In truth, the Hollywood veteran director Danny Landis wasn’t particularly interested in the film Leech. He was practically dragged to this year’s Cannes Film Festival as well. He found it bothersome, but came here half-heartedly due to persistent requests from his acquaintances.
That was just his nature.
He enjoyed watching films from various countries, but the fact that hundreds of thousands of people crowded around made his head spin. He started directing films because he loved making them, but as his fame skyrocketed, he found it unpleasant to meet so many people who approached him with ulterior motives.
Still, since he had come, he figured he might as well do what he wanted. That was about the extent of his attitude.
The same went for ‘Leech’.
It was the only Korean film among the 20 works in the ‘In Competition’ section of the Cannes Film Festival. Nothing more, nothing less.
‘It’s a film by Director Ahn Ga-bok.’
Many of the people he met here had brought up Leech as a conversation topic. Some said it was Cannes trying to make up for past mistakes, others mentioned that it was about maintaining balance, or that it reflected the rising status of Korean cinema, and so on. Since there was only one Korean film, it did feel somewhat out of place.
Danny scoffed inwardly.
‘Cannes might have considered its public image, but still, it’s Cannes. There’s no way they’d pick a film just for that image.’
The reason he wasn’t particularly interested in Leech wasn’t because it was a Korean film. Rather, Director Ahn Ga-bok’s unique film style didn’t align with his own tastes. Danny had watched one of Ahn’s films a few years ago, and while it was of high quality overall, he wouldn’t say it resonated with him. Danny Landis simply hadn’t been moved by it.
It was simply the perspective of an audience member.
No matter how powerful Danny was in Hollywood, his principle was to always watch other directors’ works purely from the viewpoint of an audience member. That said, he did recognize Ahn Ga-bok as a great director.
‘In any industry, maintaining that level of quality for decades deserves respect.’
Though their styles didn’t match, great directors recognize other great directors.
This was Danny’s mindset until the morning of the 2nd, right up to the first screening of Leech, the third film in the ‘In Competition’ section. His attitude was, “Since I’m already here, I might as well give it another try.” After all, the style of Ahn Ga-bok’s films might have changed since then.
The Palais des Festivals’ 3,000-seat Lumière Theater was fully packed.
Among the crowd were top-tier directors, actors, influential figures in the film industry, reporters, and so on, including Danny. Snippets of their conversations occasionally reached his ears.
“Haha, I wonder if the crowd is this big because it’s the only Korean film?”
“Everyone’s curious. There were rumors that Cannes selected it out of consideration for appearances.”
“Ah, I heard that too. Well, we’ll see now if that rumor’s true or not. But Director Ahn Ga-bok has had good results at Cannes before.”
“I know. That’s why they’re saying it won’t be too obvious.”
Their conversations leaned more towards curiosity than expectation.
“Just looking at the ‘Leech’ poster, doesn’t the content seem obvious?”
“Hmm- To me, it seems like a success story about a man who desires wealth.”
“Ah! Right, I heard that’s a common theme in Korean films. Stories about turning one’s life around.”
“Hahaha, it’s a bit refreshing.”
“But if that’s all there is to it, it might be a bit disappointing.”
Occasionally, the subject would turn to the male lead who occupied 70% of the Leech poster.
“That actor is that guy, right? The one who walked the red carpet with Miley Cara at the opening. Was his name Kang Woojin?”
“Ah, right. I recognize the other Korean actors on the poster, but Kang Woojin is unfamiliar. Is he a rookie?”
“I heard he debuted not too long ago.”
“He’s lucky then. Debuting and getting invited to Cannes shortly after.”
“His acting might be a bit lacking.”
Clearly, they were talking about Kang Woojin.
“Is this actor not coming to the morning screening?”
“He definitely drew attention when he walked the red carpet with Miley Cara. I hope his acting is above average.”
“Do you really think someone with just decent skills would be invited to Cannes?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Still, isn’t the storyline of the protagonist’s success story a bit cliché?”
