[Here is KAN] 'Hunt' Lee Jung-jae, The Actor We Knew Is No More [SleCine]

[Lee Isul's Wise Cine Review]

75th Cannes Film Festival On Site
Lee Jung-jae's Directorial Debut 'Hunt' Revealed
Sensory Mise-en-Sc?ne & Precise Action
Set in the 1980s, How Will It Resonate?
'Love for Cinema' Shining at Cannes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Cannes (France) = Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Who would have thought this day would come? It is surprising enough that a domestic actor is making his directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival, but an extraordinary scene unfolded with a line stretching all the way to the end. The pride of the content powerhouse country surged endlessly at Cannes. It was not just the actor's popularity. The tremendous influence of K-culture was beyond what we knew.

People flocked early to see Lee Jung-jae's directorial debut, Hunt. On the 20th at midnight (local time), the premiere screening of Hunt, invited to the Midnight Screening section, was held at the Lumi?re Theater. Domestic and international attention was focused on 'JJ LEE.' The long line of people waiting early to see his film showed the global interest in him.

When Lee Jung-jae and actor Jung Woo-sung appeared on site, all eyes were on them. The Hunt team, including producer Han Jae-deok of Sanai Pictures, passed the red carpet and entered the Lumi?re Theater. Lee Jung-jae, with a somewhat flushed face, greeted the audience before taking his seat, and then the lights went off and on as the film began. At the start, applause filled the room with respect and encouragement.

"Accuse him of being a North Korean spy!" The released Hunt centers on Park Pyung-ho (played by Lee Jung-jae) of the overseas team of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency and Kim Jung-do (played by Jung Woo-sung) of the domestic team, whose major operations fail due to a spy within the organization, leading to a psychological battle. They begin a spy hunt operation, but when top-secret information is leaked through the spy, they face a crisis. Mutual suspicion deepens as they keep each other in check. A subtle tension flows between Park Pyung-ho and Kim Jung-do.

Hunt is a fiction that adds cinematic imagination to real events. After watching the film, viewers recall historical events and real figures. Set in the 1980s, it evokes quite specific names and faces swept up in the era's turmoil.

Above all, the highlight of the film is the deliberately crafted stylish action. The shooting scenes are heavily featured, and the brisk exchanges of action are impressive. The mise-en-sc?ne, deeply imbued with a strong noir tone, adds to the film's lingering impact. The fast-paced scene transitions are very sensory and commercially striking. Depending on the viewer, it might be somewhat challenging or overwhelming in speed, but it clearly shows meticulous effort.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Actress Jeon Hye-jin delivers an indispensable and impressive performance. Additionally, the 'New World' family members Hwang Jung-min and Park Sung-woong appear, drawing attention, and a dazzling lineup of cameos including Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Nam-gil, Lee Sung-min, Yoo Jae-myung, Jo Woo-jin, and Jung Man-sik provide another layer of entertainment. Domestic audiences might burst into laughter seeing top actors appear in minor roles.

However, since the film is grounded in Korea's historical background, the harsh era, and the painful military dictatorship, it might have been somewhat difficult for overseas audiences to fully understand. Nevertheless, even setting that aside, the film holds significant genre weight as an action and spy thriller, making it worth watching as an entertainment movie. Lee Jung-jae wrote the screenplay himself. The bold development and effort typical of a newcomer stand out.

Director Lee Jung-jae personally wrote a spoiler letter asking viewers to avoid mentioning the twists and developments in the latter part of the film. After watching, one understands the reason behind this request. The right to watch without knowing key details should be respected for prospective viewers. This is the best way for audiences to fully enjoy Hunt.

After the screening, the director, cutting through the applause, said, "I hope you enjoyed the film. Thank you," with a trembling hand holding the microphone, burdened by the pressure of presenting his first film.

Fran?ois Truffaut, a key figure of the French Nouvelle Vague and one of history's representative cinephiles, said, "The first way to love a film is to watch the same film twice, the second is to write a film review, and the third is to make a film." Congratulations to Lee Jung-jae, who achieved the third way of loving film, and fulfilled his dream at Cannes.

From now on, the Lee Jung-jae we knew as an actor no longer exists. There is only Lee Jung-jae, the director and actor who loves cinema.

Cannes (France) = Reporter Lee Isul