1)

 

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https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2020/10/688_297080.html
[INTERVIEW] 'The School Nurse Files' is hero's coming-of-age story

By Kwak Yeon-soo | 2020-10-06

 

image

Director Lee Kyoung-mi poses after a video interview with The Korea Times, Oct. 5. / Courtesy of Netflix

Director Lee Kyoung-mi, who has made a strong impression on viewers with her relatable female protagonists in films such as "Crush and Blush" and "The Truth Beneath," said her new series "The School Nurse Files" is a coming-of-age drama of a female hero with supernatural abilities.

The six-episode series stars Jung Yu-mi as Ahn Eun-young, a high school nurse who tries to protect students from what she calls "jellies" using rather unlikely tools ― a multi-colored toy sword and a BB gun.

The jellies are invisible "blobs of greed" that can stick to humans and manipulate their actions. They are unleashed when Hong In-pyo (Nam Joo-hyuk), a teacher of Chinese characters, accidentally breaks a containment seal on an urn in the school basement. Then, Ahn and Hong team up to fight off these supernatural creatures.

"Ahn Eun-young is pretty badass. Although she doesn't feel inclined to help others, Ahn accepts her fate to fight off the jellies and grows into a better version of herself," she said during a video interview with The Korea Times held via Zoom, Monday.

The director agreed that jellies are one of the lead characters in the series, as students haunted by jellies are bound to experience unfortunate events. "In each of the episode, Ahn has to defeat different shaped jellies. I wanted them to look colorful and cute, but at the same time, strange and disgusting," she said.

Lee referenced wildlife documentaries when developing the characteristics of the jellies. "I took ideas from marine creatures, wild animals and insects to come up with which colors, size and sounds would match each of the jellies. These characteristics added a sense of realness for the audience," she said. 

Like the plot that centers on strange events, the series does a profound job of creating multi-dimensional characters. It introduces a cast of new faces who made the characters their own with vivid bemused portrayals.

"There were numerous auditions for supporting roles, and it was a lengthy process. Oh Kyeong-hwa and the younger version of Ahn Eun-young's character were cast three days prior to the start of shooting," Lee said. 

"Since the series is available in 190 different countries, I wanted to avoid similar-looking celebrities and show a diverse range of Korean actors who may leave a strong impression on international viewers."

On working with Chung Se-rang, who wrote the novel of the same name and penned the screenplay, Lee said the experience of understanding a world created by someone else was truly amazing.

"There was no need to persuade or compromise with Chung because she shared a few minor things that she didn't want to change and was open to the rest," she said. 

Thanking viewers for leaving positive reviews, Lee also hinted at the possibility of the series to return for a second season. 

"I enjoyed reading people's reviews online over the Chuseok holidays. A lot of the comments were encouraging and thought-provoking," Lee said. "I don't know if there will be a season 2, but I intentionally left some clues for viewers to wonder what kind of adventure awaits and what stories are left untold." 

"The School Nurse Files" is currently playing on Netflix. 

[Helena]

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/10/07/entertainment/movies/The-School-Nurse-Files-Director-Lee-Kyoungmi/20201007162101034.html
Director Lee Kyoung-mi transforms original content into her own style

October 7, 2020

 

Director Lee Kyoung-mi [NETFLIX]

 

 

Original series “The School Nurse Files,” starring actors Jung Yu-mi and Nam Joo-hyuk, shot onto Netflix’s Top 10 list after its release on Sept. 25 and remains in the No. 2 spot today.

Adapted from the novel “School Nurse Ahn Eun-young” by popular sci-fi and fantasy writer Chung Se-rang, the story — which is about an eccentric school nurse and exorcist Eun-young battling jelly-like substances that only she can see —already had a wide fandom.

Anticipation was high about how these “jellies” would be imagined on screen—and fans were curious to see how director Lee Kyoung-mi, who took the helm of the series, would portray the narrative of the original novel.

Lee, whose directorial debut came in 2008 through the feature film “Crush and Blush,” is known for her distinct narrative style which has been called both refreshing and bizarre. A consensus reached by audiences is that her style deviates far from conventional storytelling methods.

While she had some experience working with Netflix when she directed the “Love Set” episode of the four-part original series “Persona,” “The School Nurse Files” is her first official content on Netflix that's available to audiences in over 190 countries.

“It is a very new and exciting experience for me,” Lee said in an online press interview on Monday. “In films, the fate of the film lies on what kind of reviews it gets from the press screening—the reviews certainly impact box office sales a lot, so I would get nervous around that period—but it was very pleasant before the series was released on Netflix. There’s no process for it—the series is simultaneously released globally and the thought of meeting a diverse range of audiences [over the platform] was very exciting.”

Over the course of the interview, Lee talked about what message she wanted to portray to the global audience and how she infused the plot from the novel into the series. The following are edited excerpts.

 

Q:  I heard that you worked on the script together with Chung. How did you adapt the novel?

 

A: I received the novel and the script that Chung wrote, and as I read through them I reorganized the story’s structure to keep or emphasize parts that I liked. During that process Chung gave me a set of criteria on what she didn't want her story to become and for the rest she gave me freedom to portray it on screen.

I thought the main character had the potential to be turned into a heroine and decided to set the first season as a prequel of the story. I told Chung that despite the book’s overall bright and warm atmosphere, I also saw that it covers stories on life and death, and I wanted to focus on those.

After those two points were cleared, if Eun-young was to develop into a heroine, she needs ground for her own narrative—about her obstacles, hardships and struggles, and I redistributed the characters and episodes into a timeline.

 

Eun-young holds out the BB Gun for protection. [NETFLIX]

Q: Can you elaborate on the message you wanted to show through the series?

