138. Legend of the Island in the Sky

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Vincent Cassel.

An actor who made his debut in the 1980s, a turbulent period for French cinema.

Despite the fact that noble and delicate acting styles were the trend in French film actors at the time,

He established his own identity by building a rough, wild, and resistant image.

Since then, he has gained great popularity with successive hits in works such as [Rio Macho] and [Prodigal Acapulco].

But no matter what anyone says, it was director Jean Dumont’s [Image Game] that established him as a national actor in France.

At the time, the audience thought that Vincent Cassel would play a macho character in [Image Game].

However, he broke everyone’s expectations and showed a desperate performance that did not hesitate to make any sacrifices for his family, bringing tears to the eyes of the audience.

From then on, Vincent Cassel began to be evaluated as an actor who could play any role.

In fact, he was enjoying great popularity as he was called a French national actor both in name and reality, digesting various characters.

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Vincent Cassel asked Kyu-ha to shake hands with a friendly smile.

“Nice to meet you! Song. It’s the first time I’ve met and said hello like this. I am tired of wanting to see you as soon as possible.”

“Nice to meet you too, Cassel. I really enjoyed the image game.”

“hahahahaha, I’m very happy that the hero of Bataclan volunteered to be my fan.”

Cassel guided Kyuha to a nearby bench.

“I am your true fan. I was in the boxing club when I was younger. I thought of you as an unusual friend from Triumph Over, but I fell in love with you after watching your fighting match. Then, with this Bataclan incident as an opportunity, I came to respect you.”

“It is overrated. Anyway, I am grateful that the national actor, Mr. Cassel, looks good on me.”

“Is there anyone in France who will look down on you? Anyway, I’m looking forward to working together this time. Let’s be proud together in the future and do well.”

That’s how Vincent Cassel left and Han Jeong-hee approached Kyu-ha.

“That is Vincent Cassel, the national actor of France. Honey dripping from your eyes? From what I’ve heard, I knew him to be quite rough on set…”

“There was no one so gentle, but it was rough. Rumors must be wrong.”

“I always say this, but it’s only for Gyuha-san.”

At that time, director Jean Dumont, who was giving instructions to the staff, found Kyu-Ha and approached her one step closer.

“Song! Seeing this in the field is new. I had a hard time coming.”

“The director is having a hard time. How do you feel after taking in the air at the site for the first time in a while?”

“As expected, this was where I needed to be. I feel alive now.”

“When I think about the first time I met him, he has changed so much that I wonder if he is the same person. It’s nice to see.”

“It’s all thanks to you. It’s a start. I’m thinking of putting my all into this work. So please trust me and follow me.”

“Of course, Director. I will do my best too.”

“Thank you! thanks.”

Since there was no separate script reading, I greeted the staff and actors for the first time on set, and most of them approached Kyuha with friendly eyes and asked for a handshake.

Before long, Kyuha also appeared on the scene after changing his makeup and costume.

It was a brown-type outfit that sailors would wear at the time.

“Now, let’s go to the first shoot.”

Director Jean Dumont announced the cue sign with his characteristic grating voice.

***

[The melody that dances with the waves]

The main character, Alain, who was Korean but grew up on the large French cruise ship ‘Ile de France’ due to an unfortunate fate.

Purnell, who can be said to be the adoptive father who raised Alain, accidentally hears a strange sound coming from the empty band practice room, opens the door, and is startled to see Alain playing the piano alone.

Pernell recognized Alain’s talent at a glance.

From then on, Pernell taught Alain the piano,

Help his talent blossom.

The years passed like flowing water, and Alain became a 25-year-old young man.

Ding ding ding

‘Ile de France’ has everything to the extent that it is called a floating city on the sea.

The ‘Ile de France’ docked in the port of Nice, France

A time when people enjoy their free time and have a good time.

At the outdoor venue prepared in the stern, a performance by the Pernell band, which is exclusive to ‘Ile de France’, was being prepared.

male voice

The red sun had already disappeared, and many people gathered in the ‘Ile de France’ concert hall, which was shining like stars above the jet-black sea.

“I would like to say hello to the passengers. My name is Pernell, the movement of the ‘Ile de France’.”

clap clap clap

“We will present a performance that can be a fantastic night in the romantic sea of Nice.”

Soon after, the movement leader Purnell raised the violin, and the cellist and flutist nodded as well.

The harmony of beautiful tones resonated all over the ‘Ile de France’.

As the sensibility and romance of music were added, lovers shared a hot kiss, and families faced each other and held hands.

When the ensemble ended, Pernell, the movement leader, shouted to the audience.

“The next order is a piano solo performance. It is also the pride of our ‘Ile de France’. Introducing the genius pianist Alain.”

With Purnell’s introduction, Alain appeared at the piano placed in the stern.

The surroundings became noisy.

“what? Are you Asian?”

“Miraculous! It’s my first time seeing Asians.”

“You’re Asian, but you play the piano?”

At the time, opportunities to see Asians not only in France but throughout Europe were very rare, so most people looked at Alain with a curious look.

As if familiar, Alain looked at the night sea in the abyss beyond the piano without changing his expression.

Alain liked this moment the best.

To his left, many spectators were waiting for the performance,

This moment, as if the beautiful Mediterranean Sea was enveloping you in front of you.

Alain loved this moment that allowed him to focus solely on playing.

“The title of the song is ‘The blue wave of Summer.’”

