‘Tristes Tropiques,’ action pic by Park Hoon-jung, gets Toronto launch

Park Hoon-jung, an in-demand director of action-noir films, will begin production this month on “Tristes Tropiques.” The picture will be launched to distributors on the sidelines of the Toronto International Film Festival by Finecut, which is to handle sales rights.

The film follows a group of young assassins affiliated with the Tristes Tropiques organization, which specializes in jungle warfare and is under the absolute rule of Master.

The production will be located in Thailand and run from September to December. Finecut reports that it will boast an international cast adept at diverse styles of action, but it offers no details of either the Korean or foreign elements.

“Tristes Tropiques” is produced by director Park’s own production company, Gold Moon Film and is co-produced by Mindmark, a content IP company owned by the Shinsegae department stores and duty-free shopping group. Its recent slate also includes “A Normal Family,” “Victory,” “Love Reset” and “Honey Sweet.”

It is also the fourth time that Finecut has represented a film by Park. It previously handled rights sales of 2013 hit “New World,” 2017’s “V.I.P.” and 2018 title “The Witch: Parts 1. The Subversion.”

Park began as a screenwriter before expanding into directing. He became known for screenplays of thr Ryoo Seung-wan-directed “The Unjust,” in 2010 and for Kim Jee-woon’s “I Saw the Devil.”
His directorial debut “The Showdown,” also in 2010, was followed by the Lee Jung-jae-starring hit “New World.” His 2021 Netflix original film “Night in Paradise” was selected for an out of competition slot in Venice. He recently also completed feature film “The Childe” and Disney+ series “The Tyrant.”

At Toronto’s unofficial market, Finecut will give a market screening of “Noise,” a horror-thriller about a woman with a hearing aid tormented by mysterious sounds linked to her sister’s disappearance. It will also appear in competition as the Sitges fantasy festival.

In a completely different register, Hong Sangsoo’s “By the Stream,” which debuted last month in Locarno, will have its North American premiere screening at Luminaries in Toronto. Finecut is again handling the rights.