Director Jung July’s New Film in 8 Years, Starring Bae Doona, a Global Star

Director Jung July’s new film, Next Sohee, has been selected as the closing film of the 75th Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week. The film is Director Jung’s first new film in 8 years and her second collaboration with Actor Bae Doona. 

The Cannes International Film Festival officially announced on April 20 (local time) that it would invite Next Sohee as the closing film of Critics’ Week. The Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week Committee said, “Director Jung July’s Next Sohee is a very intense movie, and the director has shown greater growth since her debut film, A Girl at My Door.” Next Sohee is the first Korean film to be selected as the closing film of the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week. The film is about the story of Sohee, a high school student who works an apprenticeship at a call center. She gets involved in a case, and Detective Yoojin has doubts about the case, chasing it.

Invited to the Un Certain Regard of the 67th Cannes Film Festival for her debut film A Girl at My Door in 2014, Director Jung July has the honor of being invited to Cannes again with Next Sohee. Director Jung said, “I’m grateful to release the movie that all the staff members and actors filmed in unison last winter on a brilliant spring day. I confidently introduce my actors who are like jewels to audiences all over the world.”

Bae Doona, who plays Detective Yoojin, said, “From the moment I first saw the script, I was sure it was a film that could resonate with the world. I’m really happy to have its first premiere as the closing film of Critic’s Week at the Cannes Film Festival.” Along with Director Kore-eda Hirokazu’s new film, Broker, Bae Doona has been invited to Cannes through two Korean films.

Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival, which has been held since 1962, will feature novel films with cinematic qualities, carefully selected by critics from the French Critics Association. It is also characterized by selecting and screening directors’ first or second films only. Various Korean films will be shown for the first time at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, which will be held from May 17 to 29, 2022.