A struggling Gu Kyo-hwan laments that We Are All Trying Here
by solstices
In the first teaser for JTBC’s introspective drama We Are All Trying Here, a downtrodden Gu Kyo-hwan (Parasyte – The Grey) stars as the aspiring film director Hwang Dong-man. Without even a single successful film to his name, Dong-man grows increasingly disillusioned and desperate. But as the drama chronicles his struggles with his dwindling self-worth, perhaps it’ll also demonstrate that everyone is fighting their own worst critics deep down.
The teaser opens with a disparaging remark from Oh Jung-se (Tempest) as the eminent director Park Kyung-se, who points out that Dong-man ought to leave the industry entirely. After all, it’s not like he can grasp at success even if he digs his heels in. Day after day, in between his meals, all Dong-man does are two things — go green-eyed with jealousy when others do well, and kick his feet in glee when others fail.
Indeed, Dong-man goes from crooning a happy tune at his kitchen ladle, to slamming a ramyun packet down onto the floor with a frustrated shout when he just can’t get it open. Aww, that’s amusing but also sadly relatable. Sometimes it’s the little things that break the camel’s back. It’s clear that Dong-man’s insecurity and inferiority are smothering him, and something’s got to give eventually.
On the bright side, at least Dong-man’s fiery spirit hasn’t been quashed yet. Refusing to take Kyung-se’s harsh comments lying down, Dong-man argues back. He’s also not above attempting to climb over a balustrade or spark a chase through a restaurant, ha. But it’s also obvious Dong-man is near the breaking point, if the way he hits his head against the bus window with a loopy grin on his face is any indication.
Even so, Dong-man refuses to give up. Yelling his own name aloud, Dong-man musters his courage for a determined proclamation, even if his outstretched arms earn him weird stares from his fellow commuters. “If I can’t prove myself by succeeding, then I’ll do so even if it ruins me!” With that, Dong-man walks forth with renewed confidence. “Go ahead and stop me. If you even can!”
Rounding out the cast, we have Go Yoon-jung (Can This Love Be Translated) as an overworked film PD, Kang Mal-geum (Surely Tomorrow) as his wife and no-nonsense restauranteer, and Park Hae-joon (Tempest) as a languishing poet who is also Dong-man’s older brother.
Helmed by PD Cha Young-hoon (Welcome to Samdal-ri, When the Camellia Blooms) and scriptwriter Park Hae-young (My Liberation Notes, My Ajusshi), We Are All Trying Here is slated for an April 18 premiere on JTBC, with streaming also available on Netflix.
Via Newsen
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