Woman on the Beach

Woman on the Beach

Hong Sangsoo / 2006 / 127 minutes / South Korea

Filmmaker Joongrae, suffering from writer’s block, takes a trip to the coast with his production designer Changwook, who brings along the vivacious Moonsook. Soon after their arrival, Moonsook falls for Joongrae’s advances; however, the fickle hero can’t commit and he awkwardly parts with her. What had been a sardonic Jules and Jim turns into a burlesque Vertigo when Joongrae returns to the coastal resort and attempts to recreate the original romance with a woman who resembles Moonsook, until his jilted lover shows up…

 

A new 4K restoration completed by the Korean Film Archive from the original 35mm negative.


Woman on the Beach is included on the Blu-ray and DVD of Hill of Freedom. Now available for pre-order. Ships 2/9/21.

    BLU-RAY

    1 Disc

    SRP: $34.95
     

    Our Price:
    $27.95

    DVD

    1 Disc

    SRP: $29.95
     

    Our Price:
    $23.95

  • “A wicked comedy of manners.”

    — A.O. Scott, The New York Times
  • “A bittersweet accounting of the geography of desire... Wry and tender and delicately melancholic... shows a newly confident filmmaker again working near the top of his form.”

    — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
  • “An immaculately constructed movie. A rueful tale of karmic irony, self-deceived desire, squandered second chances, and unforeseen abandonment.”

    — J. Hoberman, Village Voice
  • “A wonderful, serious-minded romantic comedy-drama. Perhaps the greatest achievement lies in its rhythms, the way it beautifully captures the natural flow of ongoing conversation.”

    — Todd McCarthy, Variety
  • "A marvelously acted and memorably atmospheric picture."

    — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon
  • "Reminiscent of Godard's Contempt, but writer-director Hong Sang-soo — South Korea's foremost chronicler of romantic maneuvering — is more aptly compared to Eric Rohmer for his subtle comedy."

    — J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader
  • "A cinematic tightrope artist: he’s a director whose films walk the fine line between the heaven and hell of the quotidian."

    — Chris Chang, Film Comment
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