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| The poster of "A Birth," a biopic of Korea's first Catholic priest, Andrew Kim Dae-geon / Courtesy of Min Film |
By Park Han-sol
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| A portrait of Andrew Kim Dae-geon (1821-46) / Korea Times file |
Produced in celebration of the bicentenary of Kim's birth and UNESCO's recognition of him last year, "A Birth" charts the pilgrimage taken by the country's iconic religious leader in the early 19th-century Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).
Kim, who was born and raised a Catholic, journeyed to a seminary in Macau and China when he was only 15 and was subsequently ordained as a priest in Shanghai in 1845 at the age of 24.
During the wave of persecution of Catholics by the neo-Confucian regime of Joseon, he was executed for his faith at 25. He is buried at what is now known as the Saenamteo Martyr's Shrine in Seoul's Yongsan District.
During Pope John Paul II's visit to Korea in 1984, the Korean priest was canonized and made a saint.
The biopic, starring Yoon Si-yoon in the main role, follows Kim on his international journey as he traveled to Macau and China and later crossed the West Sea aboard the Raphael to return to Korea. It also portrays historically significant events he witnessed during that time, including the First Opium War, based on extensive research conducted by the production team.
"I hope to depict the extraordinary feats achieved by Kim, portraying him not only as a Catholic martyr but also as an adventurer who traveled across sea and land during a turbulent era," director Park Heung-sik noted during a press conference last year, adding that Kim was "a leader of new thoughts."
The film's lineup also includes veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, who plays the supporting role of Yoo Jin-gil, an interpreter who teaches Chinese to young Kim and guides him to Macau.
"A Birth" will hit local theaters on Nov. 30. The movie is also scheduled to be shown in a preview at the Vatican, according to the production company Min Film.
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