Provided by SVcom and Sunsu Film
Kim Min-Jong's first film in 20 years, ‘Florence (director Lee Chang-yeol)’, has been heightening expectations with a string of awards even before its release.
‘Florence’ won the Art Film Award at the ‘2025 Seoul International Film Awards’ held at Yongsan Dragon City in Seoul on the 10th. Earlier in October, at the U.S. ‘GlobalStage Hollywood Film Festival’, it swept three prizesBest Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Directorearning recognition for its quality and artistry. With wins spanning U.S. and Korean film festivals, expectations for its box-office performance are growing.
“A great deal of time has passed, and I am now able to stand before you again. The film ‘Florence’ was a precious experience that allowed me to capture the years I have lived through. Above all, through this film I realized that ‘pausing’ is not the end, but a process for starting again,” he conveyed his thanks.
“There comes a moment in life when anyone wants to stop. ‘Florence’ is a film that gently wraps around those unspoken feelings. I, too, was comforted by this film, and I hope it can offer a small strength to middle-aged viewers,” she said.
Provided by SVcom and Sunsu Film
Meanwhile, the film ‘Florence’ is a road movie that portrays Seok-in (Kim Min-Jong), a middle-aged man, blossoming again at the end of loss under the Florentine sun where his youthful passion once breathed, tracing a narrative of healing. Returning to the big screen after 20 years, Kim Min-Jong delivers a profound comfort to all by expressing time gone by and loss with delicate acting. Ye Ji-won plays ‘Yujeong’, a character who symbolizes the freedom and warmth of Florence, connecting Seok-in with the city and adding richness to the drama.
‘Florence’ was shot entirely on location in Florence, Italy, by cinematographer Lee Seong-je of the films ‘Crime City 4’, ‘Confidential Assignment’, and ‘The Yellow Sea’, fully capturing Europe's beautiful classical aesthetics and transporting viewers there. It also drew attention for obtaining, for the first time in a commercial film, permission to shoot inside the Florence Duomo.
Racking up awards even before release, ‘Florence’ opens on January 7 next year.
