‘Hope’ Opens in France; Local Press Hails It as a “Shocking Blend of Aesthetics and Spectacle” [K-EYES]

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Highest opening revenue among Korean films released in France this year… Ranked No. 2 on Paris Box Office for the Weekend

“The direction is fearless, and the special effects are insane.”

Director Na Hong-jin’s film ‘Hope’ has officially opened in France, earning praise from local media.

‘Hope’ was released in France on the 28th of last month (local time). Opening across 192 screens nationwide, it recorded $800,000 in opening revenue on its first day, the highest among Korean films released locally this year. On the release weekend, the 31st of last month, it climbed to No. 2 on the box office in Paris, a core market accounting for 31% of France’s total box office revenue. In Belgium, where ‘Hope’ opened on 38 screens, it recorded approximately $64,000 in opening revenue.

According to AlloCiné, France’s largest film information site, ‘Hope’ received a score of 4.1 out of 5 based on 36 critic reviews. The audience score stands at 3.4, with participation from over 1,250 viewers. This highlights a clear temperature gap between critics and audiences.

‘Hope’ is an SF action film that begins when the carcass of a cow, seemingly attacked by a predator, is discovered in a small port town near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It stars Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, alongside Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. It is Director Na Hong-jin’s new work, his first in 10 years since ‘The Wailing,’ and was invited to the competition section of this year’s Cannes International Film Festival. The film was released domestically in July last month.

Local critics praised Director Na Hong-jin’s direction. French film media Le Mag du Cinéma gave it a score of 4 out of 5, stating, “Na Hong-jin shoots action with unmatched skill that would make even Michael Bay look pale.” It added, “The direction is fearless and the special effects are insane,” noting, “It is less about narrative and more about the shock of aesthetics and spectacle, but it is a shock nonetheless.” However, it also expressed regret, saying, “The script is simple or overly referential,” and “The CG shows in scenes where they get close to the alien creature.”

The actors’ performances also received praise. Cultural media CultureMag Bother gave it a score of 8 out of 10, describing Hwang Jung-min, who plays Police Chief Beom-seok, as “hilarious.” It evaluated Jo In-sung as “excellent” and Jung Ho-yeon as “delivering exactly what is needed,” adding, “You instantly connect with the characters.” Director Na Hong-jin himself had previously credited the cast during a press conference at Cannes, saying in response to questions about technical achievements, “This film was made by the actors. It could not have been made without them.”

France Info, the news site of French public broadcaster France Télévisions, published a review titled, “Na Hong-jin turns our heads upside down with an alien farce-style action film.” The outlet stated, “The director, returning after 10 years, has landed a strong punch with an SF thriller full of energy and irony,” adding, “Chase scenes involving cars, on foot, in vans, and on horseback through cities, country roads, and forests continue almost non-stop for two hours and 40 minutes.”

It further described the film as “extremely aesthetic yet grand,” noting that it “added a completely twisted atmosphere to the film with quirky dialogue reminiscent of children playing scary games.” However, it added a caveat: “If you lose interest in a story where it is hard to understand why the aliens came, you eventually want to get off the ride.”

There was also harsh criticism. Cultural media CultureThéa pointed out that “the initial adrenaline shot no longer works,” stating that it is “far from the slow, anxious hell depicted in Director Na Hong-jin’s previous work, ‘The Wailing.’”

Audience reactions are even more polarized. AlloCiné audience reviews included high praise such as, “It is insanely crazy, and that is exactly why I can recognize and praise this film,” “The tension, stress, and madness are enormous,” and “This will be my favorite film of the month.” On the other hand, one viewer gave it 0.5 points, saying, “Newton would roll over in his grave.” In between these extremes, a review described it as a “creative B-movie, occasionally excessive.”

Expectations for a sequel are also growing. According to France Info, Director Na Hong-jin stated, “I want to make a sequel.” French media GeeksLand reported that the director had previously revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he conceived ‘Hope’ as a story requiring “at least one sequel, perhaps three films.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original