Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 55

55. Pain Killer

Lee Min-ki believed it was a film that someone with mainstream tastes could never truly appreciate.

Here, “mainstream tastes” referred to the general public’s preferences.

Like those movies, right?

Those works made by directors who seemed to despise the world, deliberately excluding elements that would appeal to a wider audience.

“Pain Killer” was such a work.

[The director is clearly a masochist]

[Ah… It’s too painful to watch; I can’t bear it]

[I couldn’t even last an hour in the theater and had to leave]

[I wish the protagonist would find happiness, but the director seems determined to prevent it.]

It was a movie designed to thoroughly subvert the audience’s expectations.

For two relentless hours, it depicted the downfall of a successful socialite’s life, and it was a truly grueling experience.

The protagonist, who once lived a life filled with adoration, is abandoned by the public due to a single misreport from the media, dismissed from their job, and forsaken by their family.

Ultimately, even their freedom is taken away.

A work that relentlessly exposed the irresponsible nature of media reporting.

It felt as though it was deliberately tearing at the viewer’s heart from beginning to end.

‘Watching that is genuine torture.’

A work that would have been buried and forgotten if commercial success had been the goal.

The problem was that the director behind it was too renowned.

Manuel Wagner.

A prodigious, genius director with three of his works listed in the top 100 world-renowned movies under his name.

‘It’s even his last work.’

The work he left behind as he passed away was this.

Perhaps because it was his final work, reflecting his personal taste to an extreme degree, Wagner, originally known for making provocative films, pushed “Pain Killer” to its most raw and unfiltered form.

A work that even seasoned moviegoers found difficult to stomach.

Normally, I wouldn’t have any reason to watch it, but…

Of course, Lee Min-ki was an exception.

‘Kim Tae-yang, you have good taste in movies.’

He was an omnivorous viewer who, no matter how awful a movie was, could find at least one redeeming quality and enjoy it to the end.

Even a rotten crucian carp is still a crucian carp [a common saying meaning even something bad has some value], and since it was Manuel Wagner’s work, the quality was undeniably present.

[Society, so pathetic, so cinematic.]

It was while he was intently focused on the screen from a distance.

“Ah.”

Kim Tae-yang seemed to belatedly notice Lee Min-ki’s presence and looked at him.

The absorbed expression he had worn just moments ago vanished, replaced by a hardened, expressionless face.

‘Not my problem.’

Lee Min-ki cleared his throat and said.

“You seem to enjoy this movie.”

“……Do you know this?”

The next moment.

A clear answer flowed from Lee Min-ki’s mouth.

“Isn’t it ‘Pain Killer’? Manuel Wagner’s last work. Though many people don’t even know it was released.”

At that moment, a flicker of surprise flashed in Kim Tae-yang’s eyes.

To think he would recognize it.

However, even this shock paled in comparison to the words that followed.

“I enjoyed it a lot.”

Kim Tae-yang’s pupils dilated at that single word.

The meaning behind that look was clear.

‘He enjoyed “Pain Killer”? Is this guy crazy?’

It was the same thought that Lee Min-ki had earlier.

It was astonishing enough that he watched a work almost universally considered torture, but he even enjoyed it.

‘Is he perhaps a masochist?’

Lee Min-ki’s earlier guess echoed in Kim Tae-yang’s head in an instant.

Manuel Wagner was a famous director, but he had never met anyone in his life who claimed to find this work enjoyable.

‘No matter how I look at it, he probably only recognized the title because of the director’s name and is pretending to know. Maybe he knows the basic plot.’

He knew that Lee Min-ki’s acting talent was considerable.

Even during the JC audition, he had skillfully navigated the judges’ traps with a smile.

But.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen it.”

From the words that followed, Kim Tae-yang had to reassess Lee Min-ki.

“Is this the scene where the protagonist is betrayed by the boss he trusted?”

“That is.”

“The boss came to interview him, claiming he would clear up the misunderstanding, but in reality, he was also a betrayer trying to get a scoop from the protagonist.”

“…….”

“In that scene, the composition shows the two people framed by the glass window. That’s foreshadowing. The physical door is open, but the mental door is closed. The protagonist senses that in advance and chases him away.”

Explanations that only someone who had deeply analyzed the movie could know began to flow out.

