A Different Kind of Cinema: The Films of Hong Sang-soo

With the increased global interest in South Korean cinema, the country’s output has gained a specific reputation. The most popular filmmakers are stylistically connected and, to a great extent, have extremity in common.
Hong Sang-soo, a popular director but nowhere near as known as Bong Joon-ho or Park Chan-wook, has a frighteningly prolific output. In 2021 alone, he released two features and one short - and another film of his is about to hit the festival circuit. His work though (though definitely indebted to the work of Éric Rohmer) feels different, especially when compared to his fellow South Korean filmmakers.
His films are accused frequently, and pejoratively, of overt repetition. But, this criticism is misguided. Or, at least, framing it as a criticism is misguided. Though his work is marked by thematic and stylistic repetition, he has crafted out his own genre, his own type of cinema.
In this essay, Stephen takes you through the key features of Hong Sang-soo’s cinema and throws out some recommendations along the way.
Stephen
letterboxd.com/stephenage/
/ thestephenage
Jack
letterboxd.com/jckdvnprt
/ jckdvnprt

[@mikeduplessis8069]

I once heard a description of Korean Pyongysng cold noodles. When you first taste them you don't see the attraction, but within a couple days the thought will pop into your head 'I could go for some Pyongysng cold noodles right now.' And then you're hooked. That's how a Hong Sang-soo films work. Its only following the first taste that you start to build an appreciation for them

[@1Hinto]

This was great! Only seen The Woman Who Ran and In Front of Your Face but been keen to learn more about Hong Sang-Soo's films. Looking forward to watching the rest!

[@mechalpuco]

He quickly became my favorite director after having seen Right Now Wrong Then, Yourself and Yours and In Another Country. After that I just devoured his filmography.

[@GaminHasard]

wow that good? i just discovered his name

[@abdullahsabit2188]

U can also see 'grass' & ' like u know it all'

[@aDarkSeoul]

For me the first was "Hotel by The River". I find him consistent, delivering every time.

[@obscuredesire604]

I prefer his early works, like his debut “the day a pig fall in to well”, and “woman on the beach “, and “ the day he arrives “

[@wandacole2446]

Regardless of what they think about him in Korea, Hong Sang Soo is such a very critical writer-director combo. He is indeed a visionary. I love his minimalist style in his movies, which makes the stories more solid, personal and emotional. Korean cinema somehow ostracized him and Kim Min Hee.

[@rajsingharora26]

I watched my first Hong Sang Soo film last Night - 'A Tale of Cinema' & then today 'Woman is the Future of Man'. & I am hooked. Unfortunately, Mubi India has just these two, what surprised me is that as a Cinema Student & working Actor have been following Korean Cinema since 2003 when I watched a film called 'Art Museum by the Zoo' at the Mumbai Film Festival and then of course 'Old Boy' and 'Bittersweet life' and kept up with Korean Cinema post that till last year, But why had I not watched Hong Sang-Soo maybe because as a younger man, I would not have understood his work or his genius ! as I did in the last two days, to End this post wanted to say a few months ago surfing KZbin had came across this video by you which made me aware of The Man for the very first time that's why I decided to see the film on Mubi because of your Analysis today after seeing his cinema I saw your Video again and want to thank you for being the first to introduce me to the films of Hong Sang-Soo with this One video I randomly saw a few months ago :)

[@the3rdpillblog934]

Great video!. - I need more Hong Sang-soo in my life. Have only seen 16.

[@lofi.cinema]

Great video, thanks!

[@danielbernas2293]

Thank you so much for this fantastic guide! I've been getting into Hong Sang-soo's work recently during the 2 hour breaks I sometimes have between classes, work, and meetings. They're usual brevity makes them quite accessible. This video made me a lot more excited to check him (as well as your other videos) out!

[@Pablo-ze3ss]

Such a good video, thank you for your work!!

[@thestacksonfilm]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@63MGB1]

There are a number of film makers who I believe have made better films. However every one of them has made a film or two I didn't care for. So far I am up to 17 Hong Sang-soo films, and every one of them has been enjoyable and held a few pleasant surprises. In this regard no other film maker can approach IMO.

[@jackminnelli]

Great video. I’m always looking to get into filmmakers I never heard of. You’ve given me a lot of homework. Thanks!

[@kieferdm27]

Guess I gotta watch some Hong Sang-soo now

[@campusaint]

Great video but the music's way too loud, it's hard to understand what you're saying sometimes. Subbed.

[@bradman8717]

I totally agree!!!!!!!!!!

[@faizazahra1318]

9:00

[@kevinwinter218]

where to watch, i've watched 3, it's so hard for me to fing his debut

[@najmiselamat8791]

He's great

[@chaos9348]

He Makes Beauty

[@belanna000]

I decided to introduce people to his work with Introduction or A Novelist's Film these days

[@richardwestwood8212]

WHY are they always smoking in his films ? 🚭

[@Masiyooo]

I ADORE his style and filmmaking, but find it difficult to be a fan of his,which is causing me to be decreasingly interested in his future work.. On the one hand I really appreciate that he makes films as honestly as he can, making simple, relatable, mundane works, but on the other hand this quality of honesty and self-reflection leads him to make films mostly about himself and his partner (lover? mistress? Is Hong still married ?), which in return makes his discography extremely masturbatory. Take "Right now, Wrong then" as an example. For me, knowing that this is the movie which was the beginning of his extra-marital affairs with Kim Minhee, it makes it _REALLY_ difficult to take the bitter sweet ending seriously (in it, the film director decides NOT to cheat on his wife and the two agree to cheer each other on from a distance) . Hong Sangsoo really spent a few months writing "I will NOT cheat on my wife" on the blackboard, released his work, and then was like "Oopsie looks like I'm cheating on my wife now".

[@tamjeff1751]

The turning gate one is my favourite because the guy is such a scumbag like me!

[@Theebec1]

This is great, great film commentary. But the music is way too intrusive.

[@Andybaby]

I watched On the Beach at Night alone. A plodding pointless waste of time. Apparently much of it was improvised, and it shows. A sloppy, confusing talkfest where nothing actually happens. I assume the beauty of the leading lady are supposed to distract us from the lack of plot, or character development. Half way through I started fast forwarding through the (no dialogue) filler bits, first 2x, and finally 3x, the final (dinner) scene where the lead lady gets all 'emotional ', but she came across as a self obsessed wacko. Finally we had the predictable copout 'symbolic' ending, ie "I don''t have the talent to write a satisfying ending, so I'll just end it, and pretend it was an 'artistic choice', Ugh. All I felt was annoyance at myself, for being influenced by the people who are calling this guy their "favourite director". What's wrong with you people?

[@harrys919]

Calm down, it can't hurt you

[@Andybaby]

@@harrys919 it did, it wasted precious moments of my limited lifetime. it won't happen again.

[@candide1065]

"A Different Kind of Cinema", yeah, different in it's narcissism and self-obsessed, whiny redundance, especially for an asian director. Maybe different because he exploits his personal life and the people around him for his movies even more than western directors do.