[Here is Cannes] Park Chan-wook and Song Kang-ho Visit Press Room: "K-Movie's Driving Force is Endless Challenge"

75th Cannes Film Festival On-site
Park Chan-wook and Song Kang-ho First Double Winners
Korean Films Shine at Cannes

Photo by Lee Isul

[Cannes (France) = Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] The status of Korean cinema shone brightly at Cannes. Longtime film comrades Director Park Chan-wook and actor Song Kang-ho made history again three years after 'Parasite' by winning the Best Director and Best Actor awards respectively at the Cannes Film Festival. This is the first time that two films invited to the competition section both received main awards.

Director Park Chan-wook celebrated his award with Korean reporters in the press room at the Palais des Festivals at 11 p.m. on the 28th (local time), shortly after winning the Best Director award at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, saying, "If Song Kang-ho and I had come to Cannes with the same film, it would have been difficult to win together."

On the same day at 8:30 p.m., Park received the Best Director award for Decision to Leave at the closing ceremony held at the Lumi?re Theater in Cannes, and Song Kang-ho won the Best Actor award for Broker (directed by Koreeda Hirokazu), becoming the first male actor to receive the Best Actor award. It was a remarkable achievement that both Korean films invited to the competition section won main awards.

After the closing ceremony, the two held golden trophies in their hands when they visited the press room. Although smiles never left their faces, they remained humble.

Song Kang-ho said, "When I stood up from my seat, Director Park Chan-wook ran over and hugged me, and that moment was truly moving." In response, Director Park said, "As you all saw, I found myself running across the hallway without realizing it. He has appeared in many great films over the years, and the time has finally come," sharing congratulations.

The significance of two Korean films sweeping the main awards is also special. Director Park said, "My film Decision to Leave features a Chinese actress (Tang Wei), and Broker was written and directed by a Japanese director," adding, "The exchange of human resources and capital in Asia is meaningful. I have seen many European countries collaborate to make great films, and I am proud that Korea is at the center of this. I hope such exchanges become more active and lead to more films."

Photo by CJ ENM

Song Kang-ho, the first male actor to receive the acting award, said, "I cannot act just to win awards," adding, "I constantly challenge myself with good works, get invited to top film festivals, and receive awards as encouragement. That is the process. I do not consider it an absolute value. I am happy and honored, but it is not my goal."

Seeing Director Park Chan-wook and Song Kang-ho standing side by side brought to mind Thirst (2009). When asked if they would meet again in the same work, Song Kang-ho replied, "It's been quite a long time since Thirst," and Director Park joked, "Please just don't refuse. Give me some time," with a smile.

Right after winning, Director Park attracted attention with a meaningful acceptance speech for the film industry, which has been stagnant since the pandemic. He said, "I realized that movie theaters are precious places," and added, "Just as we have hope and strength to overcome this disease, I believe that we filmmakers will protect movie theaters and keep films alive forever."

Regarding this, Director Park said, "After staying away from movie theaters for a while and then returning, I felt a shock. I had taken it for granted, but then I thought, 'Ah, this is what cinema really is.' It gave me a sense of mission. I don't know how you watched Decision to Leave, but I felt a strong desire to make a film that deeply goes into the very basics of what a film can be."

This year at Cannes, K-movies and K-content shone brighter than ever. Korean cinema, which seemed to have peaked with Parasite, continues to rise. Song Kang-ho said, "Foreign reporters I met locally asked me why Korean culture is dynamic, diverse, and excites audiences worldwide. I said that we are always changing, working hard, and that without being dynamic, we cannot develop. It's not competition, but a constant effort to challenge and change, which influences cultural content. It is an environment where we must never be complacent."

"Korean audiences are not easily satisfied. (laughs) They are not content with just crime thrillers or comedies or single genres. They always demand that our lives be depicted comprehensively. They want laughter, horror, and emotion all in genre films. I think we've been through a lot, so it turned out that way. Haha."(Park Chan-wook)

Photo by CJ ENM

Song Kang-ho emphasized that nothing has changed before and after receiving the award. He said, "The effort to work with good directors who tell good stories and to convey new stories will remain unchanged."

"I think it is meaningless to see acting as having to take a certain form or position. There are various ways to move people emotionally, and I believe that is recognized and can lead to awards. In the future, I will not choose films based on any particular form or position. In that sense, actors should be liberated and free. That is a very important point."(Song Kang-ho)

Cannes (France) = Reporter Lee Isul