'The Journey to Gyeongju' Generates Global Buzz Ahead of Domestic Release

The film "The Journey to Gyeongju" is drawing high anticipation as it is successively invited to prominent international film festivals even before its domestic release.

"The Journey to Gyeongju" is a family revenge drama about four mothers and daughters who set out on a "killer" trip after eight years of waiting for their youngest daughter, "Gyeongju," who never returned from a school trip. It stars Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyojin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon.

Following its world premiere at the 45th Hawaii International Film Festival, where it received high praise as "a work that exquisitely combines dark humor and emotional density," the film also captured the hearts of critics and local audiences alike with its fresh grammar that breaks the mold of traditional revenge dramas at the 24th Florence Korea Film Festival, winning the Audience Award and proving both its artistic value and commercial appeal.

The multi-layered charm of "The Journey to Gyeongju," which encompasses thrillers, black comedy, and family drama around the intense subject of revenge, continues to captivate film festivals around the world.

Invited to the 30th Fantasia International Film Festival, North America's largest genre film festival that opened on July 16, Nicolas Archambault, Asia programming director, lavished praise on the film, saying, "It is one of my favorite works in this year's lineup," adding, "Every element from the wide emotional spectrum oscillating between laughter and fear, to the actors' performances, direction, and script, is truly phenomenal."

Additionally, as the film has been invited to the 6th Korean Film Festival Barcelona opening on September 2, Gloria Fernandez, a programmer, praised it by saying, "It is an intense and unpredictable dark humor thriller that allows no compromise for the audience while love, loss, and revenge intertwine," raising expectations for the film.

"The Journey to Gyeongju," which is gathering high expectations as its solid craftsmanship is recognized by overseas film festivals and critics, will be released domestically on August 26.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)