Woman on the Beach(Haebyeonui yeoin)

For a director recognised for his emotionally messy ménage à trois, it’s no surprise that Hong presents another romantic trio in this delicate vacation comedy – this time, a creatively blocked filmmaker who starts an affair with his producer’s girlfriend, and then engages in casual sex with another woman who resembles her. While it might be tempting to see the free-spirited music composer as the dog that gets abandoned in the listless coastal resort, the plot takes an unexpected turn when she drives away, leaving him behind. Arguably the first time a woman’s perspective is highlighted in a Hong film, amidst the subtle layers of monotony, humour, and melancholy that intertwine the two trips in the story.

Berlin International Film Festival: Panorama