Director Na Hong-jin has shared his thoughts on being invited to the Cannes Film Festival.
Behind-the-scenes stills from Director Na Hong-jin’s new movie, ‘Hope’, were released on May 24.
The newly released stills capture the special ensemble of ‘Hope’ at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, featuring Director Na Hong-jin alongside stars Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell.
‘Hope’ garnered significant attention throughout its time in Cannes. After a long time since filming, Director Na Hong-jin and the cast reunited to share warm greetings and spend meaningful moments during the festival.
Stills of the actors preparing for the premiere red carpet perfectly capture the excitement and tension before the first screening. Meanwhile, photos of Hwang Jung-min and Jung Ho-yeon with music director Michael Abelton show a friendly and warm atmosphere.
Following the official events, the actors spent their time in Cannes handling promotional schedules, including interviews with domestic and international media. They caught everyone’s eye with a cheerful and relaxed vibe, a stark contrast to the intense energy seen in the film.
‘Hope’ is drawing attention as the first Korean film in four years to be invited to the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival, marking Director Na Hong-jin’s first entry into this category. Starting with his debut ‘The Chaser’, followed by ‘The Yellow Sea’, ‘The Wailing’, and now ‘Hope’, Na Hong-jin has achieved the historic record of becoming the first Korean director to have every single one of his feature films invited to Cannes.
Having premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, ‘Hope’ is receiving rave reviews from global media and critics. Its bold direction, which breaks traditional conventions to experiment with various genres, as well as its unpredictable plot and breathless, intense action, have sparked an enthusiastic response.
After completing all festival schedules, Director Na Hong-jin said, “I decided to attend this Cannes Film Festival in response to their love call, which came at the most critical point of post-production. Right now, the most important thing is the time remaining before I meet the Korean audience, as we are now in the decisive stage of the final wrap-up. I will focus on maximizing the quality of the work until its release. Based on the valuable support and encouragement I received from critics and media representatives at Cannes, I will strive for the best possible result. I want to thank the festival organizers and everyone who enjoyed ‘Hope’ and shared kind words.”
Hwang Jung-min expressed his anticipation for the release, saying, “When the curtains opened at Cannes, I thought, ‘How fun would it be to watch this with the Korean audience?’ I can’t wait for the moment I can share this special experience with them.”
Jo In-sung added, “‘Hope’ is a meaningful work for me simply because I could challenge myself with something new and work happily with a great director.” Jung Ho-yeon shared, “It was an honor to see my first film at the historic Lumière Grand Theatre. I was both scared and excited to see my acting on the big screen, but hearing the applause and cheers made me feel supported and deeply moved.”
Meanwhile, ‘Hope’ tells the story of Beom-seok, the chief of the Hopo Port office located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The story begins when he hears news from local youths that a tiger has appeared, putting the entire village on high alert and leading him to encounter an unbelievable reality. The film is scheduled for release this summer.
