Yoon Jung-hee says expected "Poetry" to win Palme d'Or at Cannes

Published on 2010/05/27 | Source

Korean director Lee Chang-don (left) and actress Yoon Jung-hee at the press conference for film "Poetry" held in Seoul on May 26, 2010. [Film Marketing Agency Sister PR]

Veteran Korean actress Yoon Jung-hee, the heroine of Cannes' best screenplay winner "Poetry", has said that she had expected the pic to win the coveted Palme d'Or at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival over the weekend.

Speaking at the film's press conference, held Wednesday at Seoul's Hyundai Department Store in Shin-chon district, the actress explained that although the screenplay is "the most important thing in a movie", the huge reception the film received at the fest "made [her] dream of winning Palme d'Or".

"But the fact that our film was nominated at the greatest film festival in the world makes me happy", said the actress. "You probably know through reading the articles but there was a lot of praise by foreign media outlets".

Yoon went on to explain, "Director Tim Burton said my acting was the best and a film critic said he was upset that I didn't win. But I think that in itself is as good as winning the award".

In the film, Yoon played an elderly woman who learns how to write her own poems while fighting Alzheimer's -- a role that director Lee Chang-dong specifically created for her.

With her subtle portrayal of an old woman who experiences unexpected incidents in life, she was considered one of the favorites to take the best actress title. It eventually went to French actress Juliette Binoche who starred in "Certified Copy".

When Lee, also attending the press conference, said he would like to work with her again after she gets older, the 65-year-old actress beamed and remarked, "Thank you -- it is my wish to stay a movie star until the age of ninety".

Meanwhile, director Lee Chang-dong spoke of the pressure he felt over his film being in the run for the Palme d'Or at the film fest. "A film is a creation which contains its unique set of values and virtues, not something you can keep a score of or contend for victory. So the stress over feeling competitive because of people's expectations? That's what burdened me".

When asked why he thought the film won best screenplay, Lee joked that it was because there were not many films this year that had exceptionally good scripts.

He added however, "The head of jury, Tim Burton, told me that he was inspired and moved. I think on an emotional level, he got what the film was attempting to grasp an understanding of".

Lee, 55, is one of the most internationally acclaimed Korean filmmakers who directed his first feature film "A Single Spark" in 1995.

He has won numerous awards at international film events with his subsequent films "Peppermint Candy" (2000), "Oasis" (2003) and "Secret Sunshine" (2007) which took the best actress trophy at Cannes for Jeon Do-yeon.

Director Lee Chang-dong and actress Yoon Jung-hee [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]

From left, director Lee Chang-dong and actress Yoon Jung-hee attend a press conference for film "Poetry" held at Hyundai Department Store's U Plex in Seoul, South Korea on May 26, 2010. The film won the award for best screenplay at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.

Director Lee Chang-dong attends a press conference for film "Poetry" held at Hyundai Department Store's U Plex in Seoul, South Korea on May 26, 2010. The film won the award for best screenplay at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.

Lee Chang-dong [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]

Actress Yoon Jung-hee, heroine of Lee Chang-dong film "Poetry", attends a press conference held at Hyundai Department Store's U Plex in Seoul, South Korea on May 26, 2010. The film won the award for best screenplay at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.

Yoon Jung-hee [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]