12살 소년의 꿈, 세계 영화사의 지도를 다시 그리다: 봉준호와 ‘기생충’의 칸 정복기 > K-wave Trends

Winning the Palme d'Or was by no means a coincidence, but the fruit of intense cinematic experimentation by writer Bong Joon-ho. The competing categories were filled with new works by great artists such as Quentin Tarantino, and even just before the awards ceremony, strong candidates were competing in an unpredictable competition. However, the judges gave full support to Bong Joon-ho’s original worldview of ‘Parasite’. In particular, the fact that all judges unanimously chose the Palme d'Or proves how universally sympathetic the film's artistic perfection and social insight transcended borders. Immediately after receiving the award, Director Bong showed humility by giving the credit to his colleagues, saying that this film was possible thanks to the hard work of many artists and staff who worked together.

Another winner of this award was definitely actor Song Kang-ho. Song Kang-ho, who was the companion that Director Bong wanted to mention first on stage and the heart of the movie ‘Parasite’, could not hide his overwhelming emotion throughout his acceptance speech. He said he would like to dedicate his honor to all actors in Korea and confessed that the patience and passion they taught him made him who he is today. Director Bong also expressed his infinite trust in Song Kang-ho and emphasized that without him, not a single scene of the film would have been completed. The deep connection between the two resonated deeply with filmmakers around the world who were watching the Cannes scene, and once again confirmed how powerful the creative synergy created by actors and directors is.

Through this award, the Cannes Film Festival not only formalized the birth of a new master, but also clearly revealed its will for change toward diversity in the film industry. Cannes broadened its cinematic horizons by selecting ‘Atlantique’ by Mati Diop, a black female director, for the first time in Cannes history for the Grand Jury Prize. It also showed equal consideration for both masters and newcomers in the Best Director and Best Actor categories. In particular, it was a year in which the advancement of female directors was notable, with director Céline Sciamma's 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire', which was a strong competitor to 'Parasite', winning the Best Original Screenplay award. In this way, this year's Cannes Film Festival did not rest on its past reputation, but actively embraced new grammar and voices, further solidifying its authority as a film festival.

Director Bong Joon-ho’s acceptance speech was like a movie in itself. His confession that he never imagined that when he was 12 years old, a timid and immature boy who dreamed of becoming a film director, would hold the world's greatest trophy, touched the hearts of many in the audience. He expressed respect for local filmmakers, mentioning the inspiration he received from French films, and smiled brightly at his family watching from the second floor of the Lumière Grand Theater. In his expression of emotion as he carefully stroked the trophy, we could read the pure passion of an artist who truly loves movies rather than the weight of a master. This once again reminded modern people who are racing toward success how valuable it is to keep their dreams until the end.