Hong Sang-soo’s Locarno-Bound ‘By the Stream’ Set for North American Release (EXCLUSIVE)

As a devoted admirer of Hong Sang-soo’s cinematic universe, I eagerly await the premiere of “By the Stream” next year. Having been captivated by his minimalist masterpieces for years, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation that borders on giddiness. His ability to weave intricate narratives around chance encounters and female protagonists is truly mesmerizing.

Next year, the latest film by acclaimed South Korean minimalist director Hong Sang-soo titled “By the Stream” (or “Suyoocheon”) will be shown in North American cinemas.

The distribution rights for certain films were obtained by a company based in Brooklyn, Cinema Guild, from Finecut, a sales agent located in Seoul, South Korea. Previously, both companies had worked together on several projects directed by the same individual.

The image is set to make its first public appearance in a competition at the Locarno Film Festival this month. Following that, it’s scheduled to show up at the New York Film Festival, with additional festival appearances likely to be unveiled over the next few weeks.

Hong is recognized for creating micro-budget, minimalistic dramas characterized by extensive dialogue, unexpected interactions, and central female characters. Additionally, he often collaborates with a close-knit group of performers.

In this new movie, director Hong is stepping into his 32nd project. It’s a return to the academic environment, much like his films “Oki’s Movie” from 2010 and “Our Sunhi” from 2013. A press release from Locarno outlines the plot as centering around a university lecturer who requests her blacklisted actor-director uncle to stage a play at the institution.

A more detailed summary from Cinema Guild reveals: “Following a scandal at her university, art teacher Jeonim (Kim Minhee) enlists her blacklisted actor-director uncle Chu Sieon (Kwon Haehyo) to direct a play for the festival. As he prepares for this production, he finds himself drawn to Jeonim’s colleague, Professor Jeong (Cho Yunhee). Meanwhile, the intricacies of the scandal unfold, the moon changes nightly, and each morning Jeonim sketches at a nearby stream to find order in its design.”

“Cinema Guild President Peter Kelly commented that ‘By the Stream’ is one of Hong’s longest films in a while, but with its rich color palette, stunning compositions, and abundant narrative twists, the runtime flies by. We didn’t want it to conclude as there was so much more to explore.”

Moreover, Cinema Guild has also purchased the distribution rights for two previous movies by Hong, specifically “Right Now, Wrong Then” from 2015 and “In Another Country” from 2012. This acquisition brings their total count of Hong’s films to 24 out of his 32, including all but one that he has produced since 2008.

In February of this year, Hong’s upcoming movie titled “A Traveler’s Needs,” which was released in early 2024 and tells a puzzling story about a French teacher living in Seoul, was awarded the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, or the second place award, at the Berlin Film Festival.

In the previous year, Hong’s film “In Water” was screened in Berlin’s Encounters section. This screening followed three consecutive years where Hong’s works were showcased in Berlin’s primary competition: “The Woman Who Ran”, which received the Silver Bear for Best Director; “Introduction”, which won another Silver Bear, this time for Best Screenplay, at that year’s postponed festival; and “The Novelist’s Film” that took home a Grand Jury Prize in 2022.

Hong’s 2018 effort “Hotel by the River” previously played in Locarno.

2024-08-05 13:47

Hong Sang-soo’s Locarno-Bound ‘By the Stream’ Set for North American Release (EXCLUSIVE)

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