Hill of Freedom | Hong Sang-Soo | New York Film Festival 2014
Hill of Freedom follows a Japanese man who returns to South Korea in search of his lost love. Director Hong Sang-Soo’s sixteenth feature peers into the lives of strangers in a small, quiet town with the mundanities of everyday life.
The man, ‘Mori’, finds a guesthouse tucked away on a back street to stay at, where he encounters a cast of characters who live in the town. He soon finds a small café named ‘Hill of Freedom’, which centers as a pivotal location for the film’s events.
The narrative is told in a non-linear style through a series of letters, read by the woman, events which then converge at the film’s conclusion. This framework plays in favor of the film’s rather plodding story. I might describe the scenes as ‘modest’, with the protagonist’s terrible awkwardness providing a lot of the humorous moments. At some points, it’s hard to tell if the acting is subpar, or it’s just the difference in cultural style, or if it’s just awkward people being themselves.
That said, although Hill of Freedom is simple, it’s simplicity makes it notable. The film is also barely over an hour long, so it doesn’t really overstay it’s welcome. I think if you’re able to keep an open mind, you’ll likely enjoy it.
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