Woman on the Beach

Written and Directed by: HONG Sangsoo

South Korea, 2006; 127min.

Starrring: KIM Seung-woo, KO Hyun-joung, SONG, Sun-mi, KIM Tae-woo

Review by: Luis Pedron of Fanclubx.com

NY Film Festival 2006

Walter Reade Theater, Lincon Ctr, NYC

"People tell me that I make films about reality. They're wrong. I make films based on structures that I have thought up." - HONG Sangsoo

I have seen three movies of HONG Sangsoo , all at the NY Film Festival, "Woman is the Future of Man," (2004)"The Tale of Cinema" (2005) and " Woman on the Beach" (2006). They have several recurring themes: two men obssessing about the same woman, one night stand, repetition or reccuring scenarios, a dog as an eyewitness to characters travails, a certain woman making a man drop to his knees and cry.

Such powerful themes that wrap into vignettesof seemingly ordinary life situations often occuring over a bar or a restaurant with sushi and alcohol... and lots of reminiscing. Here we see his charcters unravel, break down and oftentimes end up in bed. What makes the experience special is that HONG Sangsoo's characters show the humaity of love sex and relationships. We do not see people just delivering stories but people who feel pain, love and lust. When you watch a Sangsoo film it feels like you are a fly on a wall ...they feel almost like a docudrama...They are true lives unfolding before your eyes...so real...

Woman on the Beach has Kim Joong(KIM Seung-woo) as a filmmaker (who reminds me of HONG Sangsoo physically) obssessing over his two one night stands - yes two one night stands one after the other…

We see a famous director deal with his acquaintances who turn out to be fans (more like groupies somewhat) and after some interesting deep conversations end up in the sack. The next day his relationships with them turn into serious melodrama episodes. The first woman is KIM Moon-sook (KO Hyun-joung) who is Joong –rae’s friend’s girlfriend. The second is CHOI Sun-hee (SNG Sun-mi) who as per character Jong – rae look like Moon-sook.

Director Jong-rae seem to like Moon-sook better event crying over her. Sun-hee was more like a real one night stand.

It is so fascinating to see a grown man obsessing over a woman over a one night stand….I have to say HONG Sangsoo’s genius has made these situations look entertaining, fascinating but real. It’s as if I were obssessing over them. Inspite of the simplicity of the shots, mostly masterfully composed Master Shots. Maybe I’m relating to the characters? Maybe the characters look familiar to me? Maybe the actors are so beautiful too mesmerizing to ignore? Maybe it is because I get HONG Sangsoo’s message. Pepole have seen Sansoo’s simplicity as reality. I agree with the director that you have to look at his films as a bigger picture… as a superbly mapped our work of art… so much like life…

Rating: 10 out of 10

Jude Tan's Press Conference Coverage of " Woman on the Beach" NY Film Festival 2006

http://jtphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/1937953