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Chungmuro puts in solid showing at 69th Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival has historically been friendly to Korea’s film industry, aka Chungmuro, and this year looks to continue the trend. All three of Chungmuro’s entries at the 69th Cannes Film Festival, currently underway, are meeting with strong reception and garnering positive word of mouth.

First to premiere was director Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie action thriller Train to Busan, the story of passengers on a KTX train headed to Busan to escape a zombie outbreak in Seoul and their fight for survival. The film elicited a standing ovation at its midnight screening on May 13.

“It was the best midnight screening ever,” said festival director Thierry Fremaux, adding that director Yeon Sang-ho’s next work may be seen in competition in the future.

Train to Busan stars Gong Yoo (The Suspect) as a single father, whose onscreen daughter is played by Kim Soo-ahn (Love, Lies), joined by Ma Dong-seok (Bad Guys) and Jung Yumi (Discovery of Love) as a married couple, policeman Choi Woo-shik (Ho-gu’s Love), and passenger Ahn So-hee (Heart to Heart).

Next to premiere was the latest from director Park Chan-wook, who became a Cannes-beloved filmmaker with Oldboy and Thirst. His current film Agassi (or The Handmaiden), which is in competition in the Official Selection category, was met with praise for his stylish interpretation of Sarah Waters’ Victorian crime novel Fingersmith, which depicts thieves who seduce an heiress for her fortune. Agassi’s gothic sensibility and mise-en-scène were particular points of praise.

Set in the 1930s, Agassi stars Kim Min-hee (Right Now, Wrong Then), Ha Jung-woo (Assassination), Jo Jin-woong (A Hard Day), and newcomer Kim Tae-ri.

Completing the trio is Na Hong-jin’s horror thriller The Wailing, which released in Korea this past weekend in advance of its Cannes premiere on May 18 (it screens out of competition) and saw an explosive response domestically. In its first four days, it surpassed an impressive 2 million ticket admissions, well on its way to joining the director’s previous critical and box-office hits, The Yellow Sea and The Chaser.

The Wailing tells the story of a village policeman (Kwak Do-won of The Magicians and Tazza: The Hidden Card) as he investigates recent murders, searching for their connection to his daughter’s sudden illness. Hwang Jung-min (Himalayas, A Violent Prosecutor) plays a mudang, a traditional Korean shaman, who warns about the danger of a new foreigner in town. Chun Woo-hee (Han Gong-ju) plays a mysterious witness, and Japanese actor Kunimura Jun is the foreigner whose arrival coincides with the strange events in the village.

The Wailing follows its Korean and Cannes premieres with a North American release on May 27.

Via OSEN, Herald Pop, Newsen, Ten Asia, Star News

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The red dress looks a bit... off.

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Lol IKR. Reminds of cellophane sweet wrappers. Kim Tae-ri's white dress is gorgeous tho.

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More than off.
Fugly. Fire her stylist immediately!
Looks like homemade in sewing class 101.

She is such an awesome actress.
Picked the wrong dress for such an important event.

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How much do you love that group pic of the 5 Agassi cast members?! They look so badass! My eyes were especially drawn to Jo Jinwoong & Ha Jung Woo gah it's like a poster.

Also, Gong Yoo oppa. Nuff said.

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Yeah, Gong-yoo looks so dapper in his suit *googly eyes*

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Gong Yoo though.

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That red dress is so ugly, how did she choose it, i am sure it's so expensive though

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Did no one check the facts about Train to Busan character? It happened on the last article. Choi Woo Shik is a baseball player. On which part, he is a police man.

Just notice that, the male actors are veteran or A-list while the female actress that got chance to Cannes some of it is rookie. And there must be a lucky child actor every time go to Cannes.

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What kind of drag is Jung Yumi wearing? Like the color of Kim Min hee's dress but it looks off. Don't understand the fashion the females are trying to pull off but d males look so dapper and handsome.

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Kim Min-hee and Jung Yu-mi's dress... sigh. Even the rookie actress Kim Tae-ri dressed better than her seniors. I guess since this is an international event, they're going for a unique/memorable look? but these are far from memorable...

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I actually like Kim Min Hee's dress? It looks like a modern version of an old fashioned gown like the ones in the film.

Nice to see a Korean actress who actually has interesting fashion and doesnt dress basic.

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I love Kim Minhee's look! The color is bold, but the cut is very much Victorian-gothic inspired. Everything about her screams High Fashion.

