Nobody's Daughter Haewon

Student Haewon finds out that her mother is planning to move to Canada. “Live life to the fullest,” she advises her daughter before taking off. But the girl is all a muddle: she’s already confused about her relationship, and the news of her mother’s emigration hits her self-confidence hard. Will the new situation force her out of her beloved daydreams or will it plunge her further into fantasy? Hong Sang-soo’s latest film once again strikes a chord of gentle humor and renders precisely shaded situations to reflect deeper emotion. He shows everyday mundanity as quaintly laughable and a bit crazy, and despite depicting his heroine as having gone somewhat astray, in no way does he aggravate her situation. The characters show each other remarkable tenderness, giving the film the quality of a fleeting dream that leaves the viewer’s heart at peace. This intent motion picture is rounded out with succinct humor and a masterly talent for revealing much about the characters – and by extension the viewer – while observing them in the most ordinary of situations. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)