For the Cannes jurors, the festival is not a celebration.
Shouting matches born of fierce debate went on every day for ten days.
Twenty films in Competition.
Over those ten days, they had to see every Competition film, and even just keeping up with noteworthy titles in Un Certain Regard and films out of competition drained their stamina, but what sapped it even more than that was the debate.
Even though the judging itself was for the Competition films, the film that left the strongest impression on Chester was Gyeong Chanhyeon’s.
But Chester only served on the Competition jury, so he could not take part at all in the Un Certain Regard awards.
“Goddammit…”
“Something wrong?”
He had just finished judging and was smoking when Brian beside him spoke up.
“Gyeong’s film. I’m a bit worried whether it can win. The Un Certain Regard jury’s famous for being a bunch of stiff types. I hope they won’t dismiss him just for being Asian…”
At Chester’s use of “stiff,” Brian cleared his throat a few times and said,
“Heh… so even the jury president turns out to be someone who worries.”
When Brian addressed him with a gentle smile, Chester, flustered, said,
“What’s this all of a sudden? Don’t get all smarmy on me.”
“I figured I should give credit where it’s due. Gyeong… that guy’s the real deal. And I admit I was ‘stiff’ myself.”
At Brian’s words, Chester blew out a cloud of smoke and laughed loudly.
Brian’s tone was curt, but Chester sensed a shy apology in it and gave Brian a playful tap.
“Ha, didn’t I tell you?”
“Yeah. Like you said, I feel like we should’ve moved <Jawol> into Competition.”
Smiling a little at Chester’s teasing, Brian answered.
“I went intending to rip them a new one for inviting that kind of film to Un Certain Regard, but I came out just admiring it.”
“Right? Haha, the guy’s not ordinary. How many first-time Cannes directors can show a work like that and with that kind of nerve?”
At Chester’s remark, Brian laughed too and said,
“That’s what surprised me as well. The confidence was tremendous. And what he said after the screening was pretty entertaining, too.”
Thinking back to the events after the <Jawol> screening, a smile spread across Chester’s lips.
“Yeah. That made quite an impression as well. He seemed like a young man with a strong sense of patriotism.”
“Everyone knows Korea and Japan don’t get along. I expected things to get a little heated, but he cut that Japanese guy off in one stroke.”
“Right. Haha, and his view of art was excellent. Hearing a nameless Asian director deliver a jab about how foolish it is to separate commercial film from art film these days… he’s a director you want to get to know, isn’t he?”
Our team’s mood flipped completely before and after the screening of <Jawol>.
Whenever we went to see other films, the flashes popping for me on the red carpet were enough to hurt the eyes.
“Director Gyeong! Give me one handshake!”
“Are you the director of <Jawol>? How did you make a work like that?”
It was an experience that let me understand exactly what the phrase “Get famous first; once you do, people will applaud even if you crap” really means.
Once I got famous, actors whose names everyone would know came up first to shake my hand, and we even got contacted by overseas production companies.
“Hehe.”
“Why are you grinning like a creep?”
While I was changing to head to the awards, Junseong lay in the cozy duvet, eyes unfocused, and looked at me.
“What are you talking about. See this right hand? The warmth of those famous actors is still on it, man.”
“You went to sleep without washing your hands?”
“Yup.”
“You’re out of your mind…”
For some reason, most film people treated me like someone formidable.
That created a strange, indefinable atmosphere, but I didn’t mind it.
If anything, because they treated me like someone formidable, it made things more comfortable for me.
“Are you actually going to win something? The vibe’s no joke. If we’d been in Competition, I think my heart would’ve burst.”
His words had me a little excited too, but I deliberately calmed myself.
“I’m trying to clear my mind.”
“It’s all over your face. The moment we started talking awards, your smile went ear-to-ear.”
“Be quiet and get ready. We need to head out.”
After Junseong finished getting ready, our production team gathered and set out for the Grand Théâtre Lumière.
When we got off the bus, the way people looked at us as we stepped onto the red carpet in Cannes felt completely different from the first time.
Flashes popping without end.
Junsik-hyung and Kwak Yeonji enjoyed the rain of cameras and wore easy smiles.
“Told you so, didn’t I?”
Yeonji smiled at me.
“Yes. Just like you said, after opened I can’t go anywhere.”
“Yeah, people are swarming me too.”
“See? All that worrying was for nothing.”
I had puffed myself up a bit in the face of needless worry, but when it actually became reality, even I was flustered.
I hadn’t expected this level of explosive popularity.
What I especially couldn’t forget was the reaction from Chester, the critic famous for his barbs.
The critic who would mercilessly hack apart even films I thought were masterpieces if they didn’t suit him… Such a man, before he’d even seen my film, suggesting a drink after the ceremony…?