 

A: What I thought was important was the deliberation over the meaning of one’s existence. In the series, at one point Eun-young asks Hye-min [the transfer student] if there's ‘someone’ who created them, and in the sixth episode her narration starts with “Although there’s no one that made me.”

I think that’s one of the biggest differences from the novel, the fact that Eun-young struggles to find the significance in her existence [and her abilities]. Also in the book, what the characters feel or think is expressed in words, but if I were to visualize that, I couldn’t explain them all in narration or monologues, so I contemplated over how I could convey the atmosphere using colors, screen tone and CGI technology.

What I also felt while reading the book was that Eun-young is someone who’s in between two worlds—she lives in the real world but there’s also this other surreal world that only she can see. I thought of her mission as being similar to that of a lonely killer—she has to take care of the presence that’s only visible to her to protect the real world. I wanted to approach Eun-young as not a ready-made heroine, but as a person on a journey to get there by asking questions about her being, and focus on her choices to see how she ventures ahead.

Q: Online responses say that you did a good job portraying the jellies. What part do you think the jellies play in the story and how did you materialize them?

A: Since these jellies are substances that Eun-young needs to fight, I wanted them to feel like opponents, but at the same time, I wanted them to be like the slime and jelly monsters that the media are familiar with from films, drama series and games.

Like Chung wrote, they were remnants of people’s desires and how they are manifested differently into [shapes, colors and sizes]. In the design process I wanted them to be creatures that bring about two opposite feelings when seeing them. [In one way] they are cute, but I also wanted them to feel gross. They may be soft and cute, but they are not an all-friendly presence.

 

Jelly creatures are traces of human desires that can harm people. [NETFLIX]

Q: You also added new opponents to the story centering around Hwa-su (played by actor Moon So-ri) and the organization Happiness, Safety and Protect (HSP).

 

A: I thought it would be difficult to carry out the series as seasonal content if Eun-young only fights jellies. If she were to become a heroine, I thought it would be more fun to have her stand against a powerful organization. Jellies might harm her physically, but the wounds that are inflicted by people are the ones that can really hurt her. And if that inflictor turns out to be her best friend, someone who she looks up to almost like a parental figure, Eun-young is left with a life-altering choice, and I believe that such decisions are made with a sacrifice. That part was to be played by Hwa-su, and how Eun-young breaks apart and steps forward from Hwa-su is the same as her overcoming her limits.

Q:  So there is definitely going to be another season?

A:  Yes. My mission was to end the first season with a possibility that the series could transgress to another season. [As of now] I only signed with Netflix to direct the first season. No matter who directs the second season, I have given plenty of ingredients for the story to develop into another season.

 

Spoiler

Actors Nam Joo-hyuk, left and Jung Yu-mi star as protagonists Hong In-pyo and Ahn Eun-young. In-pyo is a teacher who teaches Chinese characters and Eun-young is a school nurse and exorcist who protect the students from jelly creatures that she is only able to see. [NETFLIX]

Q: More filmmakers are turning to Netflix now, and the expansion of streaming services is speeding up even more due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Do you think that one day, the cinema experience might disappear? And how was your experience working with the platform?

A: What I felt after working on this series was that films for cinema will not disappear because the experience offered by the big screen is so different from the one offered on streaming platforms viewed through smartphones, notebooks and iPads. I don’t think of it as a survival game where one outlives another. For instance, when you go into a theater and the door closes behind you, you have to—whether you like it or not—concentrate only on the screen in the total blackout and with big sounds. But with platforms like Netflix you can’t do that. Since people experience the content through multiple mediums there is a limit to the portrayal of sounds or the impact the total blackness offers at cinemas. When people see a dark scene [via platforms] they can also see their own face mirrored on the screen. I think the two will be separated and developed accordingly as their own kind of genres.

As for my experience working with Netflix—everything was a first for me. I’ve never done seasonal content, or used so much CGI technology, or worked on a script that is based on an original work. It was difficult, but one of the reasons I decided to take on this project was that the cultural trend is changing and if this is something that everyone has to go through, I thought it would be best to experience it as quickly as possible. All in all, it was hard, but I enjoyed it immensely.

Q:  Throughout the season, Eun-young keeps telling people—and also reiterates during her monologues—that you face your fate not because you were destined for it, but because you can’t avoid it. Her attitude is different than that of other heroes. I thought this was an interesting approach. Did you write this dialogue? If you did, what led you to characterize Eun-young this way?

A:  That dialogue is particularly meaningful for me. I wrote that dialogue rather late, after I went through a personal tragedy. It was right before we started filming the series. Due to this incident I decided to quit this series—I just wasn’t able to continue with the project.

Most people say that if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it, but since then I came to the clear realization that there are things that you just have to cope with. That led me to write that dialogue—at the end of the sixth episode when Eun-young breaks down sobbing after she realizes that her powers were back. It's similar to how I felt as I decided to take on this project again. So that scene is also special to me.

 

 

BY LEE JAE-LIM   [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]   
  

[Helena]

 

 

 

 

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[PICK] ‘The School Nurse Files’ Who Are the Students and Teachers in Mokryeon High School?

by krishkim | Edited by Hong Hyun Jung | Translated by Kim Hoyeun

The School Nurse Files, where director Lee Kyung Mi and writer Chung Serang’s wild imagination met, is a hot topic. From colorful jellies to Eun Young’s rainbow knife and BB gun, cute and unfamiliar sense of humor, and characters with strong personalities fill up a variety of witty and warm stories. In particular, the novel characters in Mokryeon High School Give a notable boost to the play. Let’s examine these students and teachers that enliven the series.

 

=> https://zapzee.net/2020/10/10/pick-the-school-nurse-files-who-are-the-students-and-teachers-in-mokryeon-high-school/

[ryanallright]