Hong Sang-soo's 'Our Day' selected as the closing film of the Director's Week

Director Hong Sang-soo's new film 'Our Day' was selected as the closing film of the Director's Week of the 76th Cannes International Film Festival.

On the 18th (local time), the Cannes International Film Festival Directors' Week Executive Committee announced, "Director Hong Sang-soo's 'Our Day' has been officially invited as the closing film of the 76th Cannes International Film Festival."

Cannes Director's Week is a new category first established in 1969 by the French Directors' Association to introduce films that are different from the existing Cannes Film Festival program. So far, the selection trend has been to focus on discovering modern, outstanding, visionary, progressive and innovative films.

Julien Rejl, Chairman of the Cannes Directors' Week Executive Committee, said, "I have just seen Director Hong Sang-soo's film. I can see how he is increasing the power of simplicity and minimalism. Within the rooms of two apartments, the film naturally deals with all the pleasures of life." said.

He continued, "It was really beautiful to see Kim Min-hee talk about how she became a true actress. Director Hong Sang-soo shows clarity in the parallel editing between the two characters as they talk about life lessons. This is a very humble way of asking questions about yourself. "It's a method. I love the last shot of the movie. I was very moved. Director Hong Sang-soo is one of the greatest modern film directors," he added.

Director Hong Sang-soo's 'The Power of Gangwon-do' (1988, Un Certain Regard) and 'Oh! Edit' (2000, Un Certain Regard) 'Women are the future of men' (2004, competition section) 'Theater Exhibition' (2005, competition section) 'Without Knowing' (2008, Director's Weekly) 'Hahaha' ( 2010, Un Certain Regard Award) ‘Bukchon Direction’ (2011, Un Certain Regard) ‘In Another Country’ (2012, Competition Category) ‘Claire’s Camera’ (2017, Special Screening) ‘After’ (2017, Competition Category) Following ‘In Front of Your Face’ (2021, Cannes Premiere), it was officially invited to the Cannes Film Festival for the 12th time in total.

Ki Joo-bong, Kim Min-hee, Song Seon-mi, Park Mi-so, Ha Seong-guk, and Kim Seung-yoon appeared in ‘Our Day’. In particular, Kim Min-hee was named as the production director. Director Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee are only attending overseas film festivals. Accordingly, attention is being paid to whether it will appear at the 76th Cannes International Film Festival.

Meanwhile, Cannes Director's Week runs from May 17th to May 26th. 'Our Day' will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and then be released domestically in the second half of this year.

Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr