With a meager 2 episodes, “Persona: Sulli” was able to drive a lot of people to tears
Consisting of 2 episodes, the short film “Clean Island” and the documentary “Dear Jinri”, “Persona: Sulli”, the last work of idol-actress Sulli, has been released 4 years after her passing.
4 years is neither a long or short time, but it is enough for many to forget the joy of seeing sulli’s updates and her bright smiles. Now that the last footage of the late idol-actress has been revealed, many people cannot help but miss her dearly.
“Clean Island” – The final work of actress Sulli unveiled after 4 years
The first episode of the series, “Clean Island”, lasting only 2 episodes, marks the final work in Sulli’s career. At the time of Sulli’s passing, it was thought that “Clean Island” would never see the light of day, destined to be “stored away” as time gradually made people talk less about her. However, after four years of anticipation and longing, the last footage of Sulli has finally arrived. A 25-year-old Sulli with a radiant smile, resembling the 11-year-old girl who hesitantly recorded her first scenes. It becomes apparent to the audience that, before having a beautiful but tormented idol Sulli, there was an actress named Choi Jinri who shone brightly.
“Clean Island” is a short film lasting 29 minutes long, out of which only approximately 20 was minutes dedicated to Sulli’s performance, while the rest consists of the soundtrack and behind-the-scenes footage.
Yet, the brief 29 minutes conclude the journey of “actress Jinri”, who remains difficult to fully comprehend. All that was revealed was a passionate Jinri engrossed in the character’s story—a solitary girl “living just because she can’t die”. As a result, viewers are left to wonder if the lifeless gaze, the heartbreaking cries, and the smiles on the verge of tears on the screen are Jinri expressing her own life.
Just Jinri
In “Clean Island”, Sulli’s character wants to go to “Clean Island”, which is the cleanest place in life. Perhaps Sulli herself also wanted that for herself, to go to a place where she’s Just Jinri.
Episode 2 of “Persona: Sulli”, which is called “Dear Jinri”, opens with a personal introduction, a long silence, and somewhat awkward smiles. Despite having years in the industry, Sulli was unable to naturally talk about herself. Perhaps at the time, she was not an actress, a Kpop idol, or an influencer, but just Jinri, who hadn’t been faced with a world where she had to face “the worst thing” – the K-pop Industry.
Kpop gave Sulli a lot of things, but all of those were perhaps addressed to “Sulli”, not “Jinri”. Eventually, K-pop took everything from Jinri, forcing her to reluctantly admit that she had lived for years behind a mask called “strength,” always striving to appear genuinely okay. In the end, Jinri just wants to be herself—vulnerable, crying, complaining—just as long as she doesn’t lose “Jinri.”
“Persona: Sulli” – A summary
If you were expecting a documentary about a career spanning from age 11 to Sulli’s 25th year, “Persona: Sulli” might not be what you need. It’s not a life story plastered across headlines; a simple click would yield thousands of results. This is simply precious footage remaining from the radiant age of 25, an unfinished short film, and an interview concluding with a three-minute silence. These valuable images, supposed to have been released four years ago, are now shared with the audience.
It’s just a small interview, allowing viewers to feel as though they are conversing with the girl, as if Sulli is still beside us. Throughout the nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes, the audience listens to Sulli’s struggles and pain. About K-pop, her mother, films, F(x), the desire for love and health, or even the story where she refused to wear bras —many have to admit that behind that beautiful face, behind the rebellious acts, behind the colorful girl in music productions, there was a profoundly deep Jinri.
“It sounds like I’m badmouthing Kpop, doesn’t it?”
“I think they don’t see celebrities as humans. At my debut, I kept hearing repeated phrases like ‘she is a product and has to be the perfect product’.”
Throughout the conversation, there are many moments of silence from Sulli. She seems to be choked up, unable to speak, not wanting to end before seemingly simple questions about the daily struggles she must endure. To then laugh and admit frustration when the reporter repeatedly brings up the essential rights of an ordinary worker that she cannot have.
Minimum wage, labor protection, working overtime? Those normal things seem not meant for those who appear to be “extraordinary” in the eyes of fans. Because for Sulli, and many other idols, they are no longer “humans,” everything is a “product,” the more perfect, the more profitable.
Being a “product” makes her have to fake a lot of laughter and unintentionally interrupt the interview with a question: “Can I cry here?”
The dark side of Kpop or any entertainment industry is a tale as old as time that we have heard, read too much in newspapers, news, or movies. But through Sulli’s words, that darkness becomes more painful than ever.
“They told me: ‘You were born beautiful. You don’t need to know anything. Just sit among these people and make them happy. Then they will like you. Your appearance will make them happy.’ Always saying something like that. I don’t know what to say. I have thought a lot about my appearance. If I say it’s tough being beautiful, it’s really detestable.”
“I only blame myself. The only thing I can control is when I cause pain to myself. I blame and belittle myself, and I think that’s my control.”
“I have to be what they want. I fear losing the ‘product quality.'”
“In the future, I want a good life. Healthy with a peaceful soul. Can I disappear? No. Yes.”
In those confessions, there seemed to be Sulli’s fragile cry for help, just regretfully, no one seemed to notice.
Goodbye Jinri!
One viewer, after watching “Persona: Sulli,” commented: “Sulli, can’t believe we are the same age now.”
“Persona: Sulli” faced criticism from the moment it was announced, with claims such as “Even when Sulli was gone, people still made money from her story.” But perhaps at this point, arguments or blame are meaningless because, more or less, “Persona: Sulli” has fulfilled its goal. That after the tragedy four years ago, we can now sit back, talk to Sulli once again, and say a formal farewell to her. So when remembering Sulli, those who stay behind will no longer have to feel regret, sorrow, and pain. Only the remaining emotions will be nostalgia, appreciation, and loss.
In the end, the documentary, maybe not entirely perfect, is still a comforting embrace for those who always remember Sulli. We will all grow up, mature, and age. We will go through the thresholds of 25, 30, 40, and more, but Sulli will always shine at the most beautiful age.
Sulli, in a different life, please be happy.
Source: K14
