With Applause and Tears, the Audiences around the World Showed Deep Empathy with Director Jung July’s New Film

On May 25, amid the 75th Festival de Cannes being held, Director Jung July’s Next Sohee marked a grand finale of Critics’ Week of the Festival de Cannes. Next Sohee is the first Korean film to be selected as the closing film of the Critics’ Week. The Critics’ Week at Cannes showcases only the first or second feature films with novel and high cinematic quality by directors around the world, selected by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. Director Jung July was officially invited to Cannes’ Un Certain Regard with her film A Girl at My Door 8 years ago, and it is the second time to enter the Festival de Cannes.

While the audience from all over the world filled Espace Miramar, a theater the film was screened, Ava Cahen, Director of the Critics’ Week Executive Committee, took to the stage and introduced Next Sohee herself. She said, “We would like to wrap up the 61st Critics Week with the shocking and eye-catching film, Next Sohee, the second feature film by Korean Director Jung July. When Director Jung’s feature debut A Girl at My Door was screened at the Festival de Cannes in 2014, we discovered her talent and couldn't help but wait for her next film. Next Sohee completely has met all our expectations. This amazing work, made with the fluent script and skillful directing, is a work that shows the attractive sincerity of the actors.”

Taking the stage with applause from the audience, Director Jung July said, “Since I was busy completing this film not too long ago, I can’t believe I’m standing here right now. Last winter, all the staff and the actors, including Kim Sieun and Bae Doona, sincerely brought their hearts together to make this film. I hope it reaches the hearts of the audience, too.” Next Sohee depicts a story about Sohee (Kim Sieun), a high school student who goes on the field training at a call center, leading to her death, and Detective Yujin (Bae Doona) who doubts Sohee’s death and digs the case deeply. The film is based on a true story that occurred in 2017. 

Even before the ending credits went up and the lights were turned on in the theater, all the audiences in the theater had ‘already’ been clapping with their hands raised high, surrounding Director Jung July and Actor Kim Sieun sitting in the center of the theater. Their faces were still tearful. In a subsequent interview, Actor Kim Sieun recalled the moment, saying, “It was a moment I’ve never experienced in my life. When I first read the script, I thought Next Sohee was a must-see story. I hope Sohee and her emotions I expressed and acted will be delivered to many audiences as they are.”

Next Sohee, which premiered at Cannes with enthusiastic empathy from the audience around the world, will meet Korean viewers after going through the preparation for its release.