Award-winning director Park Chan-wook said Monday his Cannes-bound film “The Handmaiden” is a lot different from his previous works for having the most lines and giving subtle pleasures.
“It has the most lines of all films that I have made. It also has four protagonists, a long running time and is a very juicy film,” Park said during a news conference at a Seoul hotel to promote the upcoming thriller. “I think this is the most singular of all my films since it is full of small funs.”
So, it came as a surprise for the filmmaker when the thriller was up for the main competition category of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
From left: Actor Cho Jin-woong, actress Kim Min-hee, film director Park Chan-wook, actress Kim Tae-ri, and actor Ha Jung-woo pose at a press conference for “The Handmaiden” held at Westin Chosun Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)
“Honestly, I didn’t expect it would be invited for the competition section,” Park said, adding that his film is clear-cut with a happy ending which might not go well with a film festival favoring art-house films. “I thought it may be a better choice for the Midnight Screening or some other sections,” he said, referring to the festival's out-of-competition category for commercial films.
The 69th edition of the festival is set to run from May 11-22 in the French resort city of Cannes.
Set in 1930s Korea and Japan, “The Handmaiden” centers on an heiress (Kim Min-hee) and a count (Ha Jung-woo) who covets her assets. The count hires a maid (Kim Tae-ri) on the heiress’s behalf.
The film is set to open in local theaters in June. (Yonhap)