The films of South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo have a minimalist quality and a wry emotional candor, often exploring the complicated and mysterious relationships between men and women in conversations over food and drink. On the Beach at Night Alone, one of three films released by Hong in 2017, is titled after a poem by Walt Whitman, but the inspiration comes from real life: the public scandal of an affair between director Hong, a married man, and actress Kim Min-hee, who here stars as Young-hee, an aimless actress nursing her wounds from her recent breakup with a married filmmaker. The film feels somewhat aimless, beginning in Hamburg, Germany, where Young visits a recently-divorced friend, and then returning to South Korea, where Young runs into old friends in the seaside vacation town of Gangneung. Much alcohol is consumed and the actress does indeed find herself on the beach alone at times. But without context the movie can seem a little abstract and compared to Hong's previous efforts this has less humor and narrative playfulness. But it's also more raw and emotional than his earlier films, especially in the confrontational finale. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
On the Beach at Night Alone
Cinema Guild, 101 min., in Korean w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $34.99 Volume 33, Issue 5
On the Beach at Night Alone
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