In the world of festival cinema there is a place for directors, interesting only to a very limited circle of viewers. They will most likely never become known to the masses and will not reach wide distribution. One such fan, Hong Sang-soo, has made 16 films over the past 18 years. And only the debut tape of the South Korean was staged according to another scenario. "Havon Is Nobody's Daughter" is a crystal clear art house, a nightmare of a lover of high-budget fakes and a worthy subject for conversation in the habitat of film snobs. Hong Sang-soo's new film, even surprisingly, claims to be called a drama. At first, we may mistake it for a plotless mess, but in fact the Korean has prepared for us quite a digestible story.
From the title of the new work of the Korean director blows social themes. Before my eyes flashes stories on the theme of fatherlessness, orphanages, loneliness and the struggle with the cruel world of adults. Soon after the beginning of the film, however, comes the realization that Hevon is a girl from a wealthy family. She has a strange relationship with her mother, who is going to live in Canada. She didn’t seem to give her daughter enough attention. Such stories are also familiar to us: business often builds thick walls of misunderstanding between family members. “I will think of you every day,” her mother comforts her, “to live is to die, to seize the moment, to live like me.” The first scenes evoke associations with one of the most relevant festival trends - ethnic minimalism. A little strange for a European chatter of Asians, simple editing, primitive camera work and slow development of events - a phantom in which year after year wrapped low-budget "cinema is not for everyone." The film, however, gradually appears melodramatic plot.
Hevon everyone says she's beautiful. Maybe that's true. What do Asian beauty experts say? In any case, the main character has a boyfriend. I would even say "man" given his age and occupation. You think Havon's got a good job? She is studying for an actress and meets a professor who teaches the basics of directing! No way! The master, as the wards call him, actively hides his connection with the student, which offends her. Should we demand more from him? The professor has a family and a child. Does he have to leave them for a girl? There is no avoiding scandal at university. Ordinary egotist: doesn’t even understand what is hurting her with her pathetic attempts to hide the stiletto in a bag. Hevon is difficult to reconcile with the place of the mistress, this situation weighs on her.
“You look cold and self-centered, but inside you are very brave. You face difficulties in order to know yourself. You are surprisingly persistent and want to get to the truth through your relationships with people.” This deft characteristic gives the main character her new friend, also an adult man and professor, but teaching in the United States. Is she really like that? Maybe. Or does Hevon become so impressed by a strange acquaintance? And did it actually happen? Perhaps it is not so important, but she manages to take control of the situation and take full responsibility for her future.
The director in “Havon No One’s Daughter” managed to achieve a surprisingly high concentration of his aesthetics, without ruining the drama. He is helped, among other things, by the majestic music of Beethoven, in which the professor seeks solace. The previous work of the Korean “In Another Country” was widely known thanks to the participation in the project of Isabel Huppert, one of the most important actresses of our time. However, even she could not save the artificiality of the design of the film: it seemed as if the film was made to demonstrate some witty directorial techniques. Here, the author’s findings are very well inscribed in the narrative. The transitions from dream to reality, accompanied by scenes of awakening together with episodes that cause a sense of déjà vu, are very useful. In the course of action, sometimes there is a feeling that here the dream is not only an impression of what was lived, but also penetrates into reality. Perhaps this is one of the most successful film experiences of recent years, using the tools of surrealists.