CHICAGO -- There's a legato beat that thrums through almost every moment of Jason Park's directorial debut, "Transplant."
The fervent film sways through moments of grief, passion, elation and pride as Jonah Yoon (K-POP star Eric Nam), a Korean-American surgical resident, studies under a visionary heart transplant surgeon and cares for his mother.
But even in the heaviest scenes, there's an "intense spectrum of music," from classical to funk, jazz, blues and electronic, that underscores the film. That decision was intentional, Park said.
"Part of the vision very early on was how important the music will be," Park said. "As a filmmaker, music is where everything starts for me. Particularly, for 'Transplant,' it's also a reflection of the irony that exists in the room."
"Transplant," the first feature film from the award-winning director of several previous shorts, follows young resident Jonah as Dr. Edward Harmon (Bill Camp) teaches him the ropes in the operating room. It's been nominated for the Gold Hugo award in the New Directors Competition at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival, which opens Wednesday.
The psychological drama captures the energy of why people are told to never meet their heroes while exploring the humanity in familial dynamics and even the most villainous of characters.
"Transplant" premieres at the Film Festival 7:30 p.m. Friday at AMC NEWCITY 14, 1500 N. Clybourn Ave. Tickets for the film and a encore showing 2:15 p.m. Saturday are available here. Director Jason Park, producer Nina Yang Bongiovi, editor Zoe Kraft and actor Eric Nam are scheduled to be in attendance at both viewings.
"Transplant" is set in New York City, but Park, a Chicagoland native, pulled from his experiences as a Korean and Asian-American man growing up in Chicago and an "outsider" aspiring to make films in Los Angeles to help mold Jonah's story, he said. Park, who grew up in Albany Park, co-wrote the script with close friend David J. Lee.
"Even though the film takes place in New York, I've come to realize how much of my experience growing up in Chicago is implemented in almost everything that I do," Park said. "As an aspiring filmmaker, you have a lot of guardrails and challenges of wondering how to break into a culture that is already difficult and challenging. Being an outsider makes it feel more intensified."
Jonah's dedication to his career is shown through tight shots of him meticulously practicing his craft and watching surgical videos after long shifts. Yet, when viewers are introduced to his character, he is training under a bumbling, chatty doctor.
When Jonah receives the opportunity to study under the brilliant Harmon, viewers see that the resident is thrilled to have his talent recognized and future solidified. Soon after, the film follows Jonah through a painful, tumultuous journey as he meets Harmon -- a figure more intense than an operating room.
"With [Harmon], it was tricky because we're creating this 90-minute tight thriller where we have to do a good job of establishing who this character and individual is, but we didn't want him to come off as a black-and-white villain," Park said.
Bill Camp, the Emmy-award-winning actor from television series like "The Night Of" and "Presumed Innocent," brought an "authentic quality" to Harmon's character that made the surgeon frightening, convincing and human, Park said.
Meanwhile, Jonah's home life simultaneously pushes him forward in his aspirations while holding him back.
Minnah Yoon (Michelle Okkyung Lee), the matriarch of the Yoon family, cares for homes and her son. Early moments in "Transplant" point to Minnah's deteriorating health while leaving the word "sick" unspoken.
Jonah's reckoning with his past and future is another nerve struck repeatedly and subtly through an already tense film.
"Jonah's accomplishments aren't just for his name. It's about the legacy of the family," Park said. "I think a good way of seeing this movie is as a redemption narrative. It's up to the viewer to fill in what that means, but that was important to showcase. Jonah wasn't the only one who was affected. Minnah was willing to make the sacrifices that are needed for the family to succeed."
"Transplant's" ending is "operatic," Park said. The classical song that scores the triumphant moment creates "a rumbling of a feeling," Park said.
It's up to viewers to decide if the climactic moment is cathartic or troubling, Park said. "Transplant" is a film that trusts its audiences to build their own conclusions.
"So much of directing and filmmaking is about control, but you quickly realize you have very little or no control over a film, and you're just trying to keep it together as long as possible," Park said. "That's the case when the film goes out and people see it. It's not yours anymore. But I think I'm at peace with how people feel about it. It's not mine anymore when it gets seen."
Park is already working on his second film with Ley Line Entertainment, the production company that produced "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and "The Green Knight."
"I love to work. I love feeling exhausted," Park said. "I want to keep making films, and whatever the size or scope, as long as I feel connected to the story and the characters, that's what's meaningful to me."