When it comes to South Korea, one of the "Four Asian Tigers", most people think of the prosperous cityscape of Seoul after the economic take-off, the fashionable costumes in the popular Korean MVs, and the dynamic dances of the members of the boy band and the girl group.
Seoul Street Scene▲
Although these are the mainstream impressions that South Korea presents to the world, they are also an important focus of the perspective of the vast majority of tourists. But Hong Sang-so, as a leading figure in Korean cinema, can hardly see these elements in South Korea under his lens.
Director Hong Shangxiu ▲
However, Hong Shangxiu is obviously not interested in the underclass and marginalized people. His focus is on the emotional entanglement between urban men and women.
But here's the interesting thing: Hong Sang-so didn't specifically shoot "Korean landscapes", but the scenes of the characters in his films are very representative, and we can also peek into the leopard, see the living conditions of Koreans, and the country in which they are located.
Scene 1: Taverns, small restaurants
《Direction of Kitamura》
"Kitamura Direction" movie poster ▲
The tavern and the small restaurant are the most frequent scenes in all Hong Shangxiu movies, and every movie must have it, because his story basically takes place after the protagonist has drunk three tours and five flavors of food, they are drunk and full of nature, and the viewer can't help but look at it.
These scenes often seem to be forced under the lens of Hong Shangxiu, men and women are in the middle, and ambiguous lust flows freely.
"North Village Direction" movie stills - bistro ▲ ▲
We can also infer that most of the places where Koreans meet every day are in such taverns or small restaurants, a barbecue, a few plates of side dishes, and their favorite shochu.
"North Village Direction" movie stills - small hotel ▲
After pushing the cup to change the cup, I was happy and relaxed. If you travel to Korea, such an experience is not to be missed.
Scene 2: The Seaside
"The Woman by the Sea"
"Woman by the Sea" movie poster ▲
The seaside is also often the place where Hong Shangxiu's film characters haunt. The most typical is "Woman by the Sea", the film tells the story of 4 young people in their early 30s who traveled by the sea, it is still the relationship between men and women, but when the place of occurrence is placed on the seashore, everything is accompanied by the waves.
Stills from the "Woman by the Sea" movie▲
Of course, the seaside under Hong Shangxiu's lens is not a landscape, but an externalization of the hero's psychological emotions. Driven by the story itself, the beaches, and even the mudflats, seem to have a different charm; the sound of the waves from time to time has become a mockery of what is happening in front of them.
Even if the film story takes place abroad, Hong Shangxiu likes to set the scene on the seashore, such as "In a Foreign Country" starring Isabelle Huppel, and "Alone at night by the sea" starring his "muse" Kim Min-hee.
Stills from the movie "Alone by the Sea at Night"
The sea symbolizes freedom and loneliness. If you're traveling to Korea, you might want to check out the beach there, and maybe it's a different experience.
Scenario Three: The Inn
《Riverside Inn》
"Riverside Inn" movie poster ▲
"Riverside Hotel" is the sixth collaboration between director Hong Chang-so and his "muse" Kim Min-hee, which tells the story of an old poet who feels that he will soon die in the riverside hotel for a while, remembering his two long-lost sons and the story of two young women.
The male protagonist of "Riverside Hotel" Ji Zhufeng won the Locarno Film Emperor with this film
The story of the film revolves around the Riverside Hotel.
Screenshot of the movie "Riverside Hotel"
The riverside hotel in winter, the sense of distance between the old man and his son, and the admiration for young and beautiful women are all slowly expressed under the lens of the director, and the behavior and words of the characters are very close to life.
"Riverside Inn" movie stills ▲
If you're visiting Korea, you might as well experience what it's like to stay in one of these small inns. When you wake up in the morning, a ray of sunlight shines into the room, and you look out the window at the street, river or sea view, which definitely has a Korean taste.
Scene 4: Small streets
The Hill of Freedom
"Hill of Freedom" movie poster ▲ ▲
Korean streets are definitely one of the most recognizable and representative of the country. South Korea's mountainous terrain and cities are mostly built on hills, so in areas with low population density, Korean streets take on the appearance of undulating, narrow and curved, and there are residential areas of apartment villas on both sides of the road.
The film "Hill of Freedom" is only 67 minutes long
Hong Sang-so's film, which best embodies this characteristic, is "Freedom Hill" starring Japanese actor Ryo Kase and South Korean actress Moon So-ri, which tells the story of the male protagonist who travels to Seoul to try to reunite with his beloved woman.
The title of the film, "Freedom Hill", is the name of a street in South Korea, which is worthy of the name.
Stills from the Hill of Freedom movie
Therefore, to fully experience the Korean flavor, "walk with me on the streets of Korea and don't stop until all the lights are out" is a good choice.
Scene 5: Small mountain wilderness
Yuxi's Film
"Yuxi's Movie" Chinese font poster ▲
Going to Korea to climb mountains in winter is also a different flavor. In Hong Sang-so's 2010 film "Yuxi's Film", Yuxi played by Zheng Youmei and Zhenjiu played by Lee Sun-kyun and Professor Song played by Wen Sunggen, the four stories between the three of them all take place on the mountain.
"Yuxi's Movie" Lee Sun-kyun and Jeong Youmei ▲
After a period of entanglement with Yuxi, Zhenjiu finally got his wish and began to associate with Yuxi, but he did not know that Yuxi's heart was not on him. Forced to teach part-time at the school for a living, Yu-hee shoots a short film that records her visiting the same place at different times with Zhenjiu and Professor Song.
"Yuxi's Movie" movie stills ▲
Although it is a bit tortuous, but in the photo, they are like that, while walking and chatting, enjoying the snow scenery, drinking some Korean rice wine and eating some Korean cold noodles in the small restaurant halfway up the mountain, not to mention how comfortable it is.
"Yuxi's Film" Wen Chenggen and Zheng Youmei ▲
Taverns, small streets, inns, small mountains... In these "small scenes", Hong Shangxiu used his "awkward aesthetics" to shoot the "big pattern".
Some people may scoff at his unchanging male and female love themes for many years, but he can maintain the high production of one or even two films a year, and the department has a new form and high quality, looking at the world film world, in addition to Hong Shangxiu, there is also Woody Allen.
Therefore, before going to Korea, you may wish to watch a few films directed by Hong, which may bring you different discoveries and experiences on your journey!
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