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Turning Gate(Saenghwalui balgyeon)

  • Dir: Hong Sang-soo

  • South Korea, 2002, Korean, 115mins, DCP

  • Cast: Kim Sang-kyung, Chu Sang-mi, Yeah Ji-won

Allegorising the legend of the Buddhist temple Turning Gate which speaks of second chances and karma, Hong creates a playful yet profound meditation on romantic opportunities – both spurned and missed. The fairy tale is transformed into a brooding portrayal of a self-absorbed actor, whose casual trip to visit a former classmate in Chuncheon turns into a sexual and spiritual odyssey – he rejects an impetuous dancer who is infatuated with him, while he himself is rejected by a coolly beautiful woman he meets on a train. The meandering confusion and impulsive intensity of feeling adrift are explored with sensitivity, echoing the Buddhist mantra: all is vanity.

Asia-Pacific Film Festival: Best Director

    Screening:

    In-theatre Screening

    • Presented by

    • Financially Supported by

    The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project through the Film Development Fund.
    The funding support bears no relationship whatsoever to the content of, or views expressed in this project.

    The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project through the Film Development Fund.
    The funding support bears no relationship whatsoever to the content of, or views expressed in this project.