Ch.205Then tell them to come find me.

“This is the second one after ‘The Chaser’.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean a Korean film that’s already been released getting into the Midnight Screening.”

The Midnight Screening, a late-night film event held during the Cannes Film Festival.

Normally, films that haven’t been released yet are shown.

But exceptionally, there have been a few cases where released films were screened.

It was such a rare occurrence that I thought it wouldn’t happen again for a while.

Yet here we are with another one.

The key figures at Cannes were initially surprised by this,

But after watching “The Real Hero” in its entirety, they understood why it had been invited.

And based on that understanding, they came to see the short film “Cutting the Knot.”

What approach would a director who showed such power in a feature film take with a short?

Plus, with the same lead actor,

It was also a valuable opportunity to learn more about the lead actor.

Just before the film began,

Audience members who weren’t familiar with Korea quietly expressed their curiosity.

“But why couldn’t that… Donghu? Why couldn’t he come?”

“I heard he’s preparing for the Asian Games.”

“Asian Games? Why? Isn’t he an actor?”

“From what I found out, he’s also a boxer, the heavyweight champion from the Olympics two years ago.”

“What? Wait, so that Donghu is THIS Donghu?”

“Yes, I was shocked when I first heard it too. It’s just wow, wow.”

An Olympic heavyweight gold medalist boxer who’s also an actor?

This was a truth that even the Cannes veterans, who had seen it all, found hard to accept.

But amidst all this, there was someone taking it all very seriously.

‘If… this is true, does it mean he’s a person with both wildness and intellect?’

It was Bernard Ice, who was preparing the live-action adaptation of “Tarzan.”

The concentration and acting skills demonstrated through one-take filming techniques.

And now the ability to handle romance that would be shown through “Cutting the Knot.”

If all this was real.

And if he could also sing well in a musical format.

‘He… he is Tarzan.’

Enough to completely replace all the lead candidates he had in mind.

Why look for someone else when there’s a person who seems like the incarnation of Tarzan?

Of course, there were some concerns.

‘An Asian person imitating a monkey… no, should I say gorilla?’

Would this be accepted in places sensitive to racial discrimination?

But then again, perhaps this could be the true definition of political correctness.

‘To hell with political correctness, damn it all.’

If they were to follow the original “Tarzan” faithfully, a British person would be appropriate.

But in terms of appearance, Kim Donghu looked more British.

‘He’s exactly the Tarzan ideal I’ve been dreaming of.’

Should I say he has a perfect appearance that transcends East and West?

It’s only because he’s introduced as Asian that people see him that way.

If introduced as Western, people would surely believe it.

‘And who would think of racially discriminating against a heavyweight gold medalist boxer?’

Who wants to get beaten to death?

With that thought, Bernard Ice focused on the screen.

The short film “Cutting the Knot.”

Its beginning and middle continued with the perfect chemistry between the actors.

All while maintaining one persistent question.

‘So why are they breaking up?’

Is one of them terminally ill?

Or do they think they’re traveling with a deceased partner?

Amidst these numerous thoughts,

<“So why are we breaking up?”>

Finally, the question that would resolve this curiosity came from the woman.

++++++

“You’re asking why we’re breaking up now?”

Or do you already know and just want confirmation again?

The man driving glances at the woman through the rearview mirror.

His gaze lingers on that small mirror for a moment before abruptly breaking away.

“I’m looking for a reason so convincing it makes one feel helpless, makes one feel empty.”

“From me?”

“No, from us.”

“…I don’t know Japanese well.”

“Keep not knowing then, because I’m going to keep not speaking Korean.”

The car continues moving toward Busan Port.

The cramped car interior.

The suffocating air.

And between them, the vibe that only long-time lovers possess.

These mix together to create an atmosphere that’s both natural yet uncomfortable,

Awkward yet harmonious.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Suddenly?”

“Driving from Seoul to Busan is tough, should I take over for a bit?”

“You drive too slowly.”

“You drive too fast.”

The conversation seems like it might end, but it never does.

Like a fire just before it goes out,

Repeatedly leaving just an ember and then reviving it.

“Can’t we stop at the next rest area?”

“No, it’ll be too late.”

“What’s wrong with being late?”

“I don’t like being delayed.”

“Stubborn.”

“You’re just too laid-back.”

“If we miss the ferry… we can just stay at an inn for a night.”

“I’m trying to avoid that situation.”

Jingle jingle.

A couple of talismans hung under the rearview mirror,

Placed there to prevent accidents, make noise.

“I hate you.”

“I know.”

“You’re bad.”

“Yes.”

“But I still love you.”

“Me too.”

“Suddenly in Japanese?”

“We’re getting closer, just like back then.”

There are no flashback scenes.

Yet, through their dynamic, the past is naturally inferred.

That time when they first met at Busan Port.

It seeps naturally into the audience’s minds.

