Director Hong Sang-soo's 34th feature film, 'The Day She Returned', premiered at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, capturing the attention of the global film community. With this invitation, Director Hong has set a remarkable record of seven consecutive entries into Berlin.
On the 18th (local time), at the official screening in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival, Director Hong Sang-soo engaged directly with the audience. The new film 'The Day She Returned' is a black-and-white film depicting a day in the life of actor Bae Jung-soo, receiving high praise from local critics for its deep aesthetic and emotional resonance characteristic of Director Hong.
Notably, the name that drew the most attention in the credits of this work is Kim Min-hee. While actors from the 'Hong Sang-soo troupe' such as Song Sun-mi, Jo Yoon-hee, and Kwon Hae-hyo participated in a strong acting ensemble, Kim Min-hee contributed to enhancing the film's quality by participating as a 'Production Manager' rather than as an actor.
In a post-screening audience talk (GV), Director Hong Sang-soo revealed his firm film philosophy. He stated, "To endure a tedious and lengthy production process, one usually needs motivations like fame or money, but I have almost none of those motivations." He continued, "I make films in a way similar to that of a painter whose subject exists first," expressing his belief that "shooting a film with the purpose of conveying a specific message or generating profit is too boring."
Meanwhile, the Panorama section, where 'The Day She Returned' was invited, is a program that showcases works with original forms and intense narratives. Director Hong Sang-soo has once again proven to be a beloved director in Berlin, receiving consecutive invitations with this new work following 'The Woman Who Ran', 'Introduction', 'The Novelist's Film', and 'In the Fog'. The film is scheduled for domestic release in the first half of this year.
