Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' premieres at Cannes

Movies

Published: 24 May. 2022, 14:42 Updated: 24 May. 2022, 18:15

Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' premieres at Cannes

From left; Actor Tang Wei, director Park Chan-wook and actor Park Hae-il on the red carpet at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France [NEWS1]

Director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" premiered at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France on Tuesday.

"Thank you for watching such a long, boring and old-fashioned movie," said Park after a seven-minute standing ovation at the end of the screening.

Park told Korean reporters at Cannes that although "Decision to Leave" is more low-key than his previous films like "Oldboy" (2003) and "The Handmaiden" (2016), it is a movie that he wanted to make nonetheless.

"It is less stimulating than my previous films," Park said. "I wanted to make a classic film that the audience could subtly submerge themselves into."

The film is competing for the Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. His films "Oldboy" (2003) and "Thirst" (2009) have previously won the accolade.

Park last attended Cannes six years ago with "The Handmaiden."

Meanwhile, CJ ENM announced Tuesday that Park's "Decision to Leave" has been sold to distributors in 192 countries including the United States, England, Turkey, France, Japan, Germany and New Zealand.

"Decision to Leave" centers on a romance between a police detective portrayed by actor Park Hae-il and a woman who is suspected of killing her husband portrayed by Chinese star Tang Wei.

Other actors in the film include Go Kyung-pyo, Lee Jung-hyun, Jeong Ha-dam, Park Yong-woo and Jung Yu-seo.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]