Director Hong Sang-soo's new film "What Does the Nature Say to You" has been selected for the competition section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, and attention is focused on whether he will attend with Kim Min-hee, who is currently pregnant.
The Berlin International Film Festival will open on the 13th (local time), and the attendance of director Hong Sang-soo, production manager Kim Min-hee, and the lead actors remains uncertain.
"What Does the Nature Say to You" (Jeonwonsa) stated the day before (12th) in response to inquiries about the attendance of director Hong Sang-soo, production manager Kim Min-hee, and the lead actors, "We cannot answer." They are only able to provide information related to the work, while remaining tight-lipped about the basic schedule and the attendance of the director, actors, and production team. They are only distributing promotional materials unilaterally.
As Hong Sang-soo's 33rd feature film "What Does the Nature Say to You" is competing this year, it seems likely that director Hong will attend. However, the attendance of the heavily pregnant Kim Min-hee remains uncertain.
The film will have its premiere on the 20th locally.
Previously, director Hong entered the Berlin stage with his debut film "The Day a Pig Fell into the Well" in 1997 and has screened a total of 12 works at this film festival. Since 2020, he has been invited for six consecutive years and has received honors for "Alone on the Night Beach" (Best Actress for Kim Min-hee), "The Woman Who Ran" (Best Director), "Introduction" (Best Screenplay), and "The Novelist's Film" and "The Need for Travelers" (Jury Prize).
Meanwhile, seven Korean films have been invited to this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
Among them, director Bong Joon-ho's Hollywood sci-fi film "Mickey 17" is undoubtedly the most talked-about work. It has been 11 years since Bong's film was screened in Berlin, following "Snowpiercer" (Forum section) in 2014. "Mickey 17" has been invited to the non-competitive section, Berlinale Special Gala, and will be screened on the 15th.
Although it is not in the competition section, this is the work that Bong is presenting as his next project after sweeping the American Academy Awards (Oscars) with "Parasite" (2019), and it is receiving more attention than the invited works in the competition section, as top star Robert Pattinson plays the lead role.
Director Min Kyu-dong's "The Breakup" invited to the Berlin Special section will meet the audience on the 16th. Lee Hye-young transforms into a 60-year-old killer being chased by a young male killer (played by Kim Sung-cheol), marking the first invitation in 40 years since being invited for director Ha Myung-jung's "The Scorching Sun" (1985).
Director Kang Mi-ja's "Spring Night," starring Han Ye-ri, and director Kim Mu-young's documentary "The Sensation of Violence" have been invited to the Forum section. Director Lee Jang-wook's "Changyeong" and director Cha Jae-min's "Photosynthesis of Death" have advanced to the Forum Expanded section.
