Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 136

Former Hero is a Million-Dollar Actor – Episode 136 (136/199)

Cannes International Film Festival (3)

* * *

Lights illuminate the massive stage, and the presenters step up to the long microphones.

Jean-Louis, a French film critic from , whispered to his colleague beside him.

“Who looks like a strong contender?”

“For the Palme d’Or?”

“Best Director and Best Picture too. Let’s exclude Best Actor since that’s up to their tastes.”

The colleague stroked his bushy chin, lost in thought.

“I’m not sure. My gut says ‘The Week,’ but surprisingly, ‘Black Exorcist’ is a dark horse. They might give it an ‘Asian Special’.”

“An ‘Asian Special’? From that Lamboche?”

Jean-Louis stifled a hollow laugh.

The chairman of the jury this year, Lamboche, is an eccentric meritocrat.

He himself is of mixed French and Argentinian heritage, and he’s not the type to engage in so-called ‘dividing the spoils’ because of his background.

“It would make a good story. Asian films, especially from Korea, have been scarce for years.”

“That’s also a prejudice. Didn’t you see the score given by Screener Daily?”

“Media scores are meaningless. You shouldn’t forget that, especially after seeing the results firsthand last year.”

Cannes’ official daily, , gave that terrifying occult film a score in the 4s.

However, the scores from the daily and the jury don’t always align.

Since their directions often diverge, it’s not uncommon for a film with a score in the 2s to take home the Palme d’Or, as it did last year.

“Fine, I’ll bet $100 that the occult film won’t win the Palme d’Or.”

The colleague made a strange face.

“What? Not ‘it will win’?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been thinking about ‘Black Exorcist’ from the start. Just watch, it’ll win at least Best Director.”

“$100 earned, heh heh.”

Following that, awards were given out in numerous categories.

International Federation of Film Critics Award in the independent section, Documentary Award, Citizen Award, Cannes Soundtrack Award…

Since it’s such a large film festival, there are over thirty award winners in the independent section alone.

Immediately after, short films, the Caméra d’Or [Golden Camera, for best first feature film], ‘Un Certain Regard’ [a competition section focusing on original and different works], and other more impactful works were announced, raising the atmosphere.

“Caméra d’Or, Elliot Uzi.”

“Lifetime Achievement Award, Nick Whittaker.”

“Un Certain Regard, Grand Prize… The Wildflowers of the Hearth.”

The awards continued one after another.

Amidst applause and cheers, the winners ascended the stage, and countless flashes created an island of light.

Once the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section concluded with the Grand Prize, it was finally the competition section.

In the VIP seats near the middle of the hall, Kim Ryul, sitting next to Park Geon, tilted his head slightly.

“I remember the old days. I was sitting here then too, in the middle of the Grand Bell Awards [South Korea’s equivalent of the Academy Awards].”

Although he missed out on the Best Actor award back then, the glory of Best Picture went to Kim Ryul and the entire ‘Black Exorcist’ team.

Was he reminiscing about that time? When there was no response from Park Geon, Kim Ryul carefully called out again.

“Park Geon?”

“Ah, Director.”

“What are you thinking so hard about? It’s time for the competition section.”

Park Geon blinked slowly. He seemed as if he had just woken up from a long sleep.

“I was also just… thinking about the old days.”

“You mean the Grand Bell Awards?”

The next presenter came forward, and the newly established ’80th Anniversary Special Award’ was announced.

Amidst the applause, a low voice spoke.

“Even before that.”

Next to him, Park Seon, Lee Jang-mi, and CEO Tae Jong-beom were sitting in order, holding hands tightly.

“Dad, Mom, please give our team strength…”

“God of Heaven and Earth, or the French god, please let us win just one…”

The two were lost in their respective prayers. Lee Jang-mi, shaking her head, stared at Park Geon across the aisle.

‘…That oppa [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends] is doing that again.’

Her eye for detail was closer to a detective than an actress. Lee Jang-mi remembered the moment Kim Ryul was about to receive the award at the Grand Bell Film Festival.

Park Geon’s pupils dilated as he watched the stage, then lost focus and drifted into the air.

Almost as if… he was seeing some illusion visible only to him.

‘Even someone who doesn’t get glassy-eyed no matter how much alcohol they drink, only did that at that time.’

It was the same immediately after the awards ceremony. Until Kim Ryul, his eyes red, returned with a bouquet of flowers, Park Geon remained seated, motionless.

Everyone was so excited that they didn’t notice, but she saw her colleague gripping the armrest of the chair until his knuckles turned white.

‘It was like that at the Grand Bell Awards, so maybe Cannes is…’

Even as Lee Jang-mi pondered, the awards ceremony proceeded breathlessly.

After the Spanish actress from ‘Nest,’ who won Best Actress, shed tears,

“Best Actor, Gun, Park.”

The upset started with the Best Actor award.

“······.”

At first, there was silence. Because most of the audience didn’t know who he was due to the unfamiliar name.

And when Park Geon, who had risen from the middle row, walked down the steps of the hall,

An enthusiastic cheer finally erupted.

Jean-Louis and his fellow reporters, sitting in the press box, were also impressed.

“An actor? Wow, he’s like a priest. I’d believe he just jumped out of the screen!”

“Don’t be surprised, just have $100 ready.”

“What are you saying? Winning Best Actor lowers the odds of winning the Palme d’Or [Golden Palm, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival] even more.”

Although Cannes’ doors are open to the world, its fundamental preference for conservative factions remains unchanged.

It’s even more difficult for an occult film… especially for a Korean actor who hasn’t yet built a sufficient global presence, to win Best Actor.

If it had been normal, the reaction wouldn’t have been this great, but all the invitees here had watched ‘Black Exorcist.’

They saw Seo Yo-han and Lee Jang-mi, the unbelieving priest fighting his own hell, so they could accept the result.

In the front row, an elderly actress who won Best Actress last year stroked her wrinkled cheeks.

“The priest in black… he really appeared in Cannes wearing his cassock [a long, close-fitting garment worn by clergy]. Do you remember what I said, Karel?”

The actor next to her replied politely.

“Yes, you said an actor to watch had appeared.”

“That’s right. It reminded me of Farrell Winds, a bygone master of method acting.”

The name of her close friend, a legendary figure who once dominated Hollywood, flowed out.

While Park Geon was calmly giving his acceptance speech, a commotion broke out upstairs.

“Jackpot, it’s really Best Actor!”

“Nice! Seon-ah! I knew those guys were blind at the Grand Bell Awards.”

“CEO, you’re being too loud!”

“Who cares? This is France anyway!”

Before the excitement could subside, the award for Best Screenplay was announced.

‘The Week,’ and Best Director went to ‘O’Sherlock Much.’

That’s how expectations usually are. They waited with bated breath, hoping for the best, but even the Jury Prize went to ‘The Week.’

An overwhelming race with one strong contender and two in the middle.

The situation was becoming likely that ‘The Week’ would sweep the Best Screenplay, Jury Prize, and Palme d’Or, with ‘Black Exorcist’ and ‘O’Sherlock Much’ each receiving one major award.

Soon, the presenter stood before the microphone.

“It’s a beautiful night. No need to drag it out any longer, right? I will announce the protagonist of Cannes’ highlight, the Palme d’Or, which so many VIPs are waiting for.”

The presenter, after opening the envelope, looked at the card for a moment, then smiled slightly and announced.

“Palme d’Or, Black Exorcist.”

This time, a tidal wave swept through the hall. The ‘Black Exorcist’ team, led by Park Geon, crossed the space filled with silence and cheers, applause and astonishment.

Park Geon, Lee Jang-mi, Kim Ryul, and finally the director and two lead actors, took the stage.

As they say, there is no teacher as perfect as experience. Director Kim Ryul, with a calmer expression than at the Grand Bell Awards ceremony, grabbed the microphone first.

“This film was completed in just about six months.”

He looks calm on the outside, but his voice is trembling slightly. The acceptance speech continued amidst the attentive listening.

“A film is completed with the beliefs of many people. I dedicate the glory of the Palme d’Or to all the staff who couldn’t be here, who burned their passion for a common goal in a tight time frame.”

The next speaker was Lee Jang-mi. She gave her acceptance speech in short, concise English.

“It’s not limited to Asian culture. Korean films are strong in themselves.”

As Lee Jang-mi’s assertion ended, applause poured out once again. The old master, Scott Gerald, was also clapping contentedly in the front row.

And finally, it was Park Geon’s turn.

Although the director and leading actress exuded tremendous potential, the alpha and omega of this film was, no matter what anyone said, the priest in the jet-black cassock.

