Inteurodeoksyeon

Introduction
Youngho is summoned by his father, who is a doctor. Finding him busy with his patients, one of whom is a famous actor, Youngho has to wait. When his girlfriend Juwon moves to Berlin for her studies, Youngho shows up in the city to surprise her. Through her mother, Juwon has found accommodation at the home of an artist whose beauty intimidates her. Some time later, Youngho goes to lunch with his mother who wants to introduce him to a colleague – it is the same man Youngho met at his father’s clinic. Youngho asks his friend Jeongsoo to accompany him, and after lunch they go to the beach. Youngho falls asleep, and dreams of Juwon. When he wakes up, he braves the considerable cold and goes swimming, while Jeongsoo watches.
For the second year in a row, Hong Sangsoo returns to the Berlinale’s Competition with a film akin to the art of the aphorism: a poetic, philosophical gem. Two mothers attempt to introduce their children to life, but their offspring have decided to write their own introduction. That’s life, and, like all masters imbued with wisdom and wit, Hong appears to be speaking through the old actor when the latter tells Youngho, “However small, there’s nothing but good!”
by Hong Sangsoo
with Shin Seokho, Park Miso, Kim Youngho, Ki Joobong, Seo Younghwa, Kim Minhee, Cho Yunhee, Ye Jiwon, Ha Seongguk
South Korea 2020 Korean 66’ Black/White

Part of the Berlinale Summer Special

With

  • Shin Seokho (Youngho)
  • Park Miso (Juwon)
  • Kim Youngho (Father)
  • Ki Joobong (Old Actor)
  • Seo Younghwa (Juwon’s Mother)
  • Kim Minhee (Painter)
  • Cho Yunhee (Youngho’s Mother)
  • Ye Jiwon (Nurse)
  • Ha Seongguk (Youngho’s Friend Jeongsoo)

Crew

Written and Directed by Hong Sangsoo
Cinematography Hong Sangsoo
Editing Hong Sangsoo
Music Hong Sangsoo
Sound Seo Jihoon
Production Manager Kim Minhee
Producer Hong Sangsoo

World sales

Finecut

Produced by

Jeonwonsa Film Co.

Hong Sangsoo

Born in Seoul, South Korea in 1960, he studied at the Chung-Ang University in his native city as well as at the California College of Arts and Crafts and at the Art Institute of Chicago. Since 1996, he has written and directed 27 films, five of which have already featured in the Berlinale Competition, most recently Introduction in 2021. He currently teaches at the Konkuk University in Seoul.

Filmography (selection)

1996 Daijiga umule pajinnal (The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well) · Daijiga umule pajinnal (The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well) 1998 Kangwon-do ui him (The Power of Kangwon Province) · Kangwon-do ui him (The Power of Kangwon Province) 2000 Oh soo-jung (Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors) · Oh soo-jung (Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors) 2002 Saenghwalui balgyeon (Turning Gate) · Saenghwalui balgyeon (Turning Gate) 2004 Yeojaneun namjaui miraeda (Woman Is the Future of Man) · Yeojaneun namjaui miraeda (Woman Is the Future of Man) 2005 Geuk jang jeon (A Tale of Cinema) · Geuk jang jeon (A Tale of Cinema) 2006 Haebyuneui Yeoin (Woman on the Beach) · Haebyuneui Yeoin (Woman on the Beach) 2008 Bam gua nat (Night and Day) · Bam gua nat (Night and Day) 2009 Jal al-ji-do mot-ha-myeon-seo (Like You Know It All) · Jal al-ji-do mot-ha-myeon-seo (Like You Know It All) 2010 Hahaha · Hahaha · Ok-hui-ui yeonghwa (Oki’s Movie) · Ok-hui-ui yeonghwa (Oki’s Movie) 2011 Book-chon-bang-hyang (The Day He Arrives) · Book-chon-bang-hyang (The Day He Arrives) 2012 Da-reun na-ra-e-seo (In Another Country) · Da-reun na-ra-e-seo (In Another Country) 2013 Nugu-ui ttal-do anin haewon (Nobody’s Daughter Haewon) · Nugu-ui ttal-do anin haewon (Nobody’s Daughter Haewon) · U ri sunhi (Our Sunhi) · U ri sunhi (Our Sunhi) 2014 Jayueui onduk (Hill of Freedom) · Jayueui onduk (Hill of Freedom) 2015 Jigeumeun matgo geuttaeneun teullida (Right Now, Wrong Then) · Jigeumeun matgo geuttaeneun teullida (Right Now, Wrong Then) 2016 Dangsinjasingwa dangsinui geot (Yourself and Yours) · Dangsinjasingwa dangsinui geot (Yourself and Yours) 2017 Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja (On the Beach at Night Alone) · Bamui haebyun-eoseo honja (On the Beach at Night Alone) · Keul-le-eo-ui ka-me-la (Claire’s Camera) · Keul-le-eo-ui ka-me-la (Claire’s Camera) · Geu-hu (The Day After) · Geu-hu (The Day After) 2018 Pul-lp-Deul (Grass) · Pul-lp-Deul (Grass) 2019 Gang-Byun-Ho-Tel (Hotel by the River) · Gang-Byun-Ho-Tel (Hotel by the River) · Domangchin yeoja (The Woman Who Ran) · Domangchin yeoja (The Woman Who Ran) 2020 Inteurodeoksyeon (Introduction) · Inteurodeoksyeon (Introduction) 2021 Dangsin-eolgul-apeseo (In Front of Your Face) · Dangsin-eolgul-apeseo (In Front of your Face) · So-seol-ga-ui yeong-hwa (The Novelist’s Film) · So-seol-ga-ui yeong-hwa (The Novelist’s Film) 2023 mul-an-e-seo (in water)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023