Anna Daniels
As reported by IndieWire, Bong opened up at a South Korean press conference about the personal letter he received from Scorsese — which must have been an incredible moment for the South Korean auteur, even on top of his multiple Academy Awards.
Though the director confirmed that he “got a letter from Martin Scorsese,” Bong still played things close to the chest. When pressed about everything the letter said, he responded, “I can’t tell you what the letter said because it’s something personal. But towards the end he wrote, ‘You’ve done well. Now rest. But don’t rest for too long.’ He continued by saying how he and other directors were waiting for my next movie.”
This marks yet another significant interaction between Bong and the Irishman director, whom the former has referred to as one of his cinematic heroes. During Bong’s acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, he said that he always carries one of Scorsese’s most enduring quotes with him throughout his life — specifically, “the most personal is the most creative” — which earned a rousing standing ovation for a visibly touched Scorsese.
Earlier during awards season, in the midst of an acceptance speech at the New York Film Critics Circle for Best Foreign Language Film, Bong acknowledged how “surreal” it was to be speaking in front of Scorsese, peppering his speech with references to Scorsese masterpieces like Raging Bull and Goodfellas.
Written by: Looper
