Cannes-selected 'Hope' director Na Hong-jin says film was inspired by 'ominous' feeling about the world

Na Hong-jin, the director behind the sci-fi thriller “Hope,” said the sense of looming danger he felt about the world inspired him to make the film, which has been invited to compete at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

“Hope” portrays the sudden appearance of mysterious entities in a small coastal town near the heavily fortified demilitarized zone. Its star-studded cast includes actors Hwang Jung-min and Zo In-sung, as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.

“I [noticed] a lot of ominous things on this planet where mankind lives,” Na said in an interview on Monday on the sidelines of the film festival, which is underway through Saturday.

“It felt like a war was about to happen, or like tremendous violence would mercilessly blanket the whole world,” he said, adding that the film portrays how violence emerges and grows bigger.

Na said he is extremely happy and feels honored that “Hope” made it to the competition section of the prestigious film festival.

“I feel really good and joyous about the fact that [the movie] made it on the list. I didn't realize that I would feel this good and honored,” he said.

“Hope” will vie for the top honor at this year's Cannes, alongside 21 other titles invited to the competition section.

It is the first Korean film in four years to compete for the Palme d'Or since “Decision to Leave” (2022) by renowned director Park Chan-wook and “Broker” (2002), a film produced by Korean companies, starring Korean actors and directed by award-winning Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda, were both invited to compete in 2022.

For Na, “Hope” is his fourth feature work that has been invited to Cannes. His feature debut, “The Chaser” (2008), was screened in the Midnight Screenings section in 2008, followed by “The Yellow Sea” (2010) in the Un Certain Regard section in 2011. “The Wailing” (2016) was also invited to the festival's noncompetition section in 2016.

Yonhap