Director Na Hong-jin's new film "Hope" heated up the Cannes Film Festival.
"Hope" (director Na Hong-jin, produced by Forged Films, co-produced by Plus M Entertainment·West World, supplied/distributed by Plus M Entertainment) was officially invited to the competition institutional sector of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on the 17th (local time) and was first revealed through its world premiere held at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. At the screening that day, director Na Hong-jin and actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor RUSSELL attended. In addition, audiences from around the world filled about 2,300 seats.
"Hope" begins with Beom-seok, the head of the Hopo port branch office located in the demilitarized zone, hearing from local youths that a tiger has appeared, and as the entire village goes on alert, encountering an unbelievable reality. At the red carpet held before the screening, director Na Hong-jin and the actors responded to the intense interest from the international press and fans' cheers with bright smiles and greetings.
As the screening began, the Grand Théâtre Lumière was filled with dense tension. Combining genre pleasures that change moment to moment, an original story, astonishing action performed by the actors themselves and Na Hong-jin's characteristic meticulous mise-en-scène, "Hope" gripped audiences with extreme immersion throughout its running time. Unusually for the competition institutional sector, there were moments during the screening when the appearance of characters or action sequences drew loud cheers and applause from the audience.
The standing ovation and cheers that began immediately after the screening continued for about seven minutes. In response to the enthusiastic reception and heated reaction, director Na Hong-jin and the actors bowed toward the audience to offer thanks. Director Na Hong-jin said, "I sincerely thank you for staying in your seats and watching for such a long time. From the start until now, to the colleagues, teams and actors who have worked with me for years, and to all of you, I sincerely offer my thanks and also express my gratitude to this festival for inviting us once again. Thank you."
Major foreign media outlets followed with praise immediately after the world premiere of "Hope." Variety wrote, "It contains film direction of action so breathtakingly elegant that it ranks among the best this year or any year," and The Hollywood Reporter said, "With dazzling camerawork and heart-pounding music, relentless pacing and vividly constructed characters, it instantly pulls the audience in." Deadline praised, "Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo's excellent visuals, Michael Abels' grand orchestral music and action director Yoo Sang-seop's impressive stunt coordination all deliver results that even Hollywood would envy." ScreenDaily raised expectations, saying, "The dense and detailed production design is astonishingly superb. Every detail of the film's spaces holds a story."
Responses from film officials around the world were also enthusiastic. Pascal Gavillet of Tribune de Genève said, "It overwhelms other competition institutional sector entries with the speed of a wild horse at full gallop. Not a minute is wasted," and Joonatan Itkonen of Region Free said, "'Hope' is the boldest and most thrilling work realized on screen. You must see it in person to believe it, and perhaps that alone may not be enough." André Guerra of Diário de Pernambuco said, "A film that begins as a mystery turns into an overwhelming chase in real time, and with each block it crosses it unfolds ever larger and more ambitious visuals." <
[Photo] Provided by Plus M Entertainment.
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