In Front of Your Face(HKAFF 2021)

Former actress Sang-ok, who has been living in the US, returns to Korea to visit a sister she doesn't know or get along with that well. Her ill-fated reunion is followed by a meeting at a cafe with a director, who reveals his interest in her amidst alcohol-fueled conversations, only for her to spill a secret in return. As is common for the prolific auteur, Hong Sang-soo’s latest film is a minimalist urban tale of meandering dialogue and awkward encounters that denote the human condition. But this bittersweet character study, perhaps Hong’s most moving work yet, registers a softer tone with its reflections on the beauty of transience and a woman’s embrace of her present through many a mundane but meaningful meeting.