Director Hong Sang soo‘s latest film has been nominated to compete at the annual Berlin International Film Festival next month.
Hong will be competing for the Gold and Silver Bear prizes with 17 other titles from 17 countries, including Sally Potter’s “The Roads Not Taken,” Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow,” Philippe Garrel’s “The Salt of Tears,” Rithy Panh’s “Irradiated,” and Silver Bear winner Christian Petzold’s “Undine.”
“The Woman Who Ran” tells the story of a married woman who, while her husband is away on a business trip, reconnects with three of her old friends from whom she had become estranged after marriage.
It stars actress Kim Min hee in her seventh collaboration with Hong. Hong and Kim have been involved in a May to September romance since 2016. The cast also includes Seo Young hwa, Song Seon mi, Kim Sae byuk and Kwon Hae hyo, who have previously worked with Hong.
In announcing this year’s line-up, Artistic Director of the Berlinale Carlo Umberto Chatrian noted, “Hong’s topic is the human condition, how it is to be, to live, as expressed by how we communicate. ‘The Woman Who Ran’ is a beguiling, mysterious gem that again implies there are infinite worlds possible.”
“The Woman Who Ran” will premiere at the festival, which will be held from Feb. 20 to March 1. Following its world premiere at the Berlinale, “The Woman Who Ran” will hit local theaters in the first half of the year.
