A still from “Mungyeong: More than Roads” is shown in this image provided by Twin Plus Partners on Aug. 21, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — When it comes to comforting someone, sometimes less is more. Simply being present and offering a supportive shoulder can be more meaningful than many words. The drama film “Mungyeong: More than Roads” demonstrates this, where the characters find comfort in each other’s quiet presence during difficult times.
Directed by Shin Dong-il, the contemplative film follows Mun-gyeong (Ryu Abell), a burned-out office worker grappling with work-related stress and toxic relationships with her coworkers. The film explores her frustration with a corporate culture where office politics takes precedence over meritocracy.
The stress of Mun-gyeong’s work environment begins to manifest physically, leaving her exhausted, with stomach issues, sickness and even ulcers. When the company fails to renew the contract of her hardworking junior colleague Cho-wol (Chae Seo-an), despite her excellent performance, Mun-gyeong is overcome with a sense of helplessness. She confronts her boss to no avail and impulsively decides to take a vacation to Mungyeong, a small city in North Gyeongsang Province.
From that point on, the film takes both the protagonist and the audience on a healing journey to the quiet, picturesque city of Mungyeong. Rich with diverse natural beauty that is pure and untouched, the serene surroundings of the city stand in stark contrast to the bustling yet inhumane environment Mun-gyeong has escaped.
A still from “Mungyeong: More than Roads” is shown in this image provided by Twin Plus Partners on Aug. 21, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
It is no coincidence that the director chose to shoot the film in Mungyeong, his father’s hometown where he himself was born and raised. His deep connection to the city is evident, as he uses it not only as the protagonist’s name, but also as Cho-wol’s hometown. The city serves as a restorative place that helps heal Mun-gyeong, as well as the other characters, allowing them to regain a sense of control over their lives.
While assisting an injured dog named Kil-sun after a car accident, Mun-gyeong crosses paths with a young Buddhist nun named Ka-eun (Jo Jae-kyung). As the two embark on a journey to find the dog’s owner, they encounter an elderly villager named Yu-rang (Choi Soo-min), who happens to be looking for her own lost dog. Yu-rang invites them to stay at her home.
Yu-rang’s home becomes a sanctuary of female camaraderie, bringing together the varied lives of the burned-out Mun-gyeong, the nun Ka-eun, who chose that path after a traumatic experience of losing high school friends in a fire, and Yu-rang’s own granddaughter, a victim of school violence.
The film is interspersed with thoughtful black-and-white sequences that quietly and warmly soothe the characters’ emotional scars. Seen through the lens of Kil-sun, these moments of visual serenity offer a counterpoint to the characters’ inner turmoil.
The director’s 2001 short film “The Holy Family” was selected for the Short Films Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. His feature debut, “Host & Guest” (2005), earned him the Best New Director award at the Seattle International Film Festival and was showcased at numerous international film festivals, including the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival.
“Mungyeong: More than Roads” is set for release next Wednesday.
(Yonhap)