Lee Min-ki even dragged a chair from the living room and sat down before continuing.

“In the beginning, the buildings were generally filmed from a low angle, with a lot of sky visible. At that time, society was portrayed as a welcoming space. But now… the buildings are surrounding the protagonist like curtains. It signifies the pressure they are putting on him.”

It’s strange.

It was strange enough that he simply watched it, but how could he know so much about it?

Kim Tae-yang still hadn’t completely dismissed his doubts and asked, just in case.

“Then what about the oatmeal that the protagonist is eating now?”

It was a trap.

A question that even those who have seen it carefully often get wrong.

But if he gets this right, Lee Min-ki is one of his own.

That’s why it was a moment when anticipation and doubt intertwined, awaiting the next answer.

“Ah, that is.”

The answer flowed from Lee Min-ki’s mouth so casually.

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

“It doesn’t mean anything? Are you serious?”

Kim Tae-yang raised an eyebrow and asked again, as if questioning Lee Min-ki.

“When interpreting that oatmeal, don’t people usually see it as the protagonist, who initially insisted on a fancy diet, gradually resorting to simple meals as he becomes exhausted?”

“That’s what they say. Usually, that’s what people think.”

However, even with this challenge, Lee Min-ki smiled and answered as if it were nothing.

“Actually, the critics added their own interpretations arbitrarily. In reality, the director simply liked oatmeal so much that he included it.”

“…….”

“Director Manuel Wagner loved oatmeal when he was young, but his parents forbade him from eating it. So, after he became independent, he ate it constantly. He even ate it whenever he was bored on set.”

It was such an irresponsible answer.

Movies are supposed to unfold according to the director’s intentions every moment.

It’s common to believe that even fleeting objects, like a delicate clock, contain the director’s message.

But in fact, it didn’t mean anything.

Even though the director is a master like Manuel Wagner.

Who would believe such a thing?

But.

‘Accurate.’

It was the correct answer.

Without a doubt, the correct answer that hit the mark with pinpoint accuracy, a small admiration spread like watercolor paint in Kim Tae-yang’s heart.

‘How did he know? Fake interpretations are so widespread that even people who have seen it multiple times are mistaken.’

If you had only watched “Pain Killer,” you wouldn’t be able to answer at all.

If you had analyzed “Pain Killer” deeply, you would have said that the oatmeal symbolizes a lack of freedom.

But if you understood “Pain Killer” properly, you would have answered that it had no symbolic meaning.

Lee Min-ki gave the third answer.

That means.

“You’re a movie buff.”

It meant that Lee Min-ki could be friends with him.

At least, as far as movies are concerned.

“I didn’t think Min-ki would have seen this.”

“Me neither. You’re the first person I’ve ever met who said this was fun.”

“Hmm, Director Manuel Wagner’s works are all enjoyable. The quality is consistently high.”

“Certainly, the details in each prop are amazing. Didn’t the New York Times say something like this? Uh… what was it? There was a very famous quote.”

“Wagner’s work should be paused and savored every 0.5 seconds?”

“Ah, that’s right, that’s it. The movie that was considered a failure is being re-evaluated after 10 years.”

Kim Tae-yang nodded and said.

“Some people said that Wagner ‘pooped’ [a crude way of saying created something bad] while dying with ‘Pain Killer’… but I think the opposite. I think this is the essence of Wagner.”

“That’s right. Because he had death in front of him, he was able to pour his soul into it.”

The two hadn’t had a proper conversation for a week.

It was clear that as soon as they started exchanging movie interpretations, the flowers of conversation began to bloom in full color.

‘It’s no wonder he’s good at acting. The depth of his analysis is remarkable. How much has he watched?’

Kim Tae-yang was re-evaluating Lee Min-ki in his mind.

He had been somewhat disappointed in Lee Min-ki’s lifestyle after living with him for the past week.

This was because there was nothing particularly special about his daily routine compared to his acting skills.

He even wondered if he was relaxing too much at home.

But he had finally found it.

The source of Lee Min-ki’s skills.

‘It was an output based on overwhelming input.’

It was all about input.

At least, when talking to Lee Min-ki, you couldn’t help but think so.

The extent of his knowledge seemed endless, as if he spent 30 hours a day watching movies.

