Korean film "Hope" competes at Cannes, Na Hong-jin eyes Palme d'Or

Film Hope (Ist)

JAKARTA - The South Korean science fiction thriller film, "Hope", entered the main competition of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The film directed by Na Hong-jin will compete with 21 other titles for the Palme d'Or, the highest award at Cannes.

Quoted from Yonhap, Wednesday, May 13, "Hope" became the first Korean film in four years to enter the Palme d'Or competition. Last, Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" and Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Broker" entered the competition in 2022.

"Hope" tells the story of the emergence of a mysterious entity in a small coastal town near the Demilitarised Zone or DMZ, a heavily guarded border region between North and South Korea.

The film stars Hwang Jung-min as the local police chief and Zo In-sung as a villager. The cast is also strengthened by "Squid Game" star Jung Ho-yeon, as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell.

"Hope" is scheduled to have its world premiere in Cannes on Sunday. Na Hong-jin and his cast are expected to attend the festival's red carpet, which runs until May 23 in southern France.

For Na, Cannes is not a new place. "Hope" is his fourth feature film to be invited to the festival. Previously, "The Chaser" was screened at Midnight Screenings in 2008, "The Yellow Sea" entered Un Certain Regard in 2011, and "The Wailing" was invited to the non-competitive section in 2016.

The opportunity for "Hope" to participate attracted attention because Korean cinema has a strong track record at Cannes. In 2022, Park Chan-wook won the best director award with "Decision to Leave", while Song Kang-ho won the best actor award with "Broker".

This year, Park Chan-wook returned to Cannes as jury president. He became the first Korean to hold the position.

In addition to "Hope", other Korean films are also present at Cannes. The zombie thriller "Colony" by Yeon Sang-ho, starring Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Chang-wook, and Koo Kyo-hwan, will be screened at Midnight Screenings.

July Jung's film "Dora" was also invited to the Cannes Directors' Fortnight. The coming-of-age drama stars Kim Do-yeon, a K-pop idol who turned to acting, and Japanese actress Sakura Ando.