Top 150 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2020: #20. Untitled Hong Sang-soo Project

Untitled Hong Sang-soo Project

Having spent 2019 embroiled in widely publicized divorce court proceedings, 2019 came and went without a new film project from South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo, who usually releases anywhere from one to three new films a year (the last year without a new Sang-soo title was 2007). As per usual, little to no details are available on his projects until they’re announced at a film festival (unless they’re starring an international icon, such as Isabelle Huppert, which is usually the only time advanced notices are received), but it appears Sang-soo has been shooting a new film as of November, 2019. Based on the candid photos revealed from the set, it appears Sang-soo regular Kwon Hae-hyo from On the Beach at Night Alone, The Day After (read review), Hotel By the River (read review) as part of the cast.

Sang-soo has competed four times in Cannes, with 2004’s Woman is the Future of Man, 2005’s Tale of Cinema, 2012’s In Another Country and 2017’s The Day After. His 1998 title The Power of Kangwon Province and 2000 title Virgin Stripped Bare By Bachelors were programmed in Un Certain Regard, as was 2010’s Hahaha (winning top prize in the sidebar), and 2011’s The Day He Arrives. 2009’s Like You Know It All played Director’s Fortnight. In Venice, he has been programmed in Horizons twice, with 2010’s Oki’s Movie and 2014’s Hill of Freedom. Sang-soo took home Best Director in Locarno for 2013’s Our Sunhi, then won the Golden Leopard in 2015 for Right Now, Wrong Then (read review). He competed a third time in Locarno with 2018’s Hotel By the River. He’s also competed three times in Berlin, with 2008’s Night and Day, 2013’s Nobody’s Daughter Haewon and 2017’s On the Beach at Night Alone (winning Kim Min-hee Best Actress). 2018’s Grass premiered in the Forum.

Gist: No details have been revealed on cast or plot.

Release Date/Prediction: Considering Sang-soo’s fast paced filmmaking, we assume his latest should be ready in time for Cannes or Locarno 2020.