The film 'Sleep' (directed by Yoo Jae-seon) starring actors Jung Yu-mi and Lee Sun-kyun was officially invited to the Critics' Week of the 76th Cannes International Film Festival.
According to distributor Lotte Entertainment on the 18th, 'Sleep' was officially invited to the Critics' Week of the 76th Cannes International Film Festival to be held in Cannes, France from the 16th to the 27th. 'Sleep' tells the story of a happy newlywed couple, Hyun-soo and Su-jin, who struggle to unravel the mystery of her husband Hyun-soo's strange behavior while sleeping, which haunts her like a nightmare, and the mystery of the terrible fear that begins the moment she falls asleep.
The Critics' Week, to which 'Sleep' was invited, is hosted by the French Critics Association and is a section that focuses on discovering new talent, and only the director's first or second work is selected among works from around the world. In particular, although 'Sleep' is a commercial film with a strong genre color, it has been recognized for its workability and completeness by being invited to Critic's Week, raising expectations.
'Sleep' is director Yoo Jae-seon's first feature film, and is a candidate for the Camera d'or, which is awarded to the most promising new director of the year. The Camera d'Or Award honors the best film from all new directors invited to the Cannes International Film Festival for their debut feature films, covering Competition, Un Certain Regard, Critics' Week, and Director's Week. Korean films that were invited to Critics' Week, which has discovered many novel and creative works, include director Heo Jin-ho's 'Christmas in August', director Jeong Ji-woo's 'Happy End', and director Han Jun-hee's 'Chinatown'.
Jung Yu-mi is fourth, following 'Without Knowing' (2009 Director's Weekly), 'In Another Country' (2012, Competitive Category), and 'Train to Busan' (2016, Non-Competitive Category), and Lee Seon-gyun is 'Going to the End' (2014). It was the third honor to be invited, following 'Parasite' (2019 Competition Category), which won the Director's Week) and the Palme d'Or.
Director Yoo Jae-seon, who entered Cannes with his first feature film 'Sleep', said, "I would like to express my deep gratitude to the actors and production staff who worked together with all their passion for the work 'Sleep.' “I am very happy to be presenting it on a big stage, and I am both excited and looking forward to seeing how audiences around the world will view ‘Sleep’,” he said.
Manuel Chiche, CEO of The Jokers Films, the French distributor of 'Sleep' and the French distributor of 'Snowpiercer' and 'Parasite', said that 'Sleep' has "dark humor, horror and "It is a film that well combines the crisis of a couple. Director Yoo Jae-seon's first achievement is undoubtedly the best that Korean cinema can offer," he praised.
Ava Cahen, Executive Committee Chair of Critics' Week, said, "Director Jae-seon Yoo's first feature film 'Sleep' leaves no room for drowsiness. The director, who was a former assistant director to Director Bong Joon-ho, has created a sensational film about a struggling young couple before and after having a child. He revealed the reason for selecting the invited work, saying, “I created it.”
Director Bong Joon-ho said of 'Sleep', "It is the most unique horror film I have seen in the past 10 years and a smart debut film. An unpredictable couple's drama unfolds in the most ordinary everyday space. I hope that the audience will watch this movie in front of the screen without any information. “I hope you enjoy the movie,” he praised.
Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr