Jun Ji-hyun sat down for an interview on the 16th (local time) at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, to talk about her new movie ‘Gunche’ (directed by Yeon Sang-ho). The film was invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival and met audiences during its official screening at the Grand Théâtre Lumière on the 15th.
Sharing her thoughts on arriving at Cannes, Jun Ji-hyun said, “It feels amazing. Thanks to Director Yeon Sang-ho, I’m here at Cannes, which is a dream for every filmmaker. While this is my third time visiting Cannes in different capacities, it’s my first time being invited for a Korean film. I felt such a moving moment when the movie screened at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. It made me realize I should live my life with even more gratitude. I am infinitely grateful to the director.”
Jun Ji-hyun caught everyone’s eye when she got emotional during the official screening of ‘Gunche’ on the 15th. Regarding this, she shared, “I just felt overwhelmed. Don’t we all have those moments where we get emotional unexpectedly? Actually, I did a lot of simulations for the official screening yesterday. We talked about how to act on the red carpet and what to do if we got a standing ovation, and we even joked that one of us should cry.” She added, “But even without intending to, I just felt overwhelmed and a whirlwind of emotions.”
Making her big-screen comeback after 11 years, Jun Ji-hyun noted, “The film industry changed a lot after the pandemic. The atmosphere and production conditions shifted, and it’s true that finding a great screenplay isn’t as easy as it used to be. That’s why I’ve been focusing on dramas, but when I received Director Yeon Sang-ho’s script after so long, I told him, ‘Isn’t this exactly how a movie screenplay should be?'” She continued, “Whenever I choose a project, I prioritize what the audience wants to see over my own preferences. I feel an even greater sense of responsibility with films. When I watch movies myself, I prefer things that relieve stress rather than something too dark or heavy. ‘Gunche’ felt like the perfect fit for that.”
‘Gunche’ is a thrilling story about isolated survivors trapped in a building during a mysterious infection outbreak, fighting against infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways. Director Yeon Sang-ho, a frequent guest at Cannes, has been invited for the fourth time, following ‘The King of Pigs’ (2012, Director’s Fortnight), ‘Train to Busan’ (2016, Midnight Screening), and ‘Peninsula’ (2020, Official Selection). Having left a powerful mark on the global cinema scene with his unique take on the Korean zombie genre, Director Yeon Sang-ho once again proves his strength as the ‘Father of K-Zombies’ through ‘Gunche’.
First unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival, ‘Gunche’ is set to be released in Korea on the 21st.
