Director Hong Sang-soo took home the coveted Golden Leopard on Aug. 15 for his latest film, “Right Now, Wrong Then.” Hong is now the second Korean director to be honored with the prestigious award after director Bae Yong-kyun won for “Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?” in 1989.
Director Hong Sang-soo holds up his Golden Leopard on Aug. 15 at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.
The male lead in Hong’s film, Jung Jae-young, also took the prize for Best Actor. This is the first time in the festival’s 70-year history that the Best Actor prize went to a Korean actor.
The Locarno International Film Festival, launched in 1946, is considered one of the most representative film festivals in Europe, along with the well-known international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes and Venice.
Director Hong Sang-soo (left) is awarded the Golden Leopard for his latest film, ‘Right Now, Wrong Then,’ on Aug. 15 at the Locarno International Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland.
Director Hong Sang-soo (left) poses for a photo with female lead Kim Min-hee who starred in his Golden Leopard-winning film ‘Right Now, Wrong Then’ at an award ceremony during the Locarno International Film Festival.
“Right Now, Wrong Then” tells the story of director Ham Chun-soo, played by Jung Jae-young, and painter Yoon Hee-jeong, performed by Kim Min-hee, who meet up over the course of a day. Ham travels to Suwon in Gyeonggi-do Province to give a lecture one day early by mistake. There, he meets local artist Yoon. Enjoying a long conversation over dinner, a bond slowly builds between them. As Ham tells her that he has been married, Yoon feels a sort of disappointment toward the filmmaker.
As has already been unveiled in his previous productions, Hong is adept at bringing to light the essential structure of a male-female relationship.
Scenes from Hong’s award-winning film ‘Right Now, Wrong Then.’ With this film, actor Jung Jae-young (pictured top, bottom right) took the prize for Best Actor at the Locarno International Film Festival.
“I am very happy. Winning this prize means more help and better exposure, or so I hope,” Hong said in an interview. “Also, it’s an encouragement to myself, to my staff and to my actors,” he added.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jongdeok, too, shared the moment of glory, sending a congratulatory letter to the director and the actor on Aug. 16.
“Winning this award means that Korean filmmakers have been firmly recognized for their artistic creativity and potential on the global scene. The win also helps Korean films expand their presence in the industry,” the minister said in his letter.
The minister went on to call for the director and the actor to, “Spare no effort in making more films whose excellence the world soon will once again recognize.”
Director Hong Sang-soo (left) and actress Kim Min-hee (right) talk with the audience after their movie ‘Right Now, Wrong Then’ was screened at the Locarno International Film Festival.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Movement
jiae5853@korea.kr