"Housemaid", "Poetry" heating up Cannes Film Festival

Korean films "The Housemaid" and "Poetry" are receiving heaps of attention from foreign movie buyers at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, according to their sales executives on Wednesday (France time).

Officials in charge of overseas sales for the two pics explained that many foreign distributors are interested in buying "Housemaid" and "Poetry" and some are even close to signing contracts.

"The film festival hasn't started yet so we haven't yet exchanged offers in detail," a source related to "Housemaid" was quoted as saying. "But we are expecting to receive many more offers after the screening."

A representative for "Poetry" also said that he predicts a number of overseas sales offers to come their way since it was helmed by noted filmmaker Lee Chang-dong.

The 55-year-old director gained international acclaim particularly after his previous film "Secret Sunshine" won the best actress award at Cannes in 2007.

"Poetry," which will be released in France in August, stars veteran Korean actress Yoon Jeong-hee as an elderly woman who learns how to write her own poems while fighting Alzheimer's.

Erotic thriller "Housemaid" is a remake of a Korean classic film by the late Korean director Kim Ki-young, whose works are legendary enough to be introduced in the Cannes Classics section. The modern adaptation, directed by Im Sang-soo, boasts an A-list line up including Cannes' best actress winner Jeon Do-youn.

The directors and lead actors for the two pics, both in competition this year, are reportedly getting interview requests from numerous foreign media outlets.

The film festival will run from May 12 thru 23.

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@