Hur Jin-ho's political thriller 'Assassins,' which addresses the 1974 assassination attempt on former President Park Chung-hee, premiered as the opening film of the 37th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) despite calls from South Korea's ruling party to withdraw it. The festival firmly rejected external pressures, stating, "We will never screen censored works," and Hur expressed gratitude for the international film community's support for creative and expressive freedom.
According to Variety, 'Assassins' was screened at the opening ceremony held on October 21 at the Sands Theatre in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. After the credits rolled, Hur Jin-ho and Kim Won-guk, CEO of Hive Media Corp, took the stage to thank the audience. Hur stated, "I sincerely thank the festival for protecting artistic and cinematic freedom. This decision has given great courage to everyone involved in the film, including myself, the staff, and the actors."
This screening occurred two weeks after the ruling People Power Party demanded the film's cancellation. On October 6, all 109 party members sent a letter to the SGIFF executive chair, claiming the film distorts history and violates national sentiment. However, the festival's executive committee maintained its position, asserting that the film was recognized for its artistic achievement and contribution to Asian cinema.
Boo Junfeng, chair of the SGIFF board and a director invited to the Cannes Film Festival, revealed during the opening ceremony that there had been significant pressure to cancel the screening. He emphasized, "We view this film as an artistic interpretation of a historical event and respect the creator's vision. The festival's legacy is to uphold the principle of no censorship, ensuring that the creator's intent is delivered to the audience without alteration."
'Assassins' follows the story of police officers (Yoo Hae-jin) and journalists (Park Hae-il, Lee Min-ho) as they uncover the hidden truths behind the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo during the Liberation Day ceremony on August 15, 1974. The film has topped the box office in South Korea, surpassing 3 million viewers, but has faced intense political controversy, including protests and legal actions against its lead actors. The opening ceremony in Singapore was attended by prominent figures from the Asian film industry, including Indian filmmaker Amir Khan and Hong Kong director Jin Ga-shin, who came to witness the screening.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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