Director Na Hong-jin on 'HOPE': "I Felt Whatever I Showed Would Become a Scene in the Audience's Imagination... A Film with Completeness"

Director Na Hong-jin, who has returned with the film 'HOPE', addressed the film, which is filled with question marks, stating, "For me, I wrote the screenplay thinking it was a film that possessed completeness."

Attending the press preview held at Megabox COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on the afternoon of July 6, Director Na spoke about the existence of aliens, which appear as a massive symbol and metaphor, saying, "I created the screenplay thinking that the aliens were an element that could be substituted with various situations."

He continued, "As you have seen the film today, you can make your own guesses, right? About what they will do. Each audience member will likely have different imaginations. I felt that whatever I showed would become a scene in their imagination. I thought about carrying this story through to the night to finish it, but I decided there was no need for that. I felt this was enough, and anything more would feel redundant, so I concluded it this way," he explained.

Director Na left room for broad interpretation, saying, "In my own way, I believe this story, even if not perfect, clearly possesses completeness. As you mentioned, I think the audience will be able to interpret it in various ways."

'HOPE' is a story that begins when 'Beom-seok', the head of a police substation in Hopo Port located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), hears news from local youths that a tiger has appeared, and the entire village faces an unbelievable reality. The film features some of the hottest actors in the Korean film industry, including Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, as well as Hollywood stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton, who all deliver impressive performances.

The film is set to be released on July 15.

Reported by Kim Ji-hye | Produced by SBS Entertainment News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.