f2.8/Wikimeida commons CC-BY 4.0 (Photo: f2.8/Wikimeida commons CC-BY 4.0)
'My Punch-Drunk Boxer' will be a movie that becomes an inflection point to Hyeri, an actress as a former girl group singer. This is her second lead film after "Munstrum" which was released last summer. She showcased much improved performance through the second movie.
The My Punch-Drunk Boxer is a movie about a boxer Bum Gu(Um Tae Gu) who gave up boxing but resumed it thanks to Min Ji(Hyeri) who encouraged him. It is a story of a youth who starts anew boxing, which he once forgot that he wanted to live for it.
Actor Um Tae Gu plays Boxer Bum Gu and Lee Hye Ri plays Min Ji in a light but cute "hearty" melodramatic story.
Hyeri at the media premiere of the movie on September 30th said, "I wanted to participate in it unconditionally because I heard that seniors Um Tae Gu and Kim Hee-won are acting."
She praised the actor Um, "He was the best partner ever." The actor also replied, "I did my best watching Hyeri play."
Hyeri in the movie is a woman who gives courage and hope to Bum Gu, but she feels incomplete and anxious in what she wants to do. Hye Ri appears to be bright and comfortable. However, she behaves adult-like taking care of older people not to worry when Bum Gu does not see her.
In order to play the role, Hyeri practiced a traditional Korean drum. She was once interested in singing and dancing as a girl group member. Now, she attempts to diversify her talents.
She said, "I practiced Janggu(a traditional korean drum) about two months before filming."
Hyeri recalled the first time she read the scenario, "I didn't know what it was talking about at first. I thought about what Pansori Boxing is. I wanted to do it because the story was witty and humorous."
Jung Hyuk-ki, who wrote and directed the film, said he wanted to make various meanings through the combination of pansori and boxing. "I wanted to convey the meaning of things that are fading away such as pansori(a traditional Korean song) with a combination of pansori, boxing, rediscovery, stray dogs and dementia.
Hyeri added, "This is a movie that young people would want to see. In fact, you can't limit the age range of youth, but can anyone feel as youth. I hope that people whether they achieved their dreams or not watch this film.
