Son Ye-jin made her first appearance at the Venice Film Festival for No Other Choice count

Son Ye-jin is one of the most beloved celebrities in Korea. Literally her nickname there is “The Nation’s First Love”. And that was before she got married. But now she’s one-half of, probably, Korea’s top celebrity couple. She and Hyun Bin turned their love in Crash Landing On You into reality and everyone who was obsessed with that series (millions of us) felt like we wished, and shipped, their romance into existence.

It's been a few years since Ye-jin has promoted a project. She gave birth to their first child a year after their wedding and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice is her first role since in several years. His previous film, Decision to Leave, was one of the best of 2022, I am still choked that it was not nominated for any Oscars, so it’s not surprising that this latest project is getting strong reviews out of Venice after premiering this weekend. Vulture called it “near universal adulation” so this could be South Korea’s submission in the Best International Feature category at the Oscars.

For Ye-jin, it’s not just a comeback but the first time she’s been to the Venice Film Festival. And omg did she make it count. This Hermoine de Paula dress she wore to the photocall is exquisite – and surprising. Korean celebrities are typically understated on the red carpet (especially in comparison to their counterparts in China) so by that standard, this choice is bold. And bomb.

At the gala she went with black, which is more typical, but this black Cucculelli Shaheen is stunnnnning on her. I love the halter back. But mostly I just love her cute little face. How adorable she is when she smiles. I can’t wait to see this movie, it’s coming to TIFF. Not confirmed yet if she’ll be travelling with Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun – and what a year he’s having with Squid Game, Kpop Demon Hunters, and now No Other Choice.

What else happened today…

Shailene Woodley was giving gangster moll with her look this weekend in Venice and I love it on her. (Go Fug Yourself)

The new cast members of Saturday Night Live have been announced and this could also mean that those Please Don’t Destroy videos will no longer be a part of the show.

Did you see that viral moment from the US Open when that douchebag millionaire snatched a cap from a kid’s hand? The internet did what the internet does and identified him in minutes. His business is in shambles now. Will they hire Gwyneth Paltrow as their temporary spokesperson? (Celebitchy)

Nobody Wants This season two is premiering in October and “will give audiences what they want”. Normally, in writing, giving the audience what they want over what they need is generally not it. But the writing in season one was so uneven (reportedly because of disagreements in the writers’ room) that now that new showrunners have been brought in, this might actually be the exception. (EW)

It's September, summer is unofficially over, but guess what? Kpop Demon Hunters has not yet peaked. “Golden” is #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 once again. (Soompi)