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So happy for gong yoo! And I agree with pigsnout. I think kim min hee chose the dress with her movie in mind.

So interested to see The director's interpretation of Fingersmith!

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Seriously, I think Kim Min-hee's dress is fantastic - and I like the touch of period-appropriate hair to go with the dress.

There are plenty of cheap-looking dresses at Cannes (see: everything Blake lively wears), I'd rather see some originality and flair on the red carpet than yet another flammable-looking beauty pageant-style tight dress.

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Yasss i also love Kim min hee's look! She's known to wear couture/unique dresses..so i find it awesome that every look is always different

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I agree! Man that dress s totally Kim Min-hee. She is not into fluffy ball-gowns etc. She is more of a Victorian vintage girl.

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I like her style. Ih has unique taste and not bland. Korean actresses are normally choose boring style and always go with white and black dress. In this world there are so many colours, aside from these two.

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Exactly, it's unique. The colour also looks good on her.

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yeah, I'm not here for the slams on Kim Min-hee's pink dress either - it's a deliberate callback to the aesthetic of her movie, but adapted for humid summer in Cannes.

And she kept that going at the photocall too, where she had lacy stockings with a dress that looked like it could be a period chemise - very vintagey, I like (it's in this post, along with a few tweets about the movie - but you'll need to scroll!)

http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/101684724.html

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Cannes, humid ? Not so much. Especially at this time of year. If you're from a desert perhaps you'd think it's humid.

I've been to Cannes several times, both Summer and Winter. The weather is fantastic for the most part.

https://weatherspark.com/averages/32109/Cannes-Provence-Alpes-Cote-d-Azur-France

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Love how all the male cast looking suuper dapper. Although not everyone like it, I found that red dress quite unique. Love it! Especially when I read that was inspired by the movie's costume.
Btw, thanks tinebella for the update. Are you one of latest batch of reccappers? Welcome!!!

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Thanks for the write up on Cannes! I'm not super familiar with these actors. Could you please put names under the pictures?

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Jo Jin woooooooooooong.

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He looks great! I'm still missing Lee Jae Han!!

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Omo guyyys I gotta say it. I keep looking at Gong Yoo with this confusion and disconnect like no mate you can't be at the Cannes film fest go back to your coffee shop.
Sigh I don't think he'll ever live that role down for me.

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After The Crucible, I had to accept that my dreamy man would leave the coffee shop to be action heroes and more. Lol.

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Park Chan Wook's film is in competition for the Palme d’Or. That is freaking huge. If he wins that would be the first time for a Korean movie to win the highest prize in Cannes.

Here I am rooting for Korea and I'm not even Korean lol.

Where is Hwang Jung Min and The Wailing crew? Na Hong-jin is among the great. Yellow Sea and The Chaser showcase Ha Jung Woo's incredible talents. I can't wait to read reviews of his movie from foreign critics.

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I know that the Cannes system is to hand out each award (Prix d'interpretation masculin/feminin, the Palme 'Or) to different films so the closest Korea ever got to it was Jeon Do-yeon's win in 2010.

But it would be amazing if The Handmaid won outright, though some opinions are divided and there are other films with a bit more buzz. Let's see which way the jury goes on this one.

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I thought Old Boy won in 2004?

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Oldboy was nominated for the Palme d'Or but it did not win. Oldboy won the Grand Prix which I believe is the second best award at the Cannes Festival.

As far as I know, no Korean film has ever won the Palme d'Or award in Cannes history. There were several Korean films that were nominated before, but no winners.

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The Competition in order: South Korea Winners.

Palme d'Or – Golden Palm

Grand Prix – Grand Prize of the Festival
(Oldboy - Park Chan Wook 2004)

Prix du Jury – Jury Prize
(Thirst - Park Chan Wook 2009)

Palme d'Or du court métrage – Best Short Film
(Safe - Moon Byoung-gon 2013)

Prix d'interprétation féminine – Best Actress
(Secret Sunshine - Jeon Do-yeon 2007) directed by one of my fav Lee Chang-Dong.

Prix d'interprétation masculine – Best Actor

Prix de la mise en scène – Best Director
(Painted Fire - Im Kwon-taek 2002)

Prix du scénario – Best Screenplay
(Poetry - Lee Chang-dong 2010)

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GONG YOO!!

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I actually liked both Kim Min-hee's and Jung Yu-mi's outfits. As others have said, Kim Min-hee was dressed to match the time period of her movie. As for Jung Yu-mi, the girl has always dressed quirky. It's who she is, and I expect nothing less from her. Pretty excited for all three movies.

