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Majidi takes Busan’s top competition prize
Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s “Bread and Books” won the Busan Award, the top competition prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, which concluded Oct. 15. The jury’s decision was announced during the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center in the city’s Haeundae district.
The festival, regarded as one of Asia’s leading film events, opened Oct. 6 and ran for 10 days. It screened 315 films across eight main theaters and drew more than 200,000 moviegoers, the first time attendance had passed that mark since 2015.
Actor Im Si-wan hosted the closing ceremony, where awards were announced for directing, acting, the jury’s special prize, artistic contribution and the New Currents section, in addition to the Busan Award.
A film dedicated to Iran and its children
Chinese director Zhang Lu, who won the prize last year for “The Twilight of Luomu,” presented Majidi with the trophy. In his acceptance remarks, Majidi spoke about his war-torn homeland, saying he hoped for “a world without war” and dedicating the honor to the Iranian people. He also remembered his late mother, whom he lost several months before filming, describing her as the protagonist of his cinema.
Speaking with reporters after the ceremony, Majidi described children as the future of a country and its treasures. He said showing the hardships children face through film was important to him. Making his first visit to South Korea, he also said he was struck by the enthusiasm of young festival audiences.
At the film’s first festival screening, Majidi dedicated the work to the Iranian people and the children of Minab, a city in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province. According to the account presented with the film, an elementary school there was struck by a U.S. missile on Feb. 28 after the war in Iran began, killing about 150 people, including roughly 120 children.
‘Bread and Books’ examines the burden placed on one teacher
“Bread and Books,” which had its world premiere at Busan, follows a poorly paid teacher in a remote village. When the school faces closure, he turns to oil smuggling as he struggles to keep his students fed and in class. The story examines what happens when responsibilities that should be borne collectively come to depend on one person’s goodwill.
The film’s Persian title, “Ghaza-ye Nimruz,” means “lunch.” Mohammad Rahimi plays the teacher, while cinematographer Hooman Behmanesh, who previously worked with Majidi on “Sun Children,” returned behind the camera.
Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who chaired the jury, said the panel unanimously selected the film and described it as the kind of movie he considers ideal. “Bread and Books” prevailed over 12 other films in the competition.
Busan victory creates a new path toward the Oscars
The win carries added significance for American awards audiences. Beginning this year, the Busan Award winner can qualify for submission to the Academy Awards’ international feature film category, making “Bread and Books” the first Busan grand-prize winner to receive that opportunity.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences changed its rules in May to recognize Busan’s top prize alongside qualifying awards from festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Toronto. Busan is the only Asian film festival included under that provision. The film must still satisfy Academy requirements, including theatrical exhibition conditions, and this route is separate from the official film submitted by each country.
Majidi, born in Tehran in 1959, has a long history with the Oscars. His 1997 film “Children of Heaven” became the first Iranian film nominated for what was then the Academy Award for best foreign-language film. Across films including “The Color of Paradise,” “Baran” and “Sun Children,” he has repeatedly approached poverty, labor and unequal access to education through the experiences of children. “Bread and Books” shifts attention toward an adult struggling to care for them.
Winners from across Asian cinema
Taiwanese filmmaker Li Yun-chan won best director for “To Be Ordinary.” Acting honors went to China’s Zhou Xun for “The Loneliness of First Meeting” and Japan’s Kashun Himeno for “Satoko Is Always.” Indonesian director Eddie Cahyono’s “My Mother” received the jury special prize, while sound director Li Danfeng won the artistic contribution award for “The Loneliness of First Meeting.” Shashank Walia’s “Birds in the Dark” won the New Currents award.
Busan introduced its competition section last year, making this its second edition. Thirteen films from South Korea and other Asian countries competed. The seven-member jury included Chinese director Bi Gan, Japanese director Kei Ishikawa, South Korean filmmaker July Jung and actor Choi Hee-seo, Vietnamese producer Diem Thi Bich Ngoc and Kazakh actor Samal Yeslyamova, with Zhang Yimou serving as jury chair.
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