By Honorary Reporter Ishroon Nazish from Pakistan
Photos = Match Cut Inc.

"Glasses" (2025) is the first animated Korean film selected for Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival of France.

Launched in 1962, Critics' Week is known for discovering emerging talent in world cinema.

Written, directed and edited by Joung Yumi, the short film explores the themes of identity and perception through a woman who breaks her glasses and sees shadowy visions of herself during an eye exam. 

The following are excerpts from an email interview with Joung from May 29 to June 4.

On the left is the official poster for "Glasses" and on the right is the animated short's director, writer and editor Joung Yumi.

What inspired "Glasses" and how did you develop its visual style?
When I was young, I was always impressed by the small house with a red roof on the eye exam table. I wanted to tell a story about a familiar and forgotten space in my mind. "Glasses" started with that desire as I wanted to explore the way we view the world and how that view can change and expand. 

For the visual style, I built on my previous character work while finding new inspiration through collaboration with the fashion brand Kimhekim. The texture and atmosphere of Paul Thomas Anderson's "Phantom Thread" (2017) also heavily influenced the film's aesthetic.

Describe your creative and production processes.
"Glasses" began with sketching main scenes and visual motifs before moving to storyboarding. We produced the film using both pencil work and digital techniques, keeping everything intentionally simple and quiet. 

A major challenge was incorporating costumes as a core symbol of the story rather than just a background element, which led to new creative expressions. I worked with a small but skilled team, whose expertise in synthesis, sound design and post-production helped maintain the film's delicate emotional balance.

Stills from "Glasses"

How did you approach storytelling and emotional expression in the film?
Moderation was key to our approach. We simplified character designs to allow audiences to project themselves onto the story, focusing on subtle gestures rather than exaggerated movements to reveal the inner world of characters. The film relies on quiet moments and spaces between images, letting viewers find their own interpretations. This subtlety and silence in emotional expression are a distinct Korean element of storytelling that I believe resonates internationally.

What does the Critics' Week selection mean to you?
It was deeply meaningful particularly because Cannes Critics' Week has been the first step for many directors I respect. This selection encouraged our team and proved that even small and personal stories can reach far beyond their origins.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean