Six years in storage, ‘Virus’ breaks free at last

The irony wasn't lost on anyone at Monday's press conference for the romantic comedy "Virus" -- a film about a fictional pathogen that causes people to fall madly in love was itself quarantined for nearly six years, due to a real pandemic that kept people apart.

"Although there were many twists and turns leading up to the release, I'm thrilled we can finally present the film," director Kang Yi-kwan told reporters at Seoul's Yongsan CGV cinema on Monday. The film, which completed production in late 2019, became an unwitting casualty of timing when the COVID-19 pandemic made releasing a virus-themed work virtually impossible.

Its narrative centers on Taek-sun (Bae Doo-na), a disaffected translator drifting through life, who suddenly blooms after becoming infected with the "Toxovirus" -- a pathogen with a curious symptom: it induces overwhelming happiness and instant love.

The virus places her in the orbit of three men: researcher Soo-phil (Son Suk-ku), who becomes the first infected person; her childhood friend Yeon-woo (Chang Ki-ha); and the brilliant Dr. Lee Kyun (Kim Yoon-seok), the only person capable of developing a cure.

For actor Kim Yoon-seok, the unexpected delay created a surreal disconnect between filming and release. "The world changed between shooting this film and now," he reflected. "Things we imagined -- PCR tests, lab protocols, protective equipment -- suddenly became everyday reality. It felt incredibly strange to watch our fictional scenario materialize in real life."

The film represents a tonal shift for Bae, who has spent much of the past decade in darker genre pieces like "Kingdom," the zombie-historical horror series, and "Stranger," the critically acclaimed investigative thriller.

"After projects involving disasters or intense themes, I missed something soft, warm and bright," she said. "I've always believed that making audiences happy is a major charm of movies."

Bae hesitated to categorize the film as merely a romance, though. "I'm not sure it's a love story per se," she said. "It's more about a person discovering a different side of themselves when their emotional barriers are forcibly opened."

The film marks singer-songwriter Chang Ki-ha's lead acting debut, a challenge he initially balked at. "When I first read the script, there seemed to be too many lines. I didn't think I could do it," he admitted. "Then Kim Yoon-seok called and said, 'Film people know what they're doing. We'll create the environment -- you just come and have fun.'"

Director Kang emphasized how "Virus" offers a refreshing counterpoint to typical infection film conventions. "Most virus narratives are apocalyptic, focusing on societal collapse," he noted. "We wanted to explore a virus that makes people better versions of themselves, and examine it from a personal perspective rather than a macro view of pandemic response."

For Bae, the film's theatrical release remains important despite its long delay. "We shot this specifically for the big screen," she said. "When actors perform for the cinema, we're conscious of how even subtle expressions will read on a large screen.

"Honestly, I wouldn't say you absolutely must watch it in theaters -- it would work anywhere -- but those small details and nuances we crafted specifically for cinema viewing might get lost on smaller devices."

Kim echoed this sentiment in more philosophical terms: "The cinema is another kind of public square. It's where unconnected strangers focus collectively on one experience, creating energy you can't replicate at home."

"Virus" opens nationwide on May 7.