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I was going to comment the same! I think they both work these unorthodox looks and love the visual to bits. The pulled back hair and simple or lack of accessorizing creates something classy but not boring.

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Nice! I've always thought felt that a standing ovation after a viewing at Cannes is the next best thing to winning the grand prize! Really happy for Gong Yoo!!!

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I really wish Korean stars would up their fashion game. I understand looking basic on the red carpet is acceptable, but this is Cannes. If Li Bing Bing and Fan Bing Bing, plus many other Indian actresses can show up on the carpet and slay, I don't understand why Korea actresses have to dress so unfabulous.

I can't name a Korean actress that is on the level on Fan Bing Bing or any other red carpet queens when it comes to fashion or even one with just great fashion sense. Yes, I have seen Korean women look good on the red carpet, but less is more in Korea and the fashion can be so dull and boring.

You can look fantastic and be simple and effortless, yet no Korean stars ever really knock it out of the park on a jaw-dropping level for me, especially on the international stage.

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I know it's fun looking at fashions etc but I'm happy that they made it to Cannes and they are there to celebrate their talents among the best in the world. Fashion is probably the last thing they worry about.

Jeon Do-yeon who won best actress in Cannes (2007) always keeps it simple with minimal make-up. She is elegant in a non flashy way.

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honestly, the Indian actresses always look either painfully basic or totally overdone on the Cannes red carpet (main offender being Aishwarya Rai). I'd give anything for one of our contingent to actually have some style like Kim Min-hee here.

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Is Aishwarya Rai pregnant?

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not that I know of. But her makeup is horrible, so overdone and dated.

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She looks pregnant in her golden Ali Younes Couture gown.

She wore one gown with purple lipstick. What's up with that?

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Hmm, I think Kim Min Hee and Jung Yu Min look great here. As well as the little actress—adorable.

However, I think the lack of slayage stems from most actresses seeming very image conscious. And every major red carpet event shows that, unfortunately.

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I think both Kim Min Hee and Jung Yumi are looking fine, besides I think KMH's dress is unique. I rather see something not so flashy, rather than overdone. Red carpet is not a fashion show, so the dress and makeup do not have to overdone made.
Yes, Fan Bing Bing is fabulous in red carpet. But every fashion must have the confidence.If they are not confident in wearing it, the most expensive dress in the world will not make them look good.

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I'm a guy, so I'm probably missing the point here, but it's unfair that the females are put into too high of standards of clothing for events like these.

I mean, a guy just has to wear a well-fitted tux, and bam, good job. A female has to too much criteria for what they wear. They shouldn't wear something too unique, but being safe is a no-no either. You don't hear anyone ragging on the males for wearing a safe tux.

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No, it's true. I guess (besides the obvious double standards) it's because women have more variety when it comes to big event fashion. No one expects anything from the guys except to show up. But there are designers just for big/fancy/crazy gowns to wear to events like this. I dunno if the same can be said for the tux. So, when the ladies don't show up (in the fashion sense) it seems to be a time of major disappointment.

However, I'll be glad if a lady wears something plain as long as she WEARS it, lol.

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agree. though I'm sure there are critics of male tuxes, most of the time they are emasculated. many tend to be more critical towards women's fashion and that, for me, is symptomatic of the way we pressure and constrain women in our society.

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Assassination reunion~
It probably takes forever until I can get my hands on those movies tho.
And Kim Min Hee looks fine to me?

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Whatever it is, I am excited for The Handmaiden. I hope it wins. Kim Tae Ri will have a bright future ahead if she is doing well in her role.

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Ha Jung Woo looks so fine and my Detective Lee! So much of fondness for this guy after Signal.

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I can see JY's and KMH's stylists having gone for something different, distinctive, eclectic or even avant-garde (or harkening back to the theme/period of their respective films) - but double fail.

A big part of fashion is to make the wearer look good.

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So many Cannes red carpet actors wear tacky gowns showing too much boob and leg or else boring ballgowns, I rather take this kind of unique style than that "looking good".

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Ha Jung Woo oppa! <3

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their dresses (the black & red) bothers me lol

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I wonder how Korean audiences are able to tell actors with the same name apart. I can't read Hangul, but in English speaking countries, I imagine entertainers would at least add a middle initial to keep their name unique. Since their name is a brand. Each time I see Jung Yumi, I imagine the actress that's currently starring in Master of Revenge.

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