(Following interview ①) Actress Jun Ji-hyun spoke about being invited to the Cannes Film Festival for her screen comeback in 11 years, Gunchae.
Jun Ji-hyun conducted an interview on the afternoon of the 26th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the event, she met with domestic reporters and talked about the recently released film Gunchae.
Gunchae, which opened on the 21st (director Yeon Sang-ho, provided/distributed by SHOWBOX, produced by Wowpoint·Smilegate, co-produced by Midnight Studio), is a film about survivors trapped inside a building sealed off by an unidentified infectious outbreak, fighting infected people who evolve in unpredictable ways. It is Yeon Sang-ho's third zombie film, following Train to Busan and Peninsula, and attracted attention not only for Jun Ji-hyun but also for the appearances of top actors Ji Changwook, Koo Kyo-hwan, Shin Hyun-been, Kim Shin-rock, Go Soo and others.
As expected, Gunchae was officially invited to the Cannes Film Festival's midnight screening. At the world premiere screening it received about seven minutes of standing ovation and was also praised. For Jun Ji-hyun, it was the first time in her life that a film she appeared in was officially invited to the Cannes Film Festival.
Regarding this, Jun Ji-hyun said, "After Gunchae ended, I also wanted to work on a project by director Yeon Sang-ho, but at that time I thought, 'I should decide after reading the script.' But when I went to Cannes I was so moved. I felt grateful to the director. I felt thankful to the point that I would do the director's work without reading the script. That feeling hasn't changed even now," expressing deep gratitude to director Yeon Sang-ho.
She said in particular, "As an actress, Cannes is a place like a dream for all filmmakers, and thanks to the director I realized that dream. I was very grateful for that. I was very thankful. I also wanted to share this honor with the director again," and added, "For me, going to Cannes was a first for Korean film, and Cannes for me has been the third as an overseas work ambassador. Going officially, the Cannes I had been to before was not Cannes. So it became a greater motivation as an actress," she emphasized.
At the Cannes Film Festival, Jun Ji-hyun also drew attention with a glamorous red carpet pose. Watching that, reactions such as "real-life Cheon Song-yi" and "Cheon Song-yi incarnation" even emerged. Jun Ji-hyun laughed and said, "Until now, the red carpet didn't feel like our own party. But when I went this time, it was a red carpet for us. So it was more fun. I could fully enjoy it. Before, to keep the program moving quickly we had to go up quickly and didn't have time to enjoy the red carpet. But because the film was invited I could fully enjoy it, so I put my whole heart into the moment. It was good. It was so much fun."
She added with a laugh, "'Real-life Cheon Song-yi'—well, that's true. I don't think I stray far from who I am when acting. I certainly have Cheon Song-yi moments."
(Continued from interview ③)<
[Photo] Provided by SHOWBOX and Peach Company.
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