Busan Jury President Zhang Yimou Weighs In on ‘The Assassin(s)’ History Row as Juror July Jung Says Her ‘Heart Feels So Cold’

By Naman Ramachandran

Naman Ramachandran

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Zhang Yimou, president of the Busan International Film Festival‘s competition jury, waded into the dispute over historical fact and creative freedom that has engulfed Korean cinema, telling a press conference on Wednesday that history itself is written by people.

The question from the press did not name a title, but the debate centers on Hur Jin-ho’s “The Assassin(s).”

“Specifically regarding the film you mentioned, I have not seen it, though I have noticed there are some controversies. It depends on each individual’s feelings,” Zhang said. “Creation and historical truth: what does historical truth really mean? History is also written by people, so is history itself truly real? Sometimes that in itself is a question mark.”

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