Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Shim Eun-kyung's 'Two Seasons, Two Strangers' wins top prize at Locarno Film Festival
Actor Shim Eun-kyung, left, poses with director Sho Miyake during a photocall for their movie "Two Seasons, Two Strangers" at the Locarno International Film Festival in Locarno, Switz., Friday. EPA-Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean actor Shim Eun-kyung's film, the Japanese production "Two Seasons, Two Strangers," won the Golden Leopard prize at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, with Shim's acceptance speech in Korean garnering attention amid the growing global influence of Korean culture.
"Two Seasons, Two Strangers" received the prestigious award at the closing ceremony of the festival in Locarno, Switzerland, Saturday (local time).
Shim attended the Independent Jury Award ceremony with director Sho Miyake and shared her thoughts.
She began her speech in Japanese, saying, "This is Shim Eun-kyung, who played the protagonist, Lee, in 'Two Seasons, Two Strangers.' I am Korean, so I would like to speak in Korean."
She then continued her speech in Korean.
"I am grateful to be part of this glorious occasion. This message may not be delivered directly, but so many people are watching from around the world that I wanted to speak in my native language," Shim said.
"This film is a very meaningful work to me and I hope it reaches even further through the Locarno Film Festival."
Founded in 1946, the Locarno Film Festival is considered one of the world's major film festivals, recognized for its emphasis on artistry and innovation. It has significantly influenced the global film industry by introducing groundbreaking works.
The film "Two Seasons, Two Strangers" is based on Yoshiharu Tsuge's acclaimed comic books.
The movie follows Lee (Shim), a scriptwriter, who meets an innkeeper named Benzo (Tsutsumi Shinichi) during her travels, and portrays a journey where ordinary and extraordinary moments intersect, set against the backdrop of a snowy winter and a summer beach.
The film has attracted attention from both the Korean and Japanese film industries as the latest work by Miyake, a notable young filmmaker from Japan. The 41-year-old has gained attention with award-winning films such as "And Your Bird Can Sing” (2018), "Small, Slow But Steady" (2022) and "All the Long Nights" (2024).
Shim, known for her breakout role in the 2011 hit movie "Sunny," has successfully built her career in both Korea and Japan. Her notable work in Japan includes the 2019 film "The Journalist," which earned her the Best Actress award at the 43rd Japan Academy Film Prize.
Following Best Actress awards in both Korea and Japan, Shim has solidified her status by becoming the first Korean actor to win the Golden Leopard at Locarno.
"Two Seasons, Two Strangers" is scheduled to be released in Korea later this year.