Lee Seon-kyun, 'Man of Cannes', who reached the peak of his father's life

Actor Lee Sun-gyun is definitely a notable figure at this Cannes Film Festival. Lee Sun-gyun is working on the busiest schedule among our actors invited to Cannes. This is the Cannes red carpet that she stepped on in about 4 years after 'Parasite'.

On the 21st (local time), at the 76th Cannes Film Festival held in Cannes, southern France, Lee Sun-kyun met world filmmakers with a total of two films. During the day, 'Sleep' (director Jae-sun Yoo) was screened, and at midnight on the same day, the movie 'Escape: PROJECT SILENCE' (director Tae-gon Kim, hereinafter referred to as 'Escape') was screened. It is unusual for an actor to meet the audience with two films on the same day at the Cannes Film Festival.

'Sleep', which was released during the day, is about the happy newlyweds Hyun-soo (Lee Sun-kyun) and Su-jin (Jung Yu-mi) who are struggling to unravel the secret of the husband Hyun-soo's abnormal behavior during sleep and the terrible fear that begins the moment he falls asleep. It is a film that tells a story. In this film, Lee Seon-gyun plays Hyeon-soo, a husband who terrorizes his wife Su-jin due to severe sleep disorders.

Director Yoo Jae-seon's first feature film, this film shares unexpectedly hidden comical elements with maximized horror with director Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite'. Director Yoo has a long experience of Bong's assistant director days, so we can see a shared sentiment.

'Escape', which was screened at midnight in the middle of the night, depicts the story of people who are isolated on the Gonghang Bridge in danger of collapsing in thick fog, who struggle to the extreme to survive a series of unexpected disasters. Lee Sun-kyun, who plays the role of Jeong Won, an administrator at the Blue House Security Office, showed off his struggle to save citizens in danger.

In particular, 'Escape' received a standing ovation for nearly 5 minutes immediately after screening. Even at 2:30 in the morning, the audience cheered for the cinematic quality with enthusiastic applause. Thierry Fremo, executive director of the festival, said, “It is very encouraging that the audience can watch the movie with interest until 2:30 in the morning.”

In addition to being invited to two unusual films, Lee Sun-kyun enjoyed the festival of glory at the Cannes Film Festival accompanied by his wife, actress Jeon Hye-jin, and their two sons, Yiru-gun. Jeon Hye-jin and her two sons shared the joy of stepping on the red carpet with Lee Sun-gyun. Lee Seon-kyun showed extraordinary family love by talking about Jeon Hye-jin and his two sons on variety shows, so he must have shown his two sons a proud father as an actor. It seems that attending the Cannes Film Festival was an unforgettable memory and good learning for the two sons of actor parents.

Lee Seon-kyun said at the preview held after the screening of 'Escape', "I was relieved to hear that the children did not fall asleep and watched the movie with a sense of immersion until the end and had so much fun."

Through this Cannes Film Festival, Lee Sun-gyun reached the pinnacle of his life as an actor receiving the world's attention and standing tall as a respected father to his two sons. No matter how elegant the red carpet dress of Black Pink Jennie, who has a global fandom, no matter how elegant Song Joong-ki's fourth finger was with his wife Katie's wedding ring, Lee Sun-kyun would be the happiest actor at this Cannes Film Festival.

Meanwhile, a total of seven Korean films were invited to the Cannes Film Festival this year. 'Fire' (director Kim Chang-hoon) in 'Notable Gaze', 'Spider's Nest' (director Kim Ji-woon) in Non-Competition, 'Escape: PROJECT SILENCE' in Midnight Screening, 'Sleep' in Critics' Week, 'We' in Director's Week's Closing Film '(director Hong Sang-soo) has risen. In the La Cinef (Cine Foundation) category, 'Brothers of the Lee Family' (Jeongmi Seo, Department of Film, Film and Video School, Korea National University of Arts) and 'Hall' (Haein Hwang, Korean Film Academy) were selected.

It opened on the 16th and will be held until the 27th. The opening film is 'Jean du Barry' (directed by Maiwen), and the closing film is 'Elemental' (directed by Peter Sohn).

Jiye Choi, staff reporter at TenAsia wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr