Historic Achievement for Korean Cinema
Director Jeong Ju-ri has made history by becoming the first female Korean filmmaker to have three consecutive feature films selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Her latest work, “Dora,” joins her previous features — the debut “Dohee-ya” and follow-up “Next Sohee” — in achieving this prestigious recognition.
The film received its world premiere screening at the Theatre Croisette in Cannes, France, as an official selection of the Directors’ Fortnight section. This marks the first Korean entry in this particular program in three years.
A Warm Welcome from Festival Audiences
The screening drew a packed house filled with international film professionals and cinema enthusiasts. On stage before the showing, Jeong appeared alongside lead actress Kim Do-yeon, co-star Ando Sakura, and cinematographer Irina Lyubchanska to greet the audience.
“We finished this film just seven days ago — it’s fresh from the lab,” Jeong shared with visible emotion. “Meeting audiences here feels like a dream. I’m deeply grateful to these two actors and our cinematographer for bringing this story to life.”
Kim Do-yeon offered a brief but heartfelt greeting: “I’m Kim Do-yeon, who plays Dora in this film. I feel incredibly happy and thankful.”
Ando Sakura, who portrays the character Nami, added a lighthearted note: “This is my third time at Cannes, and I feel honored. Today will also be my first viewing of the film, so I have no idea what emotions it will bring.” Her playful comment brought warmth to the atmosphere.
The Story Behind “Dora”
“Dora” follows a family who leaves Seoul to spend a summer at a coastal villa. There, the title character — a young woman suffering from a mysterious illness — experiences her first romance, which begins to quietly unsettle the calm relationships and emotions around her.
The Directors’ Fortnight executive director described the film as a contemporary interpretation of Freud’s famous case study, focusing on the desires and inner fractures of a young woman. Jeong’s signature style of intense psychological depth and delicate observation is once again evident throughout.
In earlier interviews, the director identified “recovery” as a central theme: “A person who has truly recovered cannot return to what they were before. They become someone different. I want to call that a leap in one’s existence.”
What’s Next
Following its Cannes debut, “Dora” is scheduled for theatrical release in South Korea during the second half of this year. The film’s selection for a red carpet event — a rare honor for Directors’ Fortnight entries — underscores the strong anticipation surrounding the project.