Through the woman and man’s gazes and emotions,

The trembling of their words conveys memories.

“I came on this trip so recklessly, not knowing anything.”

“Right, how could you know so little when visiting a neighboring country?”

“It was fine because you showed me around.”

“You’re speaking so primly.”

“When we first met, I was quite prim, wasn’t I?”

“You were, asking a stranger for directions, restaurants, everything, but never letting your guard down.”

“It was a foreign country… I was nervous, awkward. And you weren’t as affectionate then as you are now.”

“I’m still not affectionate.”

“I like how you say that while feeling shy.”

Love eventually has an end.

Even if it’s not in a destructive, ruinous form.

Some loves end like flowers that gradually fade.

We know why we have to break up.

Even if there’s no reason we need to accept.

We know why we need to cut this tightly tied knot.

Yes, not untie, but cut.

Before it breaks on its own from being tied too tight.

To prevent it from choking each other.

Screech.

The car finally stops at Busan Port.

This is where their 6-year story began.

Since it started here,

It’s fitting that it ends here too.

It’s time for farewell.

And at that moment,

“…Can’t I go with you?”

“No.”

Tears flow from the woman’s eyes, which she had been holding back all along.

“Or can I stay?”

“No.”

Droplets fall on the man’s cheek as he speaks firmly.

“…Why do we have to break up?”

“Because we no longer love each other.”

They doubted each other in unseen places.

They fought in visible ones.

They shouted at each other in anger.

And because they were close enough to know each other’s precious places,

They left deep wounds in places no one else could reach.

That fact doesn’t change.

It’s impossible to continue this story while covering that up.

In the final moment,

It’s too late to suddenly recall only the good memories and whisper love again.

This knot is already tied too tight.

Because it can’t be untied,

It must be forcibly cut.

“We’ve been so busy caring for each other that we’ve had too little time to care for ourselves.”

It’s just time to take that time now.

The man continued, saying he’d like her to think of it that way.

“How… how can you think that way? Does that make sense? It’s been 6 years, we’ve known each other for 6 years.”

To this, the woman rebuts as she always does.

She cries out with tears.

“I’m not saying let’s forget.”

“…Can you go back? To when we were still us?”

“The work is the same, you still sell romance, and I still sell fakes.”

The man crying calmly and the woman crying sorrowfully.

It’s time to become strangers.

Fearing they might tear apart even the memories that remained after only causing pain,

They wanted to stop before that happened.

This is already an agreed-upon story.

Yet, the heart understanding this is an entirely different matter.

“…I loved you.”

Finally, past tense words come from the woman’s mouth, not present.

It’s over now.

The woman makes that declaration in Korean.

“I truly loved you too, really, really, like never again.”

I will remember you.

Japanese words come from the man’s mouth.

And so the knot was cut.

Before it rotted and broke on its own,

They cut it first.

And at that moment,

The film comes to an end.

Click.

The lights come on,

And some audience members are in tears.

Reminded of similar experiences from their own past.

Because those poignant emotions were conveyed so well.

And simultaneously, the jury members thought,

‘Ah.’

It seems the winner of the Short Film Palme d’Or has been decided.

++++++

Day 12 of the Cannes Film Festival.

As the closing ceremony and awards ceremony are about to begin,

While France’s Cannes is buzzing due to the two films directed by Lee Seongdeok,

Colorado in the United States was buzzing for a different reason.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Just hearing the sound, one might think cannons were being fired.

But in reality, it was the sound of just one person hitting a punching bag.

Boom!

Boom!

With each hit to the punching bag, the metal chain above it sways precariously.

It might seem like ordinary training, but looking more broadly, it wasn’t.

Behind that one person,

Exhausted boxers can be seen sprawled out.

All of them spread-eagled, gasping for breath,

Making sounds of distress that don’t match their physiques.

“Donghu… you shouldn’t overdo it, you need to rest after sparring…”

“…Ha, don’t you know the more you say that to Donghu, the more shameful it is for us?”

“Why?”

“We’re exhausted because we got beaten badly. But the boss? The boss didn’t get hit once.”

Time taken to KO 12 people: about 13 minutes.

Even taking it easy because it was sparring, it took about a minute per person.

“I’m feeling good today, like something’s going to happen?”

Kim Donghu replied with a friendly smile,

And went back to hitting the punching bag.

No, he was about to.

“D-Donghu!”

“Yes?”

“D-Disney called…?”

Until Manager Seokho came with big news.

“Disney?”

“Y-yes… W-what is it? Why would they call? They said they want to speak directly with you…?”

He roughly knew what it was about.

But even so, to ignore Manager Seokho and want to contact him directly.

“Tell them to come here.”

“What, huh? Yes?”

“I don’t like their attitude, tell them to come in person.”

They shouldn’t disrespect our manager.

He represents the company.