The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Garbage collector mistakes sex doll for corpse

  • 3

    Netflix announces password sharing crackdown in Korea

  • 5

    Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone

  • 7

    Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers

  • 9

    4 South Korean activists arrested for executing orders from Pyongyang

  • 11

    Japanese comic series 'Slam Dunk' enjoys resurgence on back of animated film

  • 13

    President pledges support for Korean chipmakers to overcome crisis

  • 15

    Income gap widening among workers

  • 17

    China imposes mandatory virus tests for arrivals from Korea only in latest protest over curbs

  • 19

    Space industry takes off in South Jeolla Province

  • 2

    Free subway rides for elderly emerge as headache for Seoul mayor

  • 4

    Korea seeks measures to better protect foreign workers

  • 6

    Retailers return to Myeong-dong as more foreign tourists visit

  • 8

    Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy

  • 10

    Is non-consensual sex not rape?

  • 12

    ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views

  • 14

    $120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing

  • 16

    Korea's presidential couple celebrates recovery of Cambodian boy who received heart surgery

  • 18

    Retired actress Shim Eun-ha denies rumor of return

  • 20

    INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Fri, February 3, 2023 | 08:40
Films
Auteur Park Chan-wook proves Korean cinema's global appeal again
Posted : 2022-05-29 15:31
Updated : 2022-05-29 16:18
Park Han-sol
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Director Park Chan-wook poses on stage after notching the Best Director award for his romance noir 'Decision to Leave' during the closing ceremony of the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, Saturday. EPA-Yonhap
Director Park Chan-wook poses on stage after notching the Best Director award for his romance noir "Decision to Leave" during the closing ceremony of the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, Saturday. EPA-Yonhap

Park becomes 2nd Korean filmmaker to clinch Best Director at Cannes

By Park Han-sol

Six years after the erotic psychological thriller "The Handmaiden" with a feminist edge premiered at Cannes Film Festival in France, filmmaker Park Chan-wook has returned with the romance noir "Decision to Leave" that earned him the Best Director prize on Saturday (local time).

With his latest win, he became the second Korean auteur ever to clinch the honor at Cannes, after Im Kwon-taek for the 2002 historical drama "Chihwaseon."

This also marks the director's third prize awarded at the prestigious film festival, following the Grand Prix for the 2003 neo-noir thriller "Oldboy" and the Jury Prize for the 2009 horror drama "Thirst."

During his acceptance speech in the Grand Lumiere Theater at the awards ceremony for the 75th edition of the festival, the 58-year-old highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been a universal source of fear and anxiety for the last two years, also became an opportunity for the world to realize the importance and value of cinema.

"The film industry was suddenly met with an era marked by empty theaters. But this was also a chance for all of us to recognize how precious these movie houses are," he said. "Just like how we have hope and power to overcome this disease, I believe that we cineastes can defend theaters and films for good."

Korean films make splash at Cannes Film Festival
Korean films make splash at Cannes Film Festival
2022-05-27 14:22  |  Films

He went on to express gratitude to his two main actors, Park Hae-il and Tang Wei, adding, "Above all things, my love for the two is indescribable."

Director Park Chan-wook poses on stage after notching the Best Director award for his romance noir 'Decision to Leave' during the closing ceremony of the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, Saturday. EPA-Yonhap
Director Park Chan-wook, center, poses with his leading actors ― Tang Wei, left, and Park Hae-il ― at the screening of "Decision to Leave" at the Cannes Film Festival, May 23. Reuters-Yonhap

"Decision to Leave," starring Park as Hae-joon and Tang as Seo-rae, follows an insomniac Korean police detective on a chase after an enigmatic and mesmerizing widow ― a Chinese immigrant who is suspected of murdering her husband.

The film is born from the marriage of filmmaker Park's two longtime interests ― fictional police detective Martin Beck from the 10-part Swedish novel series "The Story of a Crime," written by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo, and the 1967 Korean pop song "Mist."

"I wanted to make a crime movie featuring a thoughtful and polite detective as the main character (like Beck). And I also wished to create a romance flick using the classic Korean pop song, 'Mist.' The film you watched is a combination of the two," he said during a press conference held after the festival's closing ceremony.

On the historic, simultaneous wins of two Korean films ― "Decision to Leave" and Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's Korean debut "Broker" for Best Actor ― at Cannes this year, Park added that such cinematic collaborations taking place in East Asia are meaningful.

"While my film stars Chinese actress Tang, 'Broker' (with an all-Korean cast and dialogue) is directed and written by a Japanese filmmaker," he said. "It's meaningful that such exchanges of human resources and capital are taking place in Asia … And I feel proud to see that Korea can be at the center of that."

Director Park Chan-wook poses on stage after notching the Best Director award for his romance noir 'Decision to Leave' during the closing ceremony of the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, Saturday. EPA-Yonhap
A scene from Park's neo-noir thriller "Oldboy" (2003) / Courtesy of Show East

Since his 1992 directorial debut "The Moon is… the Sun's Dream," Park has been the stylish mastermind behind some of the most iconic titles that put Korean cinema on the map. These include the 2000 mystery thriller "Joint Security Area" and the so-called "The Vengeance Trilogy" in the 2000s, made up of "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance," "Oldboy" and "Lady Vengeance."

In recent years, he has also ventured into projects outside of the silver screen, such as the 2018 British spy thriller television series "The Little Drummer Girl" and the 2022 short martial arts fantasy "Life is But a Dream," shot entirely on an iPhone.

Director Park Chan-wook poses on stage after notching the Best Director award for his romance noir 'Decision to Leave' during the closing ceremony of the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, Saturday. EPA-Yonhap
A scene from Park's psychological thriller "The Handmaiden" (2016) / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Emailhansolp@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone
2Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers
3[INTERVIEW] A touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene
4Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South KoreaPyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea
5Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons
6Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated peoplePolice to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people
7[INTERVIEW] US-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society INTERVIEWUS-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society
8[INTERVIEW] IMF expects no recession for Korean economyINTERVIEWIMF expects no recession for Korean economy
9[INTERVIEW] 'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula'INTERVIEW'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula'
10Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy
2ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views
3$120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing $120,000 banana, praying Hitler: Infamous art world prankster Maurizio Cattelan's first Seoul outing
4PULL UP: VIVIZ returns with new song about gossipers PULL UP: VIVIZ returns with new song about gossipers
5Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth' Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group