CLAIRE’S CAMERA (KEUL-LE-EO-UI-KA-ME-LA) World Cinema

The first of two films by South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo in the festival this year, CLAIRE’S CAMERA is set against the backdrop of the Cannes Film Festival. Hong Sang-soo’s character study follows Man-hee as she tries to navigate the aftermath of being abruptly fired by her jealous boss. When she meets Claire, a teacher from Paris who takes her photo on the beach and offers some sage wisdom on her current predicament, a friendship is formed. A lighter and more whimsical take on Hong’s signature idiosyncratic style, the film’s charms and subtle humor are cemented by wonderful performances from leads Isabelle Huppert and Kim Min-hee. – Jenn Murphy