The Woman on the Beach

Director Jung-rae (Seung-woo Kim) has run into the writers block, working on the script of his next film. To get over it he decides to head to a beach resort. He drags his friend, Chang-wook (Tae-woo Kim) along with him. Chang-wook's flame, Mun-suk (Hyun-jung Go) also tags along. Jung-rae like many of Sang-soo Hong's protagonists is a complete jerk which of course prompts Mun-suk to feel attracted to him. They jump into bed and the minute Mun-suk turns away, Jung-rae tries to repeat the encounter with another woman (Seon-mi Song). All the while he searches for that elusive script.

The film is well directed and filled with wry cynicism but there is nothing new forthcoming in this film when compared to Hong's prior films. He continues to harp on the fact that women have a tendency to fall for unmitigated assholes. Hong needs to get over that and move on.

Rating: * *

Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors

The film shows the modern courtship between young South Koreans from two perspectives shot in black and white. Soo-jung (Eun-ju Lee) is a young script writer who falls for Young-soo (Seong-kun Mun) who is affluent in a subdued way. Like other Sang-soo flicks, this film too introduces a sense of competition and forced issues in the dating play. After watching this third flick of Sang-s00, it almost seems that his best is just around the bend.

Rating: * *

The Power of Kwangon Province

Sometimes what we are trying to escape from is what will follows us whether we like it or not. Jisook (Yun-hong Oh) travels to Kwangon with her friends on a holiday. Without saying or doing anything the viewer can sense an aura of loss and sadness around her. Sangkwon (Jong-hak Baek) too is drawn there with similar feelings. A film about which less should be written and spoken about. I just wish the person who wrote the Netflix synopsis felt the same.

Rating: * * *

Woman is the Future of Man

Old friends Mun-ho (Ji-tae Yu) and Hyeon-gon (Tae-woo Kim) meet after many year. They reminisce about old times and slowly the conversation drifts to their flame from the past, Seon-hwa (Hyeon-a Seong). Alcohol reignites dying embers and they set out to look her up even though they know fire only burns. Director Sang-soo Hong is someone worth keeping an eye on.

Rating: * * +