The Romanian film “Fjord” won the Palme d’Or at the 79th Cannes Film Festival [1].
The result marks a missed opportunity for South Korean cinema to secure a major prize on the global stage. Expectations were high for a domestic victory, as it had been four years since a Korean film last won at the festival [1].
Jury president Park Chan-wook announced the top prize at the Lumière Grand Théâtre during the closing ceremony on May 23, 2024 [1]. “The Palme d’Or goes to director Cristian Mungiu’s ‘Fjord’,” Park said [1].
Director Na Hong-jin's film, “Hope,” did not receive any awards [1, 2]. The jury, led by Park, reportedly favored a selection that aligned with the traditional preferences of the Cannes festival [1].
Na expressed disappointment regarding the outcome. “Expectations were high for a Korean film to win at Cannes for the first time in four years, but this time we did not win,” Na said [1].
Despite the lack of a trophy, Na indicated that the focus would now shift toward the final version of the movie. “I will focus on improving the quality of the work before its release,” Na said [1].
The 79th edition of the festival concluded with the ceremony in Cannes, France [1]. While “Hope” generated significant discussion during its screening, it failed to translate that momentum into a jury selection [1, 2].
““The Palme d’Or goes to director Cristian Mungiu’s ‘Fjord’,” Park said”
The victory for 'Fjord' reinforces the continued influence of European auteur cinema at Cannes. For South Korean filmmakers, the result underscores the difficulty of breaking a multi-year drought for the Palme d'Or, even when the jury is presided over by a prominent Korean director like Park Chan-wook.
