The South Korean film ‘Gyeongju Trip’ is already making waves globally, garnering significant international attention even before its official domestic release. This powerful feature, bringing together formidable talents like Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon, has just achieved the impressive feat of being officially invited to the 24th Florence Korea Film Festival, hot on the heels of its successful world premiere at the 45th Hawaii International Film Festival.
‘Gyeongju Trip’ delves into a dark family revenge drama. It follows four women – a mother and her three daughters – who embark on a ‘killing’ trip eight years after their youngest daughter, Gyeongju, never returned from a school trip. The film’s compelling premise promises a profound exploration of grief, anger, and retribution.
The film’s journey began with its world premiere at the 45th Hawaii International Film Festival, held from October 16 to 26 last year. Critics lauded ‘Gyeongju Trip’ as a masterclass, describing it as a work that ‘skillfully combines dark humor with intense emotional density.’ Praise was especially directed at director Kim Mi-jo’s solid directing and the powerful ensemble performances delivered by Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon.
- ✨ Successful World Premiere: The film’s debut left audiences in Hawaii with a profound sense of shock, emotion, and powerful energy.
- 🗣️ Engaging GV Session: Director Kim Mi-jo and actress Lee Jung-eun, who plays the mother ‘Oksil’, personally attended the Guest Visit (GV) session, engaging in deep conversations with the audience and receiving enthusiastic responses.
The momentum from Hawaii is now set to sweep through Italy. ‘Gyeongju Trip’ has been officially invited to the Korean Horizon section of the 24th Florence Korea Film Festival, slated to run from March 19 to 28 this year. This prestigious section is renowned for carefully selecting and showcasing works that present new horizons for Korean cinema, making it a key competitive category.
- 💬 Festival Commendation: Jang Eun-young, Vice Chair of the Florence Korea Film Festival, articulated the invitation’s reasoning: “The film breaks the mold of revenge thrillers, skillfully portraying the sorrow and rage of losing a loved one with sharp humor, leaving audiences with a deep and powerful lingering impression.”
- 🎬 Unique Directorial Vision: She further highlighted director Kim Mi-jo’s unique directorial style, noting, “The film’s distinctive direction, which gradually reveals hidden family conflicts within the narrative flow, creates a very personal atmosphere.”
This is exactly the kind of raw, emotional powerhouse performance we live for. To see a Korean film garnering such passionate international acclaim before its domestic release speaks volumes about its undeniable impact.
With such enthusiastic responses from prestigious international film festivals, anticipation for ‘Gyeongju Trip’ is rapidly building. Audiences can look forward to experiencing this captivating film in theaters in 2026.
Editor: Jason Lee 🎤
