THE DAY AFTER | Dir. Hong Sang-soo | 2017 | 92 min
Presented in Korean with English subtitles.
The Day After continues the blistering pace of auteur Hong Sang-soo as the his third film released in 2017. Shot lovingly in black and white, the film contains plenty of signature elements from the director’s previous works, as well as some delicious variations.
The Day After depicts book publisher Bong-wan’s (Kwon Hae-hyo) attempts to fight accusations of affairs from his wife while simultaneously trying to start a new affair. Besides his wife, the film focuses on two other women in Bong-wan’s life: an ex-employee, Chang-sook (Kim Sae-byuk), and a new employee, Areum (Kim Min-hee, Claire’s Camera, The Handmaiden). Bong-wan has an affair with Chang-sook, and after she leaves the job, her position is filled by Areum. Within hours of Areum starting her job, Bong-wan tries to woo her. Naturally, like other Hong Sang-soo films, there is plenty of alcohol in the form of soju, ensuring events unfold deliriously and with plenty of honesty and humour. In addition, Hong Sang-soo plays with the concept of time and extends the timeline of a single day with déjà vu and flashbacks. The end result is a film that smartly shows how relationships can instantly spark into life and also how they fizzle out.
Note: The film shares elements with Hong Sang-soo’s Right Now, Wrong Then, a film shown by the Calgary Cinematheque in 2016.
Awards
Buil Film Awards 2017 - Nominated (Buil Film Award, Best Film | Hong Sang-soo, Best Director | Hong Sang-soo, Best Actor | Kwon Hae-hyo)
Cannes Film Festival 2017 - In Competition (Palme d'Or, Hong Sang-soo)
International Cinephile Society Awards 2017 - Won (ICS Cannes Award, Best Actress | Kim Min-hee)
Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival 2017 - Nominated (Jaeger - LeCoultre Best Film Award, Best Film | Hong Sang-soo)
Munich Film Festival 2017 - Nominated (ARRI/OSRAM Award, Best International Film | Hong Sang-soo)
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2017 - Nominated (Zabaltegi Section, Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Prize | Hong Sang-soo)
The Day After is the third selection in our CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA series.