It’s been a full 25 years since BIFF introduced Dumont’s second film, and he has since become an unparalleled auteur. Yet, the dizzying experience of watching Humanity (1999) for the first time remains intact, making him a filmmaker who still eludes easy definition. The themes he delves into resist being easily pinned down by words. His latest film, which won the Jury Grand Prix at the Berlinale, adds a layer of bewilderment to his oeuvre. Can you believe he has ventured beyond his only comedy, Slack Bay (2016), into comic adventure and space opera? This mischievous work not only parodies Star Wars and teases Dune, but also audaciously manipulates Bach’s compositions. Despite all this, Dumont doesn’t neglect themes like ‘the divine and human, good and evil, body and soul.’ Through the clash of 0s and 1s, he even manages to encompass the future of the digital generation. Bruno Dumont remains, as ever, a philosopher who, while questioning everything, still reaches out to humanity. (LEE Yong Cheol)