Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo may not be a household name in the United States, but his ever prolific body of work has had international critics and cinephiles take note. His latest feature – The Day After – is slated to hold its world premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival just as the first trailer has found its way online. Notably, this feature – which stars Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Sae-byeok and Kim Min-hee – is but one title he’s premiering at Cannes this year and his third to screen at film festivals this year.
At the 2017 Berlin Film Festival, Hong debuted On the Beach at Night Alone to favorable notices, while Claire’s Camera (which stars recent Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert will also screen at Cannes this year; notably that feature was shot at last year’s Cannes, just as Huppert was winning raves for bravura performance in Elle). Huppert previously starred in Hong’s In Another Country.
The synopsis reads: “It is Areum’s first day of work at a small publisher. Her boss Bongwan loved and recently broke up with the woman who previously worked there. Today too, the married Bongwan leaves home in the dark morning and sets off to work. The memories of the woman who left weigh down on him. That day Bongwan’s wife finds a love note, bursts into the office, and mistakes Areum for the woman who left.”
(Apologies for the low quality)
The Day After premieres in competition at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Cannes runs from May 17th-28th.