Lee Joon Gi's Chinese Movie: 'Never Said Goodbye'

'NEVER SAID GOODBYE'

THE CHINESE MOVIE

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BGRH6kogodf/?taken-by=actor_jg ‪

FOR A WHILE Sung by Lee Joon Gi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9up_7IthC4

NEVER SAID GOODBYE Teaser Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSodYYAEh0g

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Lee Joon Gi

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Zhou Dongyu

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Ethan Juan

On 7 June 2016, a press conference was held for the Chinese movie, ‘Never Said Goodbye’ at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido.

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Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido

The movie, whose title had undergone several changes, ('Under the Sicily Sun', 'Begin Again'), stars the handsome and talented Korean actor, Lee Joon Gi, the beautiful actress, Zhou Dongyu and the good-looking Taiwanese actor, Ethan Juan. Lee Joon Gi, a multiple movie and drama award winner, plays a warm-hearted Korean student, Park Jun-ho who falls in love with a Chinese girl, Gu Xiao You (Zhou Dongyu) in Shanghai, China. Lee has won awards every year since his blockbuster movie, 'King and the Clown' in 2006, a year in which he took home ten awards. His string of awards include the Seoul International Drama Awards for 'Outstanding Korean Actor' (2013 - 'Arang And The Magistrate' & 2015 - 'Gunman In Joseon'), Overseas Star Award (10th Annual International Shanghai Film Festival) and Rising Star Award (Hawaii International Film Festival). Zhou, a Chinese actress, acted in Zhang Yimou's movie, ‘The Love of the Hawthorn Tree’ for which she won three awards in 2011 ('Best New performer', ‘Outstanding New Actress’ and ‘Best Actress’), an outstanding feat for a then unknown actress. Taiwanese Ethan Juan (2010 Best Actor winner of the 47th Golden Horse Awards for ‘Monga’), plays the role of Tian Bo. The romantic movie, which is about a convoluted transnational relationship, takes the viewers from Shanghai, China to Sicily, Italy. In the dramatic teaser trailer, viewers are given a sneak-peek of the the touching love story and the lovey-dovey relationship of the romantic pair.

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There are, however, many scenes that will fire the imagination of the viewers. In one of the scenes, Park Jun-ho got together some friends to perform a ‘courting dance’ for Gu Xiao You. Lee Joon Gi’s dancing skills, as usual, are impeccable. He impresses everyone, including Zhou Dongyu.

📷 Fantastic!

But what is interesting is the painting of the dancing flamingos on the wall of a house in the movie which aptly reflects the courtship of Gu Xiao You by Park Jun-ho. The romantic pursuit of the Chinese girl by the Korean student can be equated with the fascinating mating dance of the flamingos (video).

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The Courtship Dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXmRAGt7Oao

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Background: The Dance of the Flamingos

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The Flamingo Mating Dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW8GX2n4qbY

In another scene in the teaser trailer, Jun-ho requests for a breakup which has heart-breaking ramifications on their passionate but fragile romance. If one wants to know the climatic finale, one has to wait until August to watch the movie.

The movie, directed by the well-known Taiwanese director Lin Yuhsien and produced by the famous Hong Kong movie producer-director Stanley Kwan, was shot in late 2014 and completed in early 2015. Lin Yu-hsien won the Golden Horse Best Documentary Award in 2005 for his documentary on gymnastic athletes, ‘Jump! Boys’. In 2011, Lin won the Taipei Film Festival Media’s Choice Award and Audience Choice Award for his feature-length film, ‘Jump Ashin!’

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Lee Joon Gi, Zhou Dongyu and Lin Yu-Hsien

It is said that Lin Yu-hsien took great pains to persuade Lee Joon Gi, to play the romantic lead. At a previous press conference for the movie, he expressed that Lee was his first choice for the role.

‘He’s like a boy next door with his own unique charm. He is very natural and down to earth.’ It was a difficult task to win Lee over but the director was very determined to cast him. For that purpose, he had to fly to Korea twice to discuss the movie details with Lee but Lin Yu-Hsien added that he was able to ‘trick’ Lee into doing the movie.

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http://www.weibo.com/p/230444a081f9f526f2f75110cb9aee768f550a

NEVER SAID GOODBYE

PRESS CONFERENCE

07.06.16

DEPARTURE

FROM KOREA FOR BEIJING

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ARRIVAL

BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BGVn0UhAoSV/?taken-by=actor_jg