Claire's Camera

Claire's Camera (La caméra de Claire) is a 2017 drama film written, produced, and directed by Hong Sang-soo and starring Isabelle Huppert and Kim Min-hee. It had its world premiere in the Special Screening section of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and released in France on 7 March 2018.

Plot
While working for a Korean film distribution company at the Cannes Film Festival, Jeon Man-hee is pressured to quit her job after her boss, Nam Yang-hye, tells her that she no longer trusts Man-hee, refusing to elaborate on why she feels this way. In fact, the firing took place because she had sex with director So Wan-soo during the festival. Man-hee decides to remain in Cannes for the time being.

Claire, a French teacher who has traveled to Cannes with a friend to attend a screening of her film, has a chance encounter with Director So at a cafe. She brings him to a local library and teaches him to recite a French poem. Although not a professional artist, Claire is an avid photographer who takes photos with her instant camera. While at dinner with So and Yang-hye, she shares her photos, including a photo she took earlier the same day of Man-hee. So and Yang-hye are confused at the circumstances of the photo, particularly why Man-hee is wearing more makeup than usual. Later, after Claire has left, it is revealed that So and Yang-hye have a romantic relationship, possibly contributing to Man-hee’s firing. So ends the relationship, claiming that he wants to ensure that their business relationship is not jeopardized.

Later, Claire meets Man-hee after taking her photo at the beach. During their conversation, Claire mentions that she has never eaten Korean food; Man-hee offers to cook for her. Man-hee brings Claire back to the apartment hotel she is staying at with her coworkers, where they share a meal. Claire shares about her encounter with So and Yang-hye, leading Man-hee to understand the circumstances of her dismissal.

Man-hee again meets So by chance at a hotel, who accosts her for her clothing. Claire, who is also there, takes a photo of Man-hee, upsetting her. Man-hee later brings Claire to the cafe where her firing took place. Claire takes a photo of Man-hee, telling her that she takes photos because the only way to change things is to “look at everything again, very slowly.” Claire shares with Man-hee about the death of her boyfriend months prior. Yang-hye comes to Man-hee’s apartment to meet with her. While their conversation is not depicted, Man-hee is seen back at work.

Cast

 * Isabelle Huppert as Claire
 * Kim Min-hee as Jeon Man-hee
 * Chang Mi-hee as Nam Yang-hye
 * Jung Jin-young as director So Wan-soo
 * Yoon Hee-sun
 * Lee Wan-min
 * Kang Taeu
 * Mark Peranson
 * Shahira Fahmy

Production
In May 2016, it was announced Isabelle Huppert, Kim Min-hee, Jung Jin-young and Chang Mi-hee joined the cast of the film, with Hong Sang-soo directing the film. It was shot during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

Release
In August 2017, Cinema Guild acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film; it was released on 9 March 2018.

Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 89% based on 56 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Claire's Camera adds another deceptively unassuming entry to writer-director Hong Sang-soo's oeuvre – one whose lingering impact belies its brief length." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 80 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.