▲ This photo of South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin, director of film "Hope" and "The Wailing," is provided by Plus M Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

CANNES, France, May 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin he was deeply honored that his new film "Hope" had been invited to the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival, describing the achievement as an overwhelming joy.

 

"It feels so great and I'm truly happy just to be included in the list of competition films selected by the festival," Na said in an interview at the Majestic Barriere Hotel in Cannes on Sunday in local time, a day after the film's world premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. "I didn't expect to feel this honored and happy."

 

Na added that although the film is set for domestic release in about two months, he plans to continue refining it until the very end.

 

▲ A poster for Na Hong-jin's "Hope" is seen in this image provided by Plus M Entertainment and Forged Films. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

"Hope" tells the story of mysterious creatures appearing in Hopo Port, a harbor village located near the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas. Na said the film originated from a sense of unease he felt while watching various incidents and conflicts unfold around the world.

 

"I felt there was a lot of ominousness globally, on this planet where humans live," he said. "It felt like war could break out, or like enormous violence could mercilessly sweep across the world."

 

▲ This still from South Korean film "Hope," directed by Na Hong-jin, is provided by Plus M Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

That sense of looming violence is vividly portrayed in the film through scenes of Hopo Port being devastated by powerful and fast-moving aliens that brutally attack humans throughout the movie.

 

Na said the film is also about how violence and other terrible things arise and escalate in society.

 

The film stars actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, while Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell portray alien characters. The film is slated for release in South Korea this summer.

 

▲ This still from South Korean film "Hope," directed by Na Hong-jin, is provided by Plus M Entertainment and Forged Films. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

For about the first 50 minutes, the aliens are not shown directly and instead generate fear through sounds and the aftermath of attacks. Na described the film's structure as "peeling away layers of an onion from beginning to end."

 

As the story unfolds, details about the aliens' appearance, characteristics and motives are gradually revealed. However, Na intentionally inserted bizarre dialogue and comedic situations to prevent audiences from focusing solely on solving the mystery.

 

"I wanted to disrupt viewers from concentrating only on the mystery, so I had the characters keep saying strange things and acting oddly," he said.

 

The alien characters, known for their shocking appearances, were developed over seven years with the participation of dozens of designers from around the world. Even the aliens' language was newly created in collaboration with a linguistics professor based on ancient languages.

 

Na hinted at the possibility of a sequel, saying he has already written stories that take place after the events of "Hope."

 

"If the opportunity comes, of course I would make a sequel," he said.

 

The film's music was composed by Michael Abels, known for his work on director Jordan Peele's films "Get Out," "Us" and "Nope." Na praised Abels, saying he regarded the composer as a teacher-like figure who contributed enormously to the film.

 

While Na's previous works, including "The Chaser," "The Yellow Sea" and "The Wailing," were all invited to Cannes, "Hope" marks his first entry in the festival's main competition section. It is also the first of his films to hold its world premiere at Cannes before opening in South Korea.

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