“<Snake>, <Desirelessness>.”
How had he even seen those films whose foreign rights hadn’t been sold?
Questions kept piling up, but for me they were all good things, and a smile spread across my face.
“Director Gyeong is smiling! Get the shot!”
At a reporter’s shout, flashes burst toward me.
“Wha… what?”
“Sunbae, they’re total stans for you?”
Flustered, we hurried into the Grand Théâtre Lumière.
“Whew… I’m nervous, and hungry.”
Wearing a red dress, Yeonji took a deep breath.
“Maybe it’s because I starved myself to fit into this…”
“Let’s just hold out till this is over. I gorged so much here my tux was about to burst. That’s why I started fasting yesterday.”
Smiling, Yeonji answered Junsik-hyung.
“Let’s eat a ton after the ceremony! We came to France and I haven’t even had a baguette.”
“It’s going to take a while till the ceremony ends.”
“… Still have to endure.”
After we sat and chatted for a good while, a host, an actress, came out and delivered a greeting.
[Welcome to the 56th Cannes Film Festival Awards Ceremony.]
Cannes wasn’t like the Golden Globes hosted by Ricky Gervais with mischievous jokes.
Quite the opposite. The tone respected and praised each other, and the host spoke elegantly about the films she’d enjoyed as she led the ceremony.
[There were especially remarkable films this year. In Un Certain Regard, the film <Jawol>, it introduced a new character to the world.]
At her words, the camera in the hall cut to us, and our faces went up on the big screen behind.
The three of us, recalling Junseong’s advice, tried our best to look unruffled and wore relaxed smiles as we applauded her.
[The role played by Ms. Kwak Yeonji was such a fresh character I’d like to try it myself if there were a remake. I want to extend thanks to the Republic of Korea and to Director Gyeong Chanhyeon for presenting such a work.]
“Holy… did Monica Bellucci just say she wants to play my role? This isn’t a dream, right?”
“Yeonji, keep your voice down. You’ll look like a country bumpkin.”
“Ah, r-right.”
At my words, Yeonji’s face flushed red in embarrassment.
True to his cool persona, Junsik-hyung kept only the corners of his mouth slightly lifted.
[We’ll begin with the short films.]
The ceremony continued, and the winners each expressed their thanks on stage in their own ways.
[We give glory to our Father in heaven, and we will not take this award for granted.]
From expressions of religious faith,
[My life in film begins now. My sincere thanks to the Cannes Film Festival for lighting the start of my life in film like this. Please remember my name! I will become a director who shakes the world!]
To the declaration of ambition by a young director in the Cinéfondation section for student graduation works.
Having been used to our country’s style of just giving thanks and stepping down, these different reactions made the time fly as I watched the ceremony.
As we drew closer to the announcements for the bigger prizes, everyone waited for the host’s words with excited faces.
[Now… it’s time for Un Certain Regard.]
I swallowed hard.
Un Certain Regard consists of three prizes.
The Premier Regard Award, the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, and the Un Certain Regard Award.
The biggest is the Un Certain Regard Award.
But at this point I was almost wishing they’d just get the results over with.
The tension was intense.
Barely holding back my trembling hands, I waited to see which film would win.
[The Premier Regard Award goes to… Jafar Panahi’s Crimson Gold! Congratulations!]
“Phew…”
Seeing me clench my fist and exhale, Junsik-hyung asked, as if concerned,
“You okay? Your face is completely pale.”
“Yeah… ugh… I’m dying here.”
Emptying your mind is harder than you think.
Maybe Chester’s smile had amplified my expectations; my palms were sweating on their own.
[The Un Certain Regard Jury Prize goes to Marco Tullio Giordana’s The Best of Youth! Congratulations!]
“Hoo…”
Not this one either.
This year, Un Certain Regard had no acting prizes, so only directors were coming up.
Realizing the only award left that I could receive was the last one made my hands shake a little.
The Trendsetter Award I’d gotten at the Cheongpung Film Festival hardly counted.
If I were to win, it would be my first award since my graduation film and I would be the first Korean director to win abroad.
With that career milestone seemingly right before my eyes…
It was like the acceptance speech I’d prepared just in case had been wiped clean. My mind went blank.
“Sunbae, this is the last one.”
Beside me, Yeonji wore a haughty expression but had her fingers laced tight as she looked at me. Junsik-hyung was the same.
[We will now announce the Un Certain Regard Award.]
The presenter in front tore open the envelope.
It was as if the moment had been put into slow motion; it passed excruciatingly slowly.
[The winner of the Un Certain Regard Award is…]
“Please, please, please…”
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