Hong Sang-soo's new black-and-white film, The Day She Returns, is a familiar yet satisfying addition to the prolific Korean director's oeuvre. Known for his lo-fi aesthetic and recurring themes, Hong delivers another slow, reflective study of day-drinking and existential pondering. The film features long scenes shot from a single static camera position, with conversations in restaurants and sudden, unobtrusive zooms. It will not surprise fans that a character orders beer before noon—Hong is unmatched in cinema for his dedication to depicting day-drinking.
A Familiar Formula That Works
Song Seon-mi stars as Jeong-su, a famous actor in her 40s returning from a career break linked to motherhood and divorce. Now a single mother, she gives three back-to-back interviews for a low-key indie film. The interviewers, well-spoken women about 15 years younger, focus on human interest rather than the film itself—a tacit joke that leaves viewers learning nothing about the movie. Jeong-su offers them beer; most decline. She initially avoids questions about her divorce but eventually opens up, tearfully advising one young woman not to live without love. When an interviewer shares a recent fight with her boyfriend, Jeong-su relaxes, despite the interviewer praising her "cold childlike aura."
Between Interviews: Vaping and Regret
Two break scenes show Jeong-su vaping or smoking outside, worrying she has said too much. Later, she reveals a tough side, calling an interviewer to request deletions and ask for copy approval. The film feels like a gentle satire, reminiscent of Hugh Grant's interview scenes in Notting Hill. Many real stars have described the surreal experience of blurring multiple interviews into one.
The Acting Class: A Fourth Conversation
Jeong-su then attends an acting class she mentioned to an interviewer—it was not a pantomime of humility; she really teaches. Her first assignment is autofictional: recreate the interviews with a classmate playing the journalist. She conflates the three conversations but adds Buddhist observations about reality and experiencing life fully. This fourth conversation is no more contrived than the first three, equally likely to yield self-knowledge. There are no close-ups or musical cues to signal importance; the conversation unfolds at a consistent volume and pace. The film withholds overt meaning like a short story, quietly engrossing the viewer.
Release Details
The Day She Returns is at the ICA, London from 17 July.
