Jo In-sung was said to be unable to act due to knee surgery... Na Hong-jin: "We tricked and lured them to film well" [Cannes ★ On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Director Na Hong-jin expressed gratitude for the actors' action performances as his new film "Hope," released after 10 years, made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

On the afternoon of the 18th, an official press conference for the film "Hope," a competition entry at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, was held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, southern France. Attendees included director Na Hong-jin, actors Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell.

"Hope" is a story that begins with "Beom-seok," the head of the Pohang outpost located in the demilitarized zone, who learns from local youths that a tiger has appeared, plunging the entire village into alarm as he encounters an unbelievable reality. This is the first film from director Na Hong-jin since "The Wailing" in 10 years. "Hope" premiered at the Grand Lumière Theater on the 17th and received a standing ovation lasting approximately seven minutes after the screening.

When asked about the film's action sequences, director Na Hong-jin stated, "I wanted the film to be primitive, not modern. I wanted action that felt traditional, as if seen long ago. Although this is a creature film made with CG, I wanted to capture the actors' action performances in the scenes, which seemed incongruous. To achieve this, the actors needed to deliver high-difficulty performances. Their action sequences also had to involve significant risk. I managed to persuade and even trick and lure the actors to film it this way."

Director Na Hong-jin explained, "In fact, when filming the scene of running through the forest, Jo In-sung had recently undergone knee surgery. Even though we had already agreed to work together, he said, 'I'm sorry, but I don't think I can run.' So I told him, 'You probably won't have to run.' Yet, in 'Hope,' Jo In-sung is seen running nonstop."

When asked if he found the filming of "Hope" physically demanding, Jo In-sung replied, "It may have felt like a difficult shoot, but creating something new requires courage, so I summoned it. The script was filled with the desire of a filmmaker who wanted to show a new vision. More than the physical hardship, the emotional state was harder. I focused on how to convey this fear and how to express the human desire to survive in a way that resonates with the audience."

Meanwhile, the Cannes Film Festival will announce the winners among this year's competition entries at the closing ceremony on the 23rd. Attention is focused on whether director Na Hong-jin's new science fiction film "Hope" will be honored with an award at the festival's closing ceremony.

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*This content was translated by AI.