"Sophisticated Narrative and Cinematic Language, Realistic yet Intense"
Director Jeong Ju-ri's film 'Next Sohee' has been recognized for its artistic value in China as well. On the 19th, at the closing of the Pingyao International Film Festival, it received the Roberto Rossellini Best Film Award. This honor is given to works that excellently express human values. The award was established by the family of director Roberto Rossellini (1906?1977), who laid the foundation of neorealism with films such as 'Rome, Open City' (1945) and 'Paisan' (1946).
'Next Sohee' is a drama that sheds light on the deteriorating process of a spirited eighteen-year-old high school student Sohee (Kim Si-eun) during her field training, seen through the perspective of detective Yoo-jin (Bae Doo-na). Directed by Jeong, who swept various rookie director awards in 2014 with 'A Girl at My Door,' the film stars Kim Si-eun, Bae Doo-na, Shim Hee-seop, Jeong Hoe-rin, and Park Woo-young.
The Pingyao International Film Festival is a film event organized in 2017 by Chinese master director Jia Zhangke. It discovers and introduces outstanding films by young directors. The jury described 'Next Sohee' as "delving into various aspects of the social system through a single incident, portraying the predicaments people face in a quantifiable society as ordinary evil." They added, "The sophisticated narrative, restrained cinematic language, and composure are so realistic and intense that they tear at the heart," praising it as "an outstanding contemporaneity that resonates with everyone."
Director Jeong expressed, "I am deeply moved to receive an award bearing the name of Roberto Rossellini, whom I have admired since childhood." She continued, "I dedicate this honor to my one and only actor and comrade Bae Doo-na, and to Kim Si-eun, who appeared as Sohee."
'Next Sohee' has been recognized for its artistic value at major international film festivals since last year. It was screened as the closing film at the Cannes International Critics' Week and the Fantasia International Film Festival, and won three awards at the Amiens International Film Festival: Audience Award, Special Mention for Feature Film, and UPJV Student Special Mention. It also received the Jury Special Prize at the Tokyo FILMeX Film Festival. Domestically, it will be unveiled on the 8th of next month.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
