The Way Home (or Jibeuro in Korean) is written and directed by Jeong-hyang Lee, and it's her feature film début. The story is very simple. Seven-year-old Sang-woo (Seung-ho Yu) is left in the care of his grandmother (Eul-boon Kim), who lives in a remote area of Korea, by his mother (Hyo-hee Dong) for a couple of months. Sang-woo is used to all the comforts of city life in Seoul, so the shock of living in the countryside with no running water, or electricity, is profound. His grandmother is deaf and mute, and stooped with age. Sang-woo behaves reprehensibly towards her, calling her "retard", and hiding or stealing items from her. He does nothing to help his grandmother, and selfishly allows her to carry the water from the river, and perform all household tasks. Eul-boon Kim is a revelation as the grandmother, and she takes all his insults and instead gives him unconditional love. Over time Sang-woo sees the problems his behaviour causes because of its impact upon others. This is most obvious when he falls for Cheol-e (Kyung-hyun Min), a neighbouring girl.
The film is elegantly shot, and the landscapes of rural Korea are beautiful. There is minimal dialogue, and the film depends upon the characters and their interactions for its heart. I can see how some people might find the film slow, and perhaps overly-sentimental, but it didn't have that effect on me. The slow pace reflects the change in lifestyle to which Sang-woo must adapt. Sang-woo's grandmother is not worldly-wise, and sees life in very simple terms. She is part of a community who understand and respect her because she gives help to those who need it. Sang-woo can't even perform the most simple tasks for survival in this environment, and is utterly dependent upon his grandmother for everything. It's not a new story, but Lee brings it to life with a charming, and heartfelt, freshness. I think the film is also a reflection of the world that Lee is trying to evoke: one which is very different to the cosmopolitan lifestyle of the modern world. This is most obvious when you consider the fact that both Sang-woo and his grandmother are played by "non-professional" actors, and Eul-boon Kim had never seen a movie before the film was shot. If you believe that the like of Charlie's Angels is the epitome of current movie-making then I'd suggest you avoid watching The Way Home, and wait for the next Hollywood blockbuster instead.
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