Naturally, more attention was focused on him than on the previous two.

“It took a long time.”

Park Geon, who started with an enigmatic statement as Kim Ryul had, slowly looked around the hall.

As if the long-cherished desire he was looking for was somewhere out there.

“I’m glad I could find what I had forgotten while traveling far away, in a distant place again. Even if it’s just a small fragment.”

It’s not an ordinary acceptance speech thanking his parents, God, the director, or the staff.

But… is it because of the role he played? Or is it because of that long suit wrapped around his body?

Even with that prayer-like acceptance speech, the invitees were captivated and drawn in, listening intently.

Park Geon, who had taken his hand off the microphone, added a word as he was about to turn around.

“As someone who was once a seminarian, I’ll conclude with a favorite maxim.”

O you who walk beneath the high heavens,

Beware the light.

*

Before returning home, a boisterous party was held on a ship.

A cruise ship floats under the night sky, and champagne glasses clink everywhere.

“You must come visit? Besides obvious cities like Nice, France has a lot to see.”

“Oh, what are you saying? Of course, we have to go sightseeing. I hear Korean food is so delicious…”

Because of the people surrounding Park Geon, the ‘Black Exorcist’ crew was pushed far away, unintentionally enjoying some tranquility.

Any foreign press is curious about someone who is gaining fame in another country.

He is undoubtedly the protagonist of Cannes.

It’s only natural that people flock to the actor who won Best Actor and the Palme d’Or, and who has a special connection with Paris through Fashion Week.

Also, he’s so big and tall that you can’t even see hyung [older brother] because of the people surrounding him. Park Seon gave up after standing on tiptoe and sipped grape juice.

‘I’m glad hyung [older brother] doesn’t look tired…’

Thanks to that, there’s hardly any time for just the two of them, so he couldn’t even ask what that acceptance speech meant.

‘Well, I just have to bear with it until we get on the plane.’

As Park Seon swallowed his disappointment, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes was shaking hands with Geon.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Raymond.”

The face recognition for tonight is already close to saturation.

Actors, directors, producers, and writers. It’s hard enough for Roman to remember other celebrities, let alone all of them.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t be rude to a guest.

Geon shook the hand he was holding briefly and released it.

“I’m Park Geon.”

“Congratulations. I watched it forgetting to breathe. You use your body very well.”

“Body, you mean…”

The man moved his hand a few times in the air.

“Literally, action. I don’t know what kind of muscles they are, but not only your face but also your toes were perfectly coordinated. I was so amazed while watching.”

There’s no way a foreign official across the sea could have seen his other works.

Also, when filming ‘Black Exorcist,’ he deliberately mixed clumsy movements into the action to bring out Seo Yo-han’s character.

If he can infer that much from just a few cuts in that movie, it must be one of two things.

Either he’s filmed countless actions… or he’s an actor who knows how to use his body himself.

“Are you an actor?”

The man nodded casually.

“I also act, write scripts… well, that’s not important. I’m going to do a big project in my next work.”

“A big blockbuster?”

“That’s right. To do that, local location scouting becomes extremely important. Kim, the director who made this movie, seemed to be like that too.”

Geon nodded.

“There’s a visual beauty that’s hard to express with CG [computer-generated imagery].”

“That’s right. And that smell, the air, the moisture that digs into the skin and blurs the camera! These things constantly lead me to new places.”

The man, who had been talking to himself for a while, suddenly looked at him.

“Anyway, if you don’t have a next project, let’s work together. I came to scout for a good actor.”

“At the film festival?”

“Of course. People who have won awards may have higher prices, but I’m confident that they won’t miss out on good works. If they don’t know that, they may be good at acting, but their eye is terrible.”

It’s an arrogant statement at first glance, but you can feel a firm confidence in his expression.

It will probably be helpful. To the returnee who received an unexpected gift in Cannes and has to climb another step.

‘…That hallucination, I heard it again.’

There are no five. Beware the light.

Even if the memories have been lost, it’s strange if he doesn’t notice this much.

Those hallucinations are aimed at one place… right at the high heavens.

“Please send me the scenario. As soon as I return home, I will review it as soon as possible.”

The man’s sharp eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t expected this reaction.

Geon looked up at the night sky in Nice.

“I still have a long way to go too.”

* * *