Film 'Hi-Five' Overcomes Challenges and Premieres Soon

The press screening for the film 'Hi-Five' took place on May 26 at the CGV Yongsan in Seoul. The event featured a lineup of stars including Lee Jae-in, Ahn Jae-hong, Ra Mi-ran, Kim Hee-won, Oh Jung-se, and Park Jin-young, along with director Kang Hyoung-chul.

Set to release on May 30, 'Hi-Five' tells the story of five individuals who unexpectedly gain superpowers and encounter those who seek to exploit their abilities. Director Kang, known for hits like 'Speed Scandal' and 'Sunny', emphasized the film's heavy reliance on visual effects, stating, "As you can see, this film has a lot of VFX. We prepared extensively on a technical level, hoping it would resonate with reality. Therefore, I intentionally designed the characters to feel like neighbors or friends you might encounter in everyday life."

The cast expressed a mix of excitement and nervousness as the release date approaches. Lee Jae-in, who plays the character Wanseo, who gains superhuman strength after a heart transplant, shared, "Working as a team with the five actors made me realize the importance of chemistry. I often filmed alone, but this project taught me a lot about acting in sync with others. It was great to collaborate with my seniors."

He also mentioned the challenges of performing complex levitation stunts, saying, "Given the numerous action scenes, I was often attached to wires and green screens. Initially, I struggled with where to look, but I eventually adapted and performed my action scenes with automatic CG overlays."

Ahn Jae-hong transformed into Jiseong, who possesses the power of strong winds after a lung transplant. He noted the script's natural rhythm, which facilitated a smooth flow of dialogue among the cast. Ahn also shared a memorable moment involving a surprise kiss with Yoo Ah-in's character, stating, "That scene represents the moment when the 'Hi-Five' team overcomes their conflicts and unites."

Ra Mi-ran, portraying the diligent fresh manager Seon-yeo, humorously remarked, "My superpower required only a bit of exposure acting, so I didn't face many difficulties."

Reflecting on their past collaboration in the 2015 drama 'Reply 1988', Ra Mi-ran joked about the passage of time, saying, "Now, my son (Ahn Jae-hong) has gone through many mothers, and I have had many sons. Time has reversed for me, and in this film, I appear as a miss. I hope to be called a fresh manager instead of the yogurt lady. I want viewers to see a new side of me compared to my previous roles."

In addition, Kim Hee-won plays the character Yak-seon, who gains a miraculous healing ability after a liver transplant, while Oh Jung-se portrays Jong-min, who stands out among the superpowered individuals. Park Jin-young plays Young-chun, who acquires the ability to rejuvenate alongside his pancreas.

The journey to the film's release was not without its hurdles. Although filming wrapped in November 2021, the release was delayed due to lead actor Yoo Ah-in facing drug-related allegations in 2023. Director Kang expressed his joy about the upcoming release, stating, "This is not just a film made by one person; it’s a movie filled with shining actors who bring joy. It contains a lot of experimentation, effort, and sincerity. I’m thrilled that it will finally be released on May 30. After seven years since my last film, I had almost forgotten how glorious it is to have my work on the big screen. I hope all Korean films releasing on the same day find success, especially during this challenging time for the industry."