"Movies to Boost the 'K-Wave'": Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' Receives 2.8 Rating on Screen Daily at Cannes, Ranking in the Top Tier [Cannes★Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Hope,' directed by Na Hong-jin, has been unveiled at the 79th Cannes Film Festival and is receiving a strong response, currently holding the third-highest rating among the 22nd competition entries with a score of 2.8 from a local daily publication.

'Hope' tells the story of '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 confronts an unbelievable reality.

'Hope,' Na Hong-jin's first film in 10 years since 'The Wailing,' premiered worldwide at the Lumière Grand Theatre on the 17th and was met with standing ovations lasting approximately seven minutes after the screening. While a thriller and action film, 'Hope' also captivated audiences worldwide as a science fiction movie featuring extraterrestrials.

According to Screen Daily on the 19th (local time), 'Hope' is currently rated 2.8 out of 4. The highest-rated film so far is 'Fatherland' by director Pavel Pavlikovský of Poland, which received 3.3 points, followed by 'All of Us Suddenly' by director Ryusuke Hamaguchi in second place with 3.1 points. Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' is tied for third place alongside James Gray's 'Paper Tiger.'

With scores for nine of the 22nd competition entries still pending, 'Hope' is already showing a top-tier rating.

While Screen Daily's ratings are not a direct indicator of awards at the Cannes Film Festival, they serve as a gauge for audience reaction and atmosphere. The Cannes Film Festival awards are ultimately decided by the festival's jury after viewing all films. This year's Cannes Film Festival jury is led by director Park Chan-wook and consists of nine members in total.

Since its release, 'Hope' has drawn intense attention, prompting mixed reviews from foreign media outlets. The American publication The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, stating, "It woke up the sleeping Cannes Film Festival," and added, "It received the longest standing ovation among all competition entries."

The British Guardian noted, "While reactions to the film may be divided," it also evaluated, "This is an outstanding entertainment film capable of further intensifying the global K-wave."

French Vogue named 'Hope' the most anticipated film of the Cannes Film Festival, commenting, "'Hope' demonstrates how blurred the line between art-house cinema and blockbusters can become."

Among the art-house-focused competition entries at Cannes, 'Hope' is garnering even greater attention for its bold approach, mass appeal, and entertainment value.

Meanwhile, the closing ceremony announcing the winners of the Cannes Film Festival jury will be held on the 23rd.

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*This content was translated by AI.