Cannes 2021 has unleashed its line up, and South Korea filmmakers must be perplexed.
Two years ago, at the last Cannes, “Parasite” took the festival by storm. Bong Joon-ho’s social satire won the Palme D’Or and went on to win the Academy Award.
“Parasite” marked the fifth year in a row that South Korean films were in the main competition at Cannes.
They included: Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” in 2016, Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” (2017), Hong’s “The Day After” (2017), and Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning.”
So it was expected the streak would continue. But no South Korean film is in the mix this year.
“Emergency Declaration,” directed by Han Jae-rim, and “In Front of Your Face” by Hong Sang-soo were invited to this year’s Cannes Film Festival. But out of competition, in side showings. There is no chance of a Palme D’Or even if they receive ecstatic receptions.
And that’s the way the Croisette crumbles!