While some were also comparing it with the Japanese film screened yesterday, Danny Landis, listening quietly, propped his chin on his hand. The atmosphere of the theater felt somewhat ambiguous as well, but if Leech was really about the success story of a protagonist longing for wealth…
“Hmm- doesn’t seem like it would be particularly interesting.”
It wasn’t the kind of story that intrigued him.
And so, Leech began.
-♬♪
After the title sequence, Korean actor Kang Woojin appeared on the massive screen. Though his dialogue was in Korean, there were subtitles in French right beneath, and English subtitles even lower.
For the first ten minutes or so, the initial atmosphere among the 3,000 audience members remained steady.
The protagonist, who had no money, and the characters from a wealthy conglomerate family who appeared in his life. Danny and most of the audience had expressions that said “of course”. However, Danny’s expression subtly shifted when,
‘……Sign language?’
It was the moment when Kang Woojin-or rather, Park Ha-seong in Leech-began to perform intricate sign language.
“Huh- that clearly doesn’t look like something learned just for the film.”
Usually, during film production, actors practice various skills and abilities according to their character’s role. However, no matter how much they practice, it’s extremely difficult to make it look truly authentic. Yet, the sign language performed by Kang Woojin on screen didn’t feel rehearsed at all.
On the contrary,
‘It’s barely noticeable, but that actress seems to have practiced.’
Veteran actress Oh Hee-ryeong showed slight signs of imitation. It was a very subtle difference, but to the seasoned eyes of Danny Landis, it was evident. He had encountered tens of thousands of actors over the years, after all. But in Kang Woojin’s sign language, there was no trace of imitation.
If so, there was only one answer.
‘Did they cast an actor who already knew how to do it?’
They must have found someone proficient in sign language beforehand and cast him. Danny slowly nodded. But as Leech continued,
‘……Hmm?’
As Kang Woojin’s performance unfolded, Danny Landis’s posture changed. He let go of his chin, his eyes widening. Several times, he pushed his round glasses back up.
‘What’s this?’
Leech, and more specifically, Kang Woojin’s acting, gradually began to overwhelm the 3,000 audience members. Leech wasn’t just another protagonist’s success story. At first glance, the early scenes suggested it might be, but as the story escalated, it flowed in a completely different direction.
The 3000 audience members, including Director Danny Landis, who were world-renowned figures, began to murmur.
‘They suddenly let the protagonist into the house?’
Of course, inwardly.
‘The husband is keeping the wife in check.’
‘Is he trying to use him to subdue his mute wife?’
‘He’s trying to kill her.’
‘Is he going to kill his wife? What could be the reason for that?’
Everyone was getting absorbed into Leech as if they were being pulled in.
‘A success story? No……this is a story I’ve never seen before??’
It went far beyond what anyone had expected, into a narrative they had never encountered before. And what solidified it all, of course, was the acting of the cast. Among them, the one who shone the most was,
‘That protagonist is carrying the entire film, both in terms of acting and atmosphere. His aura is-remarkable.’
Park Ha-seong, in other words, Kang Woojin.
By this point, in the eyes of the Hollywood master Director Danny, only…
‘‘Ripley Syndrome’? Is that what I’m seeing right now?’
Only Kang Woojin was visible. There was no room to pay attention to anything else. Woojin’s performance had completely captivated Danny’s eyes and ears. Especially, from the moment Park Ha-seong set foot into the fictional chaebol world, Kang Woojin’s acting was jaw-droppingly impressive. It wasn’t really evident in the film’s direction. None of the characters in the film articulated it.
But it was clearly visible.
In the minds of Danny Landis and the 3,000 people gathered in the theater, one word flashed. Ripley Syndrome.
‘That subtle eye movement, expression of emotions, and the intricacy of actions. Acting? Can what I’m seeing even be called acting?’
The acting of the Korean actor on the massive screen was both kind and violent. His pupils gradually became clouded with desire, but his movements and the intensity of his dialogue were unflinchingly calm.
It had to be that way.
‘He’s believing it, that everything he sees or feels now was actually his world all along.’
There wasn’t even a speck of the scent of ‘imitation’ to be found. As Leech progressed from the middle to the latter half, Kang Woojin’s character began to subtly erase his earlier self. The change was so minuscule that unless the audience paid close attention, they wouldn’t notice it at all.
It wasn’t about precision.
‘That actor- is he really an actor?’
Kang Woojin on the screen was presenting an ‘illusion’ to Danny and the 3,000 members of the audience. The star actors who had gathered for this Cannes Film Festival were all well-known figures, but Kang Woojin, now in his second year, was essentially an unknown. That only fueled the misunderstanding. After all, who here would immediately believe Woojin’s groundbreaking filmography if they heard it?
Gradually.
‘C-could it be? Did Director Ahn Ga-bok… actually cast someone with Ripley Syndrome to play this role??’
The brain of the Hollywood veteran, Danny Landis, began to tangle itself in confusion. And it wasn’t just him. The 3,000 audience members from all over the world, attending the first screening of Leech, were no different.
‘Is it acting? Or is it real? It’s confusing.’
‘Why am I…getting goosebumps? That actor, his appearance now is so different from the beginning. It’s like-a cold deranged man.’
‘Did they really cast someone who actually has Ripley Syndrome?! How else could someone deliver such a raw, vivid performance?!’
‘But… if they really cast someone with Ripley Syndrome, then Director Ahn Ga-bok must be insane too.’
By this point, everyone realized the true meaning hidden within the Leech poster. Ah, this wasn’t just a success story of a man, it was a portrayal of Ripley Syndrome. Clearly, with its first screening, ‘Leech’ had dealt a heavy blow to the back of the heads of many celebrities attending the Cannes Film Festival.
Even after the film ended, for over five minutes, no one moved an inch.
But this was only the beginning.
Many key figures, including the 10 official jury members and many people related Kang Woojin, were scheduled to attend the second screening in the afternoon. That showing, too, was fully booked with 3,000 seats.
In other words, there was still one more step to go.
At the same time.
At 11 a.m., after the first screening of Leech had concluded at 9 a.m., when Park Ha-seong and Ripley Syndrome were intensely imprinted in everyone’s minds, Kang Woojin was sprawled out on the bed in his 5-star hotel room. He was breathing faintly, almost as if he were dead, on the vast white bed.
“……”
At a glance, one might think he was dead, but he was in a deep sleep. He had overexerted himself from the Cannes Film Festival’s opening ceremony until the 1st, the day before. While he had managed to maintain a tough exterior as part of his concept, the unfamiliar environment and the tension that had built up had left him exhausted. If it weren’t for the Void Space, he wouldn’t have survived the first two days.
“Umm-”
Kang Woojin slowly opened his eyes. But he didn’t get up right away. He just yawned widely with his hair in disarray. Groggily, he ran his hands across the bed to grab his phone. He checked the time.
“Whoa-shit, 11 o’clock? Haven’t slept in this late in ages.”
In fact, the ten days of the Cannes Film Festival felt more like a vacation for Kang Woojin. Of course, there were various events and schedules during the festival, including the opening ceremony, but compared to his usual schedule in Korea, things were relatively relaxed until the closing ceremony and awards. Especially today, the day of Leech’s screening, things were even more laid-back.
“Let’s see, the second screening of Leech is at 7 p.m. I guess I can start getting ready around 4 p.m.?”
Woojin’s team, including Choi Sung-gun, were also moving around freely. They were too busy sightseeing. Anyway, Woojin, who had finally managed to get up, grabbed a bottle of water from the table. At the same time, he picked up his phone again.
