By MICHAEL GINGOLD
It’s the directorial debut of a filmmaker who has worked with the industry’s best.
Variety reports that Magnet Releasing, the genre banner of Magnolia Pictures, has picked up North American rights to SLEEP, with release set for next year. The film, which world-premiered during the critics week at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is the feature directorial debut of Jason Yu, who also scripted and whose previous experience includes serving as assistant director on OKJA for the celebrated Bong Joon-ho, who called SLEEP “the most unique horror film and the smartest debut film I’ve seen in 10 years.” The synopsis: “[SLEEP] follows newlyweds Hyun-su [Lee Sun-kyun] and Soo-jin [Jung Yu-mi], whose domestic bliss is disrupted when Hyun-su begins speaking in his sleep, ominously stating, ‘Someone’s inside.’ From that night on, whenever he falls asleep, Hyun-su transforms into someone else, with no recollection of what happened the night before. Overwhelmed with anxiety that he may hurt himself or their young family, Soo-jin can barely sleep because of this irrational fear. Despite treatment, Hyun-su’s sleepwalking only intensifies, and Soo-jin begins to feel that her unborn child may be in danger.”
“Jason Yu has fashioned an incredibly well-realized debut with SLEEP,” say Magnolia co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley in a statement. “We’re thrilled to introduce U.S. audiences to a new, distinctive voice in the long tradition of visionary South Korean cinema.”
“Magnolia Pictures is home to many of my favorite films and has played a crucial part in my growth as a filmmaker,” Yu says. “I am deeply honored to embark on this journey with such a renowned distributor, and I cannot wait to show SLEEP all across the United States. I truly believe it will be a fun and crazy time that will keep you on the edge of your seats!”
