ED Another cinematic feat

Director Hong Sang-soo's win makes Koreans proud

Director Hong Sang-soo won the best director award at the Berlin International Film Festival for his latest film, “The Woman Who Ran,” Saturday.

This is another achievement for Korean cinema after Bong Joon-ho's “Parasite” won four Oscars, including Best Picture Award, last month.

Hong's win represents growing recognition of Korean pop culture around the world. Of course, it would not have been possible without his talent and efforts to share his movie with a global audience. Before this, Hong had competed for a prize at the Berlin festival with “Night And Day” in 2008, “Nobody's Daughter Haewon” in 2013 and “On the Beach at Night Alone” in 2017. Actress Kim Min-hee, known as Hong's lover, was awarded best actress for her role in “On the Beach at Night Alone” in 2017, and also starred in “The Woman Who Ran.”

“The Woman Who Ran” is about a young woman who finds new ways of seeing the world after meeting three old female acquaintances for three days while her husband is on a business trip. There are certain elements that are commonly found in Hong's films, and this is no exception. Hong rarely prepares scripts, and changes the storyline frequently while on set. At the award ceremony, Hong introduced Kim and other Korean actresses who played major roles in the film to the audience, receiving a round of applause.

Hong is the second South Korean filmmaker to earn the best director award at this festival, following Kim Ki-duk for “Samaritan Girl” in 2004. If “Parasite” has opened the era of Bong Joon-ho, “The Woman Who Ran” will expand Hong's fandom. They are two of the most talented filmmakers of this time, and their recent achievements make Koreans proud.