Available June 19-July 2, 2020
Directed by Hong Song-soo, 2006, South Korea, 127 mins. In Korean with English subtitles.
Contact:
Charles Coleman
Film Program Director
charles@facets.org
773.281.9075
Friday, June 19, 2020: Chicago – The Facets Virtual Cinema will screen the film Woman on the Beach (2006), from June 19 to July 2. The film is presented in Korean with English subtitles; was produced in South Korea.; and has a runtime of 127 minutes. Pre-orders are available now at www.facets.org/cinematheque/. 50% of all ticket purchases go to Facets in support of the organization during the closure.
Filmmaker Joong-rae, suffering from writer’s block, takes a trip to the coast with his production designer Chang-wook, who brings along the cheerful Moon-sook. Soon after their arrival, Moon-sook falls for Joong-rae’s advances, and being a fan of his films, she does not hide her interest. Soon they have a passionate night together, but the next day Joong-rae’s face is filled with anxiety, so he and Moon-sook then part awkwardly.
Two days later, Joong-rae returns to the resort and tries to let Moon-sook know, but being unable to reach her, leaves a message. Then, he runs into a young woman named Sun-hee, telling her that she resembles a woman that he’s thinking of as a character in his new film, and pitches an interview to her. They, too, end up spending a night together, but then Moon-sook arrives at the scene with the intent to be with Joong-rae. But seeing him being with Sun-hee, Moon-sook goes to drink on her own out of anger, and consequences soon follow.
As is customary in Hong’s doubled-narrative structures, he deftly captures the subtle layers of monotony, humor and sadness, which are defined by a pattern of recurring preoccupations and reflexive encounters.
Chicago Reader says this work from Sang-soo is “aptly compared to Eric Rohmer for his subtle comedy” and Film Comment praises the film for its “lengthy soju-drenched meals in which confessions and new dissimulations intertwine.”
