Actress Kim Min-hee is returning to the screen approximately two years after giving birth. This comes as director Hong Sang-soo's new film, 'Nowhere to Look,' has been officially invited to the International Competition section of the 79th Locarno Film Festival.
Distributor Finecut announced on the 10th that director Hong's 35th feature film, 'Nowhere to Look,' has entered the International Competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival held in Switzerland.
The Locarno Film Festival, which began in 1946, is considered one of the oldest film festivals in the world and is renowned for introducing works with strong artistic and auteurist tendencies.
The project is drawing significant attention as it marks the acting comeback of Kim, who gave birth to a son with director Hong last year. It has been about two years since Kim was officially credited as an actress following the 2024 release of 'Suyucheon,' making this her first return to acting since childbirth.
In released still photos, Kim, wearing a brown coat, gazes into the camera under a blue sky, heightening anticipation for the film.
Kim has consistently participated in Hong's films as production staff, such as a production manager, and she serves as both the production manager and an actress in this latest work.
The film follows Sang-hee, who was raised by her grandparents following her parents' divorce, as she and her younger brother travel to Jeju Island to find their mother. The cast includes Kim Min-hee, Choi Myung-gil, Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Seok-ho, and Park Mi-so.
Director Hong once again took charge of directing, screenwriting, cinematography, sound recording, editing, and music for the film.
Following 'Our Sun-hee' (2013), 'Right Now, Wrong Then' (2015), and 'The Riverside Hotel' (2018), this marks Hong's fifth invitation to the Locarno Film Festival competition section. Notably, 'Right Now, Wrong Then' previously won the festival's highest prize, the Golden Leopard.
Hong and Kim formed an In-Yun through the film 'Right Now, Wrong Then' in 2015 and acknowledged their romantic relationship at an official event in 2017. As Hong's divorce lawsuit with his spouse was dismissed in 2019, he remains legally married.
'Nowhere to Look' is scheduled to be released domestically in the second half of this year following its premiere at the Locarno Film Festival.
