Claire's Camera
A charming and humorous film impression that takes place during a festival on the outskirts of Cannes. Fired by a jealous boss who has doubts about her honesty, Jeon Manhee (Min-hee Kim) wanders around the city in search of an idea about what to do further in life. She meets a French teacher named Claire (Isabelle Huppert), who is both melancholy and cheerful at the same time and who is taking Polaroid photos of passers-by, convinced that this is some sort of magic way to change their lives. Hong Sang-soo took advantage of the fact that both actresses were in Cannes to promote their films (The Handmaiden and Elle), and with his typical lightness rattled off a seemingly untroubled story filled with situational gags-and without a single bitter note. Alongside the atmosphere of a resort in the off-season, where everyone has chance encounters with everyone else and new friendships are quickly formed, is a reflection on the subject of art and the predisposition to be an artist, which the astute Claire seems to perceive in everyone.
Hong Sang-soo
Hong Sang-soo was born in 1961. After completing his studies in South Korea, he continued at universities in California and Chicago. He made his first feature film in 1996, The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well. Although often compared to the masters of French cinema, he is constantly developing his own style. The most important features of his work include an interest in moral dilemmas facing his characters, mise en abyme, and a subtle sense of humor. He is a favorite at international festivals. He has won numerous awards, including at Cannes, Rotterdam, and Locarno.
Selected filmography
2004 Woman Is the Future of Man / Yeojaneun namjaui miraeda
2005 A Tale of Cinema / Geuk jang jeon
2010 Hahaha
2010 Oki / Oki's Movie / Ok-hui-ui yeonghwa
2012 W innym kraju / In Another Country / Da-reun na-ra-e-seo