Yuri explores self-discovery in film ‘Dolphin’
Kwon Yu-ri, better known as Yuri of K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation, has taken a significant leap in her acting career with her first lead role in the indie film “Dolphin.” In this heartfelt film, directed by Bae Doo-ri, Kwon plays the role of Na-young, a reporter living in a small beach town that has seen better days.
While many residents have left in search of better opportunities, Na-young remains firmly rooted in her old home and family, obstinately shunning change and adhering to her repetitive small-town routines. Her steadfastness mirrors the town’s collective resistance to change.
Her character’s journey begins to shift when she discovers bowling, a simple pleasure that opens up new horizons for her and brings joy into her life.
The 34-year-old singer and actress admitted to feeling the pressure of being the lead role in the film, but also expressed excitement about the opportunity.
“With this film, I got this feeling that I’ve been going in the right direction step by step as an actor,” Kwon said during the interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday.
Sharing her admiration for Korean indie films, Kwon explained how she was intrigued by the director’s nuanced way of storytelling — conveying warm messages with subtle emotional changes in the characters.
“In this film, there are no exaggerated expressions or clear conflicts. Portraying this withdrawn character was a significant challenge for me. To understand her better, I kept reading the script over and over. Na-young is a very thoughtful character and I tried to read between the lines,” the actress said.
Kwon related deeply to her character, drawing parallels between Na-young’s deep connection to her home and her own ties to Girls’ Generation.
“Na-young’s strong attachment to her house resonates with my own deep connection to Girls’ Generation. As Na-young gradually embraces change and ventures into new territories, I too remain steadfast, not solely as a member of a girl group, but as my authentic self,” she said.
Bae, the director, creatively reinterprets the term “dolphin,” drawing a connection between “-phin” and bowling pins. She likens it to the serendipitous twist of fate in a bowling ball’s dolphin-like trajectory — initially veering towards the gutter, only to rebound and strike the final pins.
The film’s title symbolizes this unexpected fortune, adding a layer of meaning to Na-young’s story.
Upon viewing her performance on the silver screen, Kwon found herself completely immersed in her character.
“Usually when I see myself in dramas, the wrong facial expressions and hairstyles catch my attention and I blame myself. With this film, I was so into the story itself. When I saw the ending credits roll, I got really emotional,” she said.
To embody the character, she opted for minimal makeup and recycled the same outfits across multiple scenes. She revealed that a moment of emotional outburst in the film stemmed from her personal experience.
“When I was a trainee of the eight-member girl group, I kept pushing myself. When I hurt my ankle, I kept bearing pain and practiced dance moves wearing high heels. When I finally visited the doctor, he said, ‘Why did you endure this for so long?’ The doctor’s words opened an emotional floodgate and I cried,” she said.
“I added the line in the film when Na-young visited the doctor after stubbornly practicing bowling even after she hurts her ankle.”
Kwon aspires to have a long-lasting career, inspired by Shin Goo, an 87-year-old veteran actor who is still active in both small and big screens as well as the stage. She starred opposite Shin in the play “The Student and Mister Henri.”
“Even as I age, I still aspire to remain active in my career,” she said. “Shin proves that it is possible and in a sense gives me a clear picture of it. I also wish I could have the chance to work with blockbusters like ‘Squid Game’ or ‘Parasite.’ Even if my role is small, I would be happy to be part of those projects.”
The film will hit local theaters on March 13.
“Na-young’s strong attachment to her house resonates with my own deep connection to Girls’ Generation. ”