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Avignon Fest: Korean Language Shines on Global Stage
16 Jul
Summary
- Avignon Festival's 2024 focus on Korean language opens Western stages.
- Nobel laureate Han Kang honored, inspired two festival productions.
- Two adaptations of 'We Do Not Part' showcased, featuring global stars.
The Avignon Festival, France's largest theater event, is currently making waves with its 2024 focus on the Korean language. This year's festival, running through July 25, provides a rare opportunity to hear Korean on Western stages, featuring South Korean directors Jaha Koo and Lee Jaram.
Nobel laureate Han Kang is celebrated as a guest of honor, with her 2021 novel "We Do Not Part" inspiring two separate productions. A staged reading titled "Bird," directed by Julie Deliquet, starred Isabelle Huppert and Lee Hye-young, performing in French and Korean respectively, with multilingual subtitles provided.
An Italian-language adaptation, Daria Deflorian's "What a Terrible Pain Love Is," also explored themes from Han's novel. While "Bird" offered a clear narrative, Deflorian's adaptation utilized symbolic imagery like blackened logs, though it sometimes lacked narrative momentum.
Despite differing approaches, both productions successfully conveyed the melancholic elegance of Han Kang's prose and the complex historical context of the Jeju massacres. The festival's commitment to showcasing Korean theater is viewed as a significant success.
