Yoon Ga-eun's 'The World of Love' heads to Tokyo Filmex competition

Actor Seo Su-bin in a scene from “The World of Love” / Courtesy of Barunson E&A

Director Yoon Ga-eun’s new feature “The World of Love” was officially invited to the competition section of Japan’s leading indie movie festival Tokyo Filmex, following a series of invitations and awards at major international film festivals.

The film's invitation to the festival follows its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and notable wins including the Roberto Rossellini Jury Award and Audience Award at the Pingyao International Film Festival and the Fipresci Prize at the Warsaw International Film Festival.

"The World of Love" delves into the turbulent inner life of 18-year-old high school student Lee Joo-in (Seo Su-bin), who appears charming and sure of herself, hiding a painful history.

Her world is disrupted when a classmate starts a petition to protest the return of a notorious child sex offender to their neighborhood. While every student signs without hesitation, Joo-in solely refuses to sign.

This leads to a tense confrontation and she soon begins receiving mysterious notes. The film explores complex social and emotional issues, arguing that healing comes from acknowledgment, not hiding the pain.

A poster for the movie "The World of Love" / Courtesy of Barunson E&A

The Tokyo Filmex, held annually in November, began in 2000 under the initiative of Office Kitano, founded by world-renowned filmmaker, actor and comedian Takeshi Kitano. The festival spotlights Asian films that emphasize diversity. It has previously showcased films by acclaimed Korean directors like Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook and Hong Sang-soo.

"The World of Love" will compete for the Grand Prize, Special Jury Prize, Audience Award and Student Jury Prize against nine other internationally acclaimed films, including “Left-Handed Girl,” produced by Sean Baker, best known for directing the award-winning movie "Anora."

This is director Yoon’s second visit to Tokyo Filmex, following her acclaimed film "The World of Us" (2016), winner of the Audience Award and a Special Mention.

Kamiya Naoki, director of programming of the Japanese film festival, highly praised the film for its depth.

“'The World of Love' is an intense human drama that profoundly delves into the complex emotional world of its characters, delicately portraying how the adolescent girl Joo-in bravely steps forward as the master of her own story. Yoon avoids cliches and uses an observational style to capture emotions and create a deeply profound film.”

Adding to its international reach, "The World of Love" has secured Japanese distribution and is currently screening in theaters in Korea.