[Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Photo] "From winning the 83rd Venice Best Actress award to the job center" ... Mathilde Arcel of 'What's Wrong With Marie?'

"It was my first film in a leading role, and my first award at my first festival. It felt like a strange imbalance to have been in Venice just moments earlier and then find myself in a small office at a Danish job center."

That is how Danish actor 'Mathilde Arcel', 30, recalled winning the Best Actress award for 'What's Wrong With Marie?' at the 83rd 'Venice International Film Festival'. Arcel drew attention with the unusual story of visiting a job center to receive unemployment benefits immediately after earning one of the world's top film festival honors for her first leading role. She came to the 29th 'Busan International Film Festival' to meet Korean audiences.

A strange imbalance after conquering the world's top stage

At the closing ceremony of the 83rd 'Venice International Film Festival', held on Italy's Lido island on Sept. 12, local time, 'Mathilde Arcel' was announced as the winner of the Best Actress award, known as the Volpi Cup, and delivered a landmark acceptance speech in a trembling voice. She also drew laughter from the audience when she set the trophy on the floor, unable to hold its weight.

'What's Wrong With Marie?', which won the top prize, the Golden Lion, also made history by taking the Best Actress award, breaking with the long-standing practice of not giving other major awards to the film that wins the Golden Lion. Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal declared that the decision was unanimous and lavished praise on Arcel, saying, "She is going to surprise us."

A portrait of Denmark in 1945, woven from subtle emotional threads

'Mathilde Arcel' expressed her emotion, saying, "It doesn't feel real. I'm stunned. I couldn't even imagine winning an award, and I was honored simply to be invited. It still feels like a dream." She spoke to reporters at the 'Busan International Film Festival' on the 11th during her first visit to South Korea, bringing a serious yet lively energy to the interview.

'What's Wrong With Marie?' follows Marie, a maid who is preparing to marry Lind, a wealthy businessman, as she experiences an emotional maelstrom while Denmark is liberated after the end of World War II and the withdrawal of Nazi Germany. The film made its Korean debut after receiving an official invitation to the 'World Cinema' section of this year's 'Busan International Film Festival'.

A story where the scars of war intersect with personal tragedy

In the film, Marie earns the trust of her employer, Lind, through her striking appearance and diligence, and the two promise to marry. But she faces a life-or-death crisis when Carl, a former classmate, appears. Carl tightens the screws on Marie by threatening to expose her devastating past: She had an intimate relationship with a Nazi German soldier and became pregnant with his child.

A perfectionist acting philosophy that controls even the breath

'Mathilde Arcel' explained, "Marie is someone who completely conceals her true self and is skilled at deception. Rather than expressing emotion in a one-dimensional way, I wanted to convey her inner turmoil through subtle physical movements, such as her breathing." To achieve that, she sharply raised her heart rate by running in place immediately before filming, then began acting while holding her breath, demonstrating an extreme level of immersion.

Weighty authenticity in carrying the burden of history

Arcel also undertook an intense effort to embody the period. The film depicts harrowing scenes in which women who had relationships with Nazi soldiers are forcibly shorn and humiliated before crowds. 'Mathilde Arcel' added, "What stayed with me most deeply was the fact that although most of those involved are now in their 90s, they still desperately want to keep their past from being revealed. I felt the profound historical weight, something that could never be treated lightly." The film's meticulous interweaving of these minute details drew overwhelming praise from critics in Venice.

Dreaming of collaboration with South Korea's film industry beyond the open door

'Mathilde Arcel' drew worldwide attention after returning to Denmark and visiting a job center immediately after the screening of 'Venice International Film Festival'. In Denmark's arts community, it is common for actors to receive unemployment benefits during periods when they are not working on productions, and visiting a job center was required to qualify for the payments.

She smiled as she recalled, "The staff member asked whether I was currently looking for work, so I said, 'I'm not working, but I just came back from Venice.' It was a very interesting situation." She added, "I won't be receiving unemployment benefits anymore because I start filming a new project at the end of this month. I can definitely feel that my standing has changed since the award. It feels as if doors of opportunity that had been firmly shut have all opened at once."

"I want to share this strange, unsettling journey with Korean audiences"

She also made no secret of her deep affection and respect for Korean cinema. 'Mathilde Arcel', who named director Bong Joon-ho's 'Memories of Murder' and director Celine Song's 'Past Lives' among her favorite films, stressed, "Korea is filled with astonishing masterpieces and has a singular cinematic tradition that remains vibrant. Naturally, I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Korea's outstanding directors."

Finally, she offered a heartfelt request: "I would be incredibly happy if Korean audiences were willing to join Marie on her strange and unsettling journey." 'What's Wrong With Marie?', which has captivated audiences around the world with its commanding performance, is scheduled for an official theatrical release in South Korea soon.