Pernell announced the title of the song.

This song was composed by Alain himself when he was 17 years old.

How shocked was Alain when he first wrote this song.

Pernell looked forward to the audience’s reaction.

Even he, who has been doing music for more than 40 years, couldn’t forget the emotion of hearing this song for the first time.

Alain’s hands went up on the keyboard indifferently.

A fresh breeze from the beach of Nice blowing just in time blew Alain’s bangs.

Ding

When the first note sounded, people’s attention was drawn to the piano in an instant.

In the stern of the cruise, which was filled with all kinds of noise, only the clear sound of waves and miraculous melodies remained.

***

“Huh… Oh my God.”

All the staff at the scene stared at Kyuha’s piano playing in awe.

“All my life, I knew that classical music was outdated and didn’t suit me, but it was my dog’s prejudice.”

Raphael of the production team muttered, unable to take his eyes off the performance.

“How can the atmosphere of summer be melted into the performance like that? It’s really amazing.”

“So! What should I say… The green, refreshing and languid nature of the summer sea? You have that feeling. It feels like taking a nap while lying in the cool shade while smelling the salty scent of the sea.”

“I remember back when I went to Notre Dame Beach with my father and ran around catching cicadas with the kids I met there.”

The song ‘The Blue Wave of Summer’ was composed by Ferguson, who felt the sound of grass dancing in the wind and the unique scent of summer.

When I listened to this song, I couldn’t describe it in words, my heart felt soft and I smiled at the refreshing feeling.

“How do you express the emotions of the summer season so well through music?”

It was a lively and upbeat song, but at the end, it was strangely lonely.

Raphael was amazed that a person’s heart could change like this in an instant, like a sailboat facing a turbulent sea.

Director Jean Dumont also nodded as if satisfied.

“Perfect. It was a scene that truly showed Alain’s presence.”

It was the first scene of Alain, who became an adult in the play, so it needed a strong impact.

And actor Song Kyu-hara fully met those expectations.

Jean-Dumont looked forward to future filming.

There are still a lot of high-difficulty shootings left, but the actor in front of me, who came like fate, seemed to show something more.

***

Cherbourg-Octeville

It is located in the Lower Normandy region of northern France and is a port city facing the English Channel.

Équeurdreville was one of the small rural towns in Cherbourg with few tourists.

It was also where Kyuha’s lodgings would be located for the time being.

“I don’t mind, but would you really mind being here, brother?”

Gyu-ha nodded at the worried look of manager Bong-gu.

“This is exactly what I was looking for. I need to contact Han Jeong-hee, the team leader, to thank him. I feel burdened in places with a lot of people.”

Team leader Han Jeong-hee returned to Korea for other important work, and Lee Bong-gu came to France instead.

Gyu-ha told Han Jeong-hee that she didn’t have to come to France anymore, since all the major management tasks related to Kyu-ha had been completed anyway.

“I can’t do it anymore because I’m afraid of something else going on. You know it’s because I’ll somehow find time to come.”

I couldn’t say anything more about her determination, which was so resolute.

“Since it is not a tourist destination, the surrounding infrastructure is poor.”

The problem was that as Kyuha’s popularity soared in France, there were too many people recognizing her.

For that reason, I came to this rural village, quite far from the filming set, and found a lodging.

Fortunately, it was very rural and there were more elderly people than young people, so few people recognized Gyu-ha.

“I was so frustrated because I couldn’t move around comfortably. I’ve been all the way to the sea, but I haven’t been able to take a look at it properly. I want to be as comfortable as possible while resting.”

Lee Bong-gu also seemed to fully understand.

“Well… now I can’t even walk around famous tourist cities like Paris or Lyon. My brother has become very famous. You must be the only actor who has risen to this level in Europe even before he started acting.”

After walking and chatting with Bong-gu, I arrived at the accommodation before I knew it.

A building built with whitewashed bricks and oak that feels the weight of the years.

The distinctive French antique architecture stood out.

The moss in many places on the walls added to the beauty of the years.

“Five! Still, the real thing is much better than the picture, right? It is an accommodation full of emotions.”

The two entered the hotel.

Amber lights were illuminating the interior, creating a quiet atmosphere.

There was an old round wooden table and chairs in the lobby,

A faded black red carpet from the entrance continued to what looked like an information desk.

At the information desk, a gray-haired old man in a tattered suit and bow tie was dozing off.

Knock Knock

When Kyuha lightly tapped on the desk, she naturally raised her head as if she had fallen asleep and smiled softly.

“Thank you for visiting our Dorville Hotel. My name is Frederick, General Manager.”

“Nice to meet you. This is Song, who will be staying at this hotel for an extended period of time. Please check in.”

“Yeah. We will help you check in. Are you here for sightseeing?”

He didn’t seem to recognize Kyu-ha.

“Well, I came here for both sightseeing and work.”

“It is not common to come to such a rural village. You are the one who knows romance. Did you take a look around?”

“Nope. Today is the first day, so I plan to look around properly soon.”

“I see. For reference, I was born in this village and have lived here for 70 years. Guess there’s no place I don’t know about. Can you recommend a place to visit?”

Interested, Gyuha nodded and spoke to Frederic.

“Would you please?”

Manager Frederick lowered his posture and whispered in a quiet voice.

“Have you heard of the island in the sky and the legend of the Bretagne mermaid?”