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Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja

On the Beach at Night Alone
Competition 2017
Kim Jinyoung © 2017 Jeonwonsa Film Co.
After an affair with a married man, celebrated actress Younghee decides to take some time out. She travels to the far-off, foreign city of Hamburg. In a conversation with a friend she asks herself if her lover will follow her and whether he misses her as much as she misses him. During her long walks through wintry parks and along riverbanks she attempts to become clear about her feelings and desires.
The question about the meaning of love in our lives is a common theme in all the films of Hong Sangsoo, and yet the answers to this question always appear to just slip from our grasp. Back in Korea, Younghee meets some old friends in the coastal town of Gangneung. They eat and drink together and, as is so often the case in Hong Sangsoo’s films, Korea’s national drink Soju plays an important part. Under the influence of alcohol Younghee provokes, insults and angers the others. Their conversations get more and more out of hand, giving vent to minor and major realisations and truths. Afterwards, Younghee withdraws to a deserted beach. It seems as if she can only truly find herself in nature.

Trailer/Film Excerpt

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by Hong Sangsoo (Written and Directed by)
with Kim Minhee, Seo Younghwa, Jung Jaeyoung, Moon Sungkeun, Kwon Haehyo, Song Seonmi, Ahn Jaehong, Park Yeaju South Korea 2017 Korean, English 101' Colour

With

  • Kim Minhee (Younghee)
  • Seo Younghwa (Jeeyoung)
  • Jung Jaeyoung (Myungsoo)
  • Moon Sungkeun (Sangwon)
  • Kwon Haehyo (Chunwoo)
  • Song Seonmi (Junhee)
  • Ahn Jaehong (Seunghee)
  • Park Yeaju (Dohee)

Crew

Written and Directed by Hong Sangsoo
Cinematography Kim Hyungkoo, Park Hongyeol
Editing Hahm Sungwon
Gaffer Yi Yuiheang
Sound Kim Mir, Song Yeajin
Stills Photographer Kim Jinyoung
Colour Correction Cho Heedae
Assistant Director Lee Jeahan
Line Producer Kang Taeu
Producer Hong Sangsoo

World Sales

Finecut

Seoul, Republic of Korea

Produced by

Jeonwonsa Film

Seoul, Republic of Korea

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Grant Gee

© Shane O’Connor

The British documentary director is making his fiction feature debut with Everybody Digs Bill Evans. Before that, The Gold Machine completed his trilogy of documentaries which included Patience (After Sebald) and Innocence of Memories. He is also known for his music documentaries Joy Division and Meeting People is Easy, about the band Radiohead. He regularly collaborates with theatre director Katie Mitchell on projects for renowned European theatres and opera houses and is senior tutor on the Master of Fine Arts course in documentary filmmaking at University College London.

Filmography (Filmography (Selection))

1998 Meeting People Is Easy; documentary 2007 Joy Division; documentary 2015 Innocence of Memories; documentary 2022 The Gold Machine; documentary 2026 Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026