At a glance, director Hong Sang-soo's new film "Woman on the Beach" (Haebyonui Yoin) is another gloomy romance story about people in their 30s like his previous movies.
The new film revolves around a man and woman who meet in a strange place, drink heavily and end up sleeping together on the first day. The rest of the film deals with the struggles as one of the two clings to the relationship and the other tries to get out of it.
But the new film takes a much lighter approach than Hong's previous works.
The dialogue and ironic situations generate jokes and lightheartedness.
Most noticeably, the female characters in this new film are independent and decisive. Hong has long been criticized by feminists for allegedly presenting images of female characters, who are easily lured by male characters, sleep with them and are submissive.
Starring Kim Seung-woo, Ko Hyeon-jeong and Kim Tae-woo, the film revolves around a divorced film director Jung-rae (played by Kim Seung-woo), who takes a trip to a resort town with his art director Chang-wook (by Kim Tae-woo). Jung-rae wants to refresh himself to write a scenario for his film.
But his initial plan changes, when Chang-wook, who is married, brings along Moon-suk (by Ko) to the trip. Chang-wook introduces Moon-suk as his lover.
As usual in Hong's film, the characters drink heavily and an unexpected relationship begins. Jung-rae starts to flirt with Moon-suk and they secretly sleep together.
After that night, Jung-rae doesn't want to develop a serious relationship with her, and they all comes back to Seoul on the following day. But a couple of days later, he visits the resort town again and wants to see her.
While he waits for Moon-suk, Jung-rae meets Sun-hee, whom he thinks has a similar personality and appearance to Moon-suk, and flirts with her. The two strangers spend the night together. But Moon-suk visits him when he and Sun-hee are together. Jung-rae finds himself in trouble.
Characters in the film lead seemingly ordinary and mundane lives, which may give them a desire to escape. But each seeks different things in their new relationships, and director Hong skillfully captures moments when such complicated feelings are combined with vulgar desires.
The story of the film is first told through the eye of Jung-rae, but its viewpoint moves to Moon-suk. Thanks to the superb performances by actress Ko, the transfer of the viewpoint is smoothly achieved and combined with the main theme of the film.
It is true that Hog's film were sometimes vague as to what the director wanted to say through strange relationships in the end, but overall, "Woman on the Beach" is much kinder than previous films with the obvious use of metaphors such as an abandoned dog which finds a new owner in the film.
English 
US$5 off (order min. US$5)
