CJ ENM, From a Reliable Ally to a Regular at Cannes

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Director Hirokazu Koreeda's "Broker" and director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" have both been selected for the competition section at the Cannes International Film Festival. Both films were invested in and distributed by CJ ENM. By boldly supporting auteur directors, they have once again elevated their external prestige.

The Cannes International Film Festival jury announced the official selections for the 75th festival on the 14th (local time). It is the first time in five years since 2017 that two Korean films have simultaneously entered the competition section, following director Bong Joon-ho's "Okja" and director Hong Sang-soo's "The Day After."

"Broker" is a Korean film produced by the film company Zip Cinema and invested in and distributed by CJ ENM, although directed by Koreeda, who represents the Japanese film industry. The story follows two men who secretly take a baby left in a "baby box" and, together with the biological mother, search for new parents. Koreeda wrote the screenplay and filmed with Korean actors including Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Lee Ji-eun (IU), Bae Doona, and Lee Joo-young.

Lee Ji-eun, who is also a singer, will walk the Cannes red carpet for the first time with this film. Having taken on the role that receives the most attention and expressing a wide range of emotions aligned with the film's themes, insiders are quietly hopeful for an award. Lee Ji-eun has already been recognized for her acting skills through dramas such as "My Mister" and "Hotel Del Luna." Koreeda praised her as a "mature, upright, and sincere actress."

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Cannes is not unfamiliar to director Koreeda. Seven of his works have been invited so far, with five screened in the competition section. He won the Jury Prize for "Like Father, Like Son" (2013) and the Palme d'Or for "Shoplifters" (2018). He said, "I am glad that the work, which transcends different languages and cultural differences, has been highly evaluated."

"Broker" is the result of Koreeda's ambition to share emotions beyond language and cultural differences and CJ ENM's globalization strategy aligning perfectly. Koreeda began planning this work in 2015. He has been steadily interacting with domestic actors and production staff, focusing on universally communicable stories. In 2019, he also made "The Truth" with French actresses Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche.

CJ ENM supported the maestro's new challenge with a progressive vision and bold investment. In Japan, where production committees (investors) take 40% of box office revenue, such support is hard to expect. Even if the break-even point is surpassed, the profits returned to the production team are minimal, making it difficult even for promising directors to produce films. Investments tend to focus on low-risk projects, making it hard to demonstrate artistic value.

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From the early days, CJ ENM has fully supported films that combine auteurism with popular appeal. They are especially generous to directors who achieve international success. They play a significant role in support by spending large sums not only on production but also on promotion and marketing. Director Park Chan-wook is one of the representative beneficiaries. Without concern for production costs, he directed "Thirst" (2009) and "The Handmaiden" (2016), both of which entered the Cannes competition section.

The following film, "Decision to Leave," is no different. In October last year, CJ ENM acquired Moho Film, the production company led by director Park Chan-wook. It is reported that they spent over 15 billion won.

"Decision to Leave" is a detective melodrama depicting the story of detective Hae-joon, who investigates a death case and develops both suspicion and interest in the deceased's wife, Seo-rae. Tang Wei and Park Hae-il starred together.

CJ ENM is the first domestic investment and distribution company to have two films simultaneously introduced in the Cannes competition section. Previous entries include four films such as "Parasite" (2019), which won the Palme d'Or, "Miryang" (2007), "Thirst," and "The Handmaiden." Including non-competition sections like "A Bittersweet Life" (2005) and "The Spy Gone North" (2018), the total is twelve films.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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It is uncertain whether the films will go on to win awards. Sixteen outstanding works, including Kirill Serebrennikov's "Tchaikovsky's Wife," James Gray's "Armageddon Time," the Dardenne brothers' "Tori and Lokita," and David Cronenberg's "Crimes of the Future," are competing side by side.

Meanwhile, actor Lee Jung-jae's directorial debut, the spy action film "Hunt," was invited to the Midnight Screening section. This non-competition section introduces genre films that combine artistic quality and popular appeal. Previous screenings included "Train to Busan" (2016), "The Outlaws" (2016), and "The Spy Gone North." Lee Jung-jae not only directed but also acted alongside his close friend in the film industry, Jung Woo-sung, marking their first collaboration in over 20 years since "No Sun" (1999). He smiled and said, "I believe today's results are thanks to the passionate dedication of the production team and the efforts of the actors."

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