Grand Prize Winner at the Nantes Three Continents Film Festival

With his unique visual world and filmmaking techniques, director Hong Sang-soo is highly acclaimed as the “Godard of Korea,” not only within South Korea but also in Europe. His latest work, the much-talked-about ‘Hill of Freedom,’ which won the Grand Prize at France’s Nantes Three Continents Film Festival held this month, will now be screened in Japan.

Ryo Kase, who has openly stated his admiration for director Hong Sang-soo for some time, plays the protagonist, Mori, a Japanese man. The film was born when, during a meeting in Japan in 2012 for promotional purposes, director Hong and Kase hit it off immediately despite it being their first encounter, leading to an on-the-spot offer for the role.

Director Hong is also known for his unique production style, where the script is handed out each morning before shooting. Kase participated in the filming by arriving in Korea alone, much like the protagonist Mori, without a manager or interpreter. Furthermore, the clothes and backpack Mori wears as he wanders freely through the city were items Kase brought from Japan himself.

Unable to find the woman he seeks, Mori begins writing diary-like letters

Mori travels to Seoul in pursuit of Kwon, an older Korean woman he admires. However, he cannot find her and begins writing diary-like letters addressed to her. While going back and forth through the streets of Seoul searching for her, he befriends an American-educated man staying at the same guesthouse and also grows closer to Song-yeon, the owner of a cafe called ‘Hill of Freedom,’ after finding a lost dog…

Lost in a labyrinth of time within the maze-like city of hills and alleys, Mori wanders. Will he be able to meet her? What is happiness for Mori?

The story unfolds in parallel with Kwon, Mori’s former lover, reading his letters, which have become jumbled in order. Time reflects little by little, like a prism, mirroring Mori’s fluctuating heart. The narrative, driven by director Hong Sang-soo’s playful manipulation of the timeline, moves forward, sometimes repeating, to depict Mori’s days in Seoul as he chases after the woman he loves.

‘Hill of Freedom’
Nationwide release begins Saturday, December 13th, at Cinemaart Shinjuku and other theaters
Director & Screenplay | Hong Sang-soo
Starring | Ryo Kase, Seo Young-hwa, Moon So-ri, Kim Eui-sung, Youn Yuh-jung
Distribution | Bitters End
2014 / South Korea / 67 min