Besides, he could quote the Four Books and Three Classics [Confucian texts] like a seasoned scholar.

“Director Wagner, Director Stendera, Director Betke Law. These three are the giants of the German film industry. Coincidentally, all three are said to have a master-disciple relationship, so there’s a shared code in their works.”

“Wagner’s oatmeal keeps appearing in Betke Law’s works, too.”

“Yes, it doesn’t change the content of the movie if you know it, but it’s more fun to know, right?”

Since ancient times, cinephiles have been easy to get along with.

This is because, regardless of personality clashes, food preferences, or other differences, once they start talking about movies in earnest, the conversation blossoms enough to last all night.

This tendency intensifies the more niche the movie is, and it can be seen as a process of mutual recognition.

Coincidentally, the two were like that.

“Tae-yang, if you look at that scene, they deliberately filmed it with a low angle, right? If it’s a group shot in that composition, it’s standard to shoot it with a high angle.”

“Hmm, is that so? Why did they shoot that scene like that?”

“Only the protagonist’s legs are shown, revealing his presence. It makes the protagonist look superior.”

“Ah.”

“But if you shoot with selective focus (a shooting method that focuses on one specific person) like that, it becomes difficult to create a sense of distance due to depth of field issues. So, in fact, that side of the personnel is filmed separately and synthesized, and a blur (blur effect) is applied on top of it.”

“You handled it very naturally. How did you know this, Min-ki?”

“It comes out when you watch documentaries.”

The conversation continued.

It continued, constantly opening the floodgates.

The story that started with Wagner went through Europe and then to Hollywood, and before he knew it, it flowed into the story of domestic film directors.

Then to behind-the-scenes stories.

Also to personal preferences.

The infinite loop continued.

“Tae-yang and I have similar movie tastes.”

“I see. I thought I was the only one watching these kinds of movies for the rest of my life. To find someone like this again by chance.”

“That’s right. Other people don’t understand.”

“Even if I try to trick them into watching a movie, they always pick strange things and say they don’t like it.”

“Ah, we only enjoy this among ourselves.”

At some point, even jokes flowed out, and then there was nothing more to say.

“Let’s have some late-night snacks while we’re at it.”

“Late-night snacks are good. I was hungry… Has the time already passed like this?”

Lee Min-ki’s expression was tinged with embarrassment.

He thought he was just sharing a movie story for a while, but before he knew it, 2 hours had passed.

“What should I order?”

“I’ll make it.”

At that moment, Kim Tae-yang went to the kitchen and tied his apron tightly.

Then, he took out shrimp and garlic from the refrigerator and started heating olive oil.

It was gambas [Spanish tapas dish of shrimp cooked in garlic-infused olive oil].

A dish that is easy to make compared to its visual appeal, the epitome of Spanish cuisine.

‘It’s a bit high in calories… but today is a cheat day. Yeah, the smell is really good.’

After smelling the fragrant aroma coming from the kitchen for a long time, Lee Min-ki realized one thing.

‘It’s comfortable?’

The house had become comfortable.

Even when he left the house this morning, it felt like a concrete cage, but now it was as cozy as a hideout.

There was only one thing that had changed from morning to evening.

It was the relationship with people.

Indeed, who you live with is the most important thing in a house.

‘I should watch movies more often in the future.’

Lee Min-ki hummed softly.

He felt that the person was very rigid, but once he found a common ground, it didn’t seem like that was the case.

Rather, it was the opposite.

Where else would there be someone who would be excited to talk about Director Wagner?

Kim Tae-yang was definitely blessed with good company.

It was also a relationship that he might never have found in his life.

‘Wait, should I just call other people and watch it together in the future?’

That wouldn’t be bad either.

It would be nice if my classmates from the academy also joined JC.

A flight of imagination unfolded for a while.

What if we regularly held movie screenings and discussions, using this house as a hideout?

While he was immersed in imagination, Kim Tae-yang’s cooking was already finished.

“It’s done. Come and eat.”

Almost at the same time, Lee Min-ki’s cell phone buzzed.

“Just a moment. I’ll just look at this.”

The contact contained in it was not very welcome for something that came late at night.

[Hello.

This is Studio Hanghae.

Actor Lee Min-ki.

Congratulations on passing the audition for the lead role in Cafe del Dia.]