Veteran actress Kim Ji-mi walks the pink carpet on the opening ceremony of the twenty fourth Busan Worldwide Movie Competition held on the Busan Cinema Heart in Busan, Oct. 3, 2019.
The Korean movie neighborhood on Wednesday mourned the loss of life of veteran actor Kim Ji-mi, one of many brightest stars of the nation’s cinematic golden age within the Nineteen Sixties, remembered by colleagues as a “once-in-a-century performer” and “heroine” of Korean cinema.
Lee Jang-ho, who directed Kim in her last starring position in “Myongja, Akiko, Sonia” (1992), described her as “a real and chosen actor.”
“It’s the will of God, and there is nothing we will do,” Lee informed Yonhap Information Company by cellphone. “However she was an actor who seems as soon as in 100 years. She was a heroine — a lady with extra guts than most males.”
Born in 1940 in Daedeok, South Chungcheong Province, Kim made her display debut in director Kim Ki-young’s 1957 movie “The Twilight Practice.” Over a profession spanning 4 a long time, she appeared in additional than 700 movies, working with famend administrators, corresponding to Kim Soo-yong in “The Earth” (1974) and Im Kwon-taek in “Gilsotteum” (1985).
Director Jung Ji-young, lively within the Eighties, remembered Kim as some of the iconic figures of her period.
“She loved a first-rate each bit as wonderful as Shin Sung-il’s and remained on the high for a very long time,” Jung mentioned. “We had been personally shut, although I remorse we by no means labored collectively.” He added, “Might she relaxation in peace.”
Director Bae Chang-ho recalled Kim’s heat and humility, regardless of her stardom.
“After we had been filming ‘Deep Blue Evening’ (1985) in the US, she occurred to be there and handled our crew to a meal simply to encourage us,” he mentioned. “She was at all times well mannered, simple and down-to-earth.”
Past appearing, Kim additionally based her personal manufacturing firm, Jimi Movie, and served as chairperson of a movie trade affiliation and as a member of the Korean Movie Council.
“She was Korea’s diva and devoted her whole life to cinema,” Bae mentioned.
Kim Dong-ho, former government director of the Busan Worldwide Movie Competition, remembered her as a pioneer with “sturdy management and nice compassion.”
“She instantly produced and starred in her movies, leaving an incredible influence on the trade,” he mentioned. “We frequently met when she got here to Korea — even had lunch two years in the past. It is heartbreaking.”
Her loss of life got here simply days after veteran actor Yoon Il-bong’s loss of life, deepening the sense of loss inside the movie neighborhood.
“These had been the actors who constructed the golden age of Korean cinema,” Kim Dong-ho mentioned. “Their departures are an immense loss.”
