First Look: Na Hong-jin’s ‘Hope’

Here’s our first look at Na Hong-jin’s “Hope,” starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Hoyeon, alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton.

“Hope” was shot in early 2023 and has since gone through an arduous editing process, with tons of footage for Na to go through, culminating in its selection to vie for the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

There’s a persistent rumor that this might actually be “part one” of a two-part saga, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Neither has the runtime, though the Cannes boss has said it is well over two hours.

Set in the isolated village of Hope Harbor, near Korea’s DMZ. The story begins with reports of a tiger sighting, prompting the local police chief (Hwang Jung-min) to investigate. But what starts as a routine rural emergency quickly snowballs into something far stranger—a cosmic mystery that begins to unravel the town’s grip on reality.

Na’s last film, “The Wailing,” released 10 years ago, played out of competition at Cannes and remains one of the most quietly influential Korean films of the past decade—a supernatural procedural that mutates into something far more unclassifiable.

Although Korean cinema’s international profile has long been dominated by names like Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, Lee Chang-dong, and Kim Ji-woon, it’s time Na Hong-jin got the same level of recognition. If you need a reminder why, go watch another gem from his filmography, “The Chaser” — one of the most vicious thrillers of the 21st century.

With “Hope,” Na will be competing for the Palme d’Or for the first time in his career.