The movie ‘HOPE’ didn’t take home a trophy at the Cannes Film Festival, but it definitely left behind a new sense of ‘hope’ for the Korean film industry!
The closing ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival took place on the 23rd at 8 PM, where the winners of this year’s competition category were announced.
Unfortunately, ‘HOPE’ was not among the winners.
It is reported that Director Na Hong-jin and the team did not receive the invitation to attend the closing ceremony. Typically, Cannes contacts potential winners by 12 PM on the day of the ceremony. Because they were not notified, Director Na Hong-jin and actors Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon did not attend, adding to the disappointment.
Even without a win, ‘HOPE’s’ run in the competition was a huge success! After its official screening on the 17th, it quickly became the talk of the festival. Fans and critics were captivated by Director Na Hong-jin’s unique style, stunning visuals, and the introduction of new creatures.
While it didn’t lift a trophy, ‘HOPE’ brought a fresh breeze to this year’s festival and gave the Korean film world a thrilling shock.
By entering the competition with a polished genre film rather than a traditional art house movie, Director Na Hong-jin has officially joined the ranks of the ‘Cannes masters.’ This is his first genre film in 10 years, and it sparked intense reactions from international critics and industry insiders. Interest in the film market was also reportedly scorching.
Some say ‘HOPE’ has brought a new wave to the Cannes competition lineup, which is known for being conservative toward genre films. Through ‘HOPE,’ Director Na Hong-jin has ascended to the level of a world-class director loved by Cannes.
Actually, ‘HOPE’ was submitted following a strong request from the festival organizers. Plus M Entertainment mentioned, “The decision to attend this Cannes Film Festival was made out of gratitude for Cannes’ love call, even though it happened during the most critical stage of post-production.”
Known for his relentless pursuit of perfection, Director Na Hong-jin submitted the film in its best possible state given the timeframe. He will now dive back into post-production before the official release. The distributor shared, “Director Na Hong-jin mentioned that the most important thing now is the remaining two months before meeting Korean audiences,” emphasizing that he will focus on maximizing the film’s quality during this final decisive stage.
With critics already saying it is a “must-watch,” ‘HOPE’ is expected to open new horizons for the film industry once it premieres in Korea after further polishing. Everyone is eager to see what kind of ‘hope’ this movie will bring to Korean cinema.
For those curious about the plot, ‘HOPE’ follows Beom-seok, the chief of the Hopo Port office located in the DMZ. The story kicks off when he hears from local youths that a tiger has appeared, throwing the whole village into a state of emergency and leading him into an unbelievable reality. This is Director Na Hong-jin’s first film in 10 years since ‘The Wailing.’ On the day of its world premiere, ‘HOPE’ received a 7-minute standing ovation from a packed house of 2,500 people at the Lumière Theatre. After final edits in Korea, ‘HOPE’ is scheduled to hit theaters in July.
