“/>The world premiere screening of ‘HOPE’, directed by Na Hong-jin and invited to the Competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes), was finally unveiled to the world on May 17th at 9:30 PM (local time) at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.
‘HOPE’ tells the story of Beom-seok, the head of the Hopo Port office located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). After hearing reports of a tiger sighting from local youths, the entire village goes on high alert, leading Beom-seok to encounter an unbelievable reality.
This is director Na Hong-jin’s first new work in 10 years, following his hits ‘The Chaser’, ‘The Yellow Sea’, and ‘The Wailing’. With a massive production budget of approximately 50 billion KRW, it is one of the most expensive single films in Korea. Global expectations are sky-high, especially with NEON handling distribution in North America and other global markets as a major lineup for this year.
Based on the initial buzz, ‘HOPE’ is being described as a “crazy masterpiece” capable of eyeing the Palme d’Or, though some opinions are split. However, the criticism seems to be focused on a single point: technical aspects. This suggests there is plenty of time to make improvements before the official release.
Foreign press reviews are glowing. Variety noted, “The Korean master’s fourth film will be among the best and most entertaining action movies we’ve seen.” The Hollywood Reporter described it as “a rare action thriller that mostly takes place in broad daylight, where camera techniques and a pulsing soundtrack create a rhythm of tension. The characters are also very well-crafted.” TheWrap praised it as “a thrilling action adventure” that “starts with one of the best sequences in recent years and maintains that energy until the end.”
Other critics and industry insiders were equally impressed, calling it “the first big shock of Cannes this year” and “a horror film with a vision of hell.” Despite a runtime of nearly three hours, they claimed there isn’t a single boring moment, describing it as “madness itself” and “maestro-level direction.” Others called it a “thrilling rollercoaster” and a “non-stop spectacle” that keeps the adrenaline pumping from start to finish.
There is significant buzz around Jung Ho-yeon, who gained international fame and an Emmy award for the Netflix series ‘Squid Game’. Although her screen time is limited, she is said to create a powerful impact. Meanwhile, Hollywood stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell play aliens and are reportedly almost unrecognizable.
Of course, no single movie can satisfy everyone. The main point of disappointment for some was the quality of the special effects, including CG and VFX, which likely revealed the lack of sufficient post-production time.
On a positive note, technical flaws can be fixed if more time is provided. Massive CG work was planned from the start, and it is said that the Cannes Film Festival office showed special consideration to allow ‘HOPE’ to enter the competition. This has led to predictions that the version screened at Cannes, the local screening version, and the final theatrical release may all be different. It remains to be seen how the Cannes evaluation will influence the final product.
Korean audiences, who are eagerly awaiting ‘HOPE’ and following the rumors, generally maintain a strong trust in director Na Hong-jin, with many saying, “I’ll judge it for myself once I see it.” Given Na Hong-jin’s track record of delivering quality work and the film’s successful entry into the Cannes Competition after four years, anticipation for the “hope of the Korean film industry” is peaking. Reactions to pre-release content like stills and trailers have also been positive.
It will also be interesting to see the evaluation from the jury led by Jury President Park Chan-wook. Although he firmly stated, “I will not give extra points just because it is a Korean film,” ‘HOPE’ is expected to be discussed as one of the most provocative works of the year until the closing ceremony. After its Cannes debut, ‘HOPE’ will be released in Korea during the summer season.