“Let’s see how they’re doing~”
There was a lot to check. This included the situation in Korea, where Kang Woojin had even turned the Cannes Film Festival upside down with his walk down the red carpet, the Japanese side where The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger had just begun its preview screening and it also having two films in the Cannes ‘In Competition’ section, the reactions to Miley Cara’s new album teaser, the status of Woojin’s SNS, and even the status of Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego.
Of course, he also had to check the piled-up messages, including texts and DMs.
At that moment,
-Buzz, buzzzz.
The phone on the bed emitted a long vibration. It was a call. Woojin paused and checked the caller. It was PD Song Man-woo. The Beneficial Evil team should have returned to Korea by now. Woojin, tilting his head slightly in curiosity, cleared his throat before answering. He prepped his usual low tone and brought the phone to his ear.
“Yes, PD-nim.”
There was some background noise on PD Song Man-woo’s side. It seemed to be from the Beneficial Evil set. Even though Woojin wasn’t there, filming had to continue.
“Woojin-ssi, sorry to bother you when you must be busy with the Cannes Film Festival. It must be hectic, right?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Haha. I’ve been keeping up with the news. Did you see how Korea is going crazy over your appearance on the red carpet? Apparently, Japan is too.”
After the small talk, PD Song Man-woo shifted the conversation.
“Ah, since you’re busy, I’ll get straight to the point. It’s about Beneficial Evil. There’s something that’s been decided rather urgently. But it’s not a small matter.”
Woojin, listening calmly, thought to himself.
‘So what? Does this mean the launch is being pushed forward?’
He answered in a low voice.
“I don’t mind.”
A few minutes later, Woojin suddenly entered the Void Space. What he checked was, of course, Beneficial Evil among the white rectangles.
-[9/Script (Title: Beneficial Evil), EX grade]
Kang Woojin smiled.
“Well, fortunately, there’s no change.”
About an hour later.
Around 1 PM. A 5-star hotel located about 10 minutes away from the Palais des Festivals, the main venue of the Cannes Film Festival. It wasn’t the hotel where Kang Woojin was staying, and the large restaurant inside was bustling with guests due to lunch hour. Most of them were attendees of the Cannes Film Festival.
Among them-
“Are you sure that director asked to have lunch with us?”
“Yes, I was surprised when I got the call too.”
At a 4-person table near the entrance, two familiar figures could be seen. Giant Joseph Felton and CD Megan Stone. They were seated side by side, not across from each other, and judging by their conversation, they seemed to be waiting for someone.
At that moment,
-Swish.
An older foreign man entered the restaurant. It was none other than the Hollywood’s master Director Danny Landis. As soon as he entered the restaurant, he immediately spotted Joseph and Megan.
“……”
Without saying a word, he walked straight toward them. Joseph and Megan, realizing he was approaching, turned their attention to him. After shaking hands with them, Danny sat down and immediately asked a question. His expression was serious.
“I saw Leech this morning. Kang Woojin- does he suffer from Ripley Syndrome? Did Director Ahn Ga-bok cast him specifically for that?”
Joseph was slightly taken aback by the direct question. Megan was equally surprised. For the record, Joseph hadn’t seen Leech yet. He was scheduled to watch the 7 PM screening later that day. However, recalling Kang Woojin and the ‘Ripley Syndrome’ he had witnessed during the filming of Leech, Joseph smiled leisurely and replied.
“That’s impossible. Kang Woojin is an actor. Everything you saw was just his acting.”
Danny paused for a moment, wiping his sweaty forehead.
“……Acting. Are you sure?”
“I’d bet my life on it.”
“Huh- so you’re telling me that character was created purely through acting. My goodness, he didn’t seem that old, yet he had that level of tension. Impressive. Was he a child actor?”
Joseph exchanged a glance with Megan before chuckling.
“No, this is Kang Woojin’s second year since his debut.”
At that instant, Danny Landis, the Hollywood big shot, frowned deeply and asked again.
“…Second year since debut?? Are you joking with me right now?”