A Traveler’s Needs
Isabelle Huppert is a nomadic Frenchwoman named Iris who drifts into the lives of a disconnected group of people in a Seoul suburb in her third delightful outing with Hong Sangsoo, a gentle exploration of human motivation and the surprising connections between people despite—or because of—language barriers.
Isabelle Huppert reunites with Hong Sangsoo for their third delightful outing, this time starring as a nomadic Frenchwoman named Iris who drifts into the lives of a disconnected group of people in a Seoul suburb. In need of money, she has taken up giving French lessons, although she has no teaching experience to speak of. Cutting an ethereal figure in a straw hat, flowered sundress, and green cardigan, Iris puzzles the locals with her unorthodox methods and unyielding love for the Korean rice wine makgeolli. Iris’s effect on those around her is at once familial, romantic, and pedagogical, leading to a succession of gently amusing moments of cultural confusion and curiosity. Hong’s endearing, enigmatic observational comedy is a gentle exploration of human motivation and the surprising connections between people despite—or because of—language barriers. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Berlinale. An NYFF62 Main Slate selection. A Cinema Guild release.
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