presented by Mirovision
A bom Film Production
in association with Jeonwonsa
WOMAN ON THE BEACH
Kim Seungwoo KO Hyunjoung
Song Sunmi Kim Taewoo
director of photography Kim Hyungkoo lighting director Jung Youngmin
location sound An Sangho sound supervisor Lee Seungchul
editor Hahm Sungwon music director Jeong Yongjin
associate producer Cho Jinah
executive producer Jason Chae
producer Oh Jungwan
written and directed by Hong Sangsoo
Director Kim, I'm really sorry.
But, today I have an important engagement.
But you've come all this way...
You didn't tell me about this trip.
You know I've never said 'no' to whatever you asked.
This is really tough.
Does it have to be today?
I wouldn't have asked unless I was having a hard time.
And I absolutely have to start writing.
Are you really having a hard time?
Think I want to go on a picnic or something?
No, I know you have to write.
You just stay one night. I'll stay behind and write the script.
Let's eat some sushi, have fun, and you can come back.
You should've called me yesterday.
Who the hell is this person you're meeting?
Okay, can I ask you a favor then?
Can I bring my girlfriend along?
- Girlfriend? - Yes.
You want to take your girlfriend?
We were supposed to go on a date today.
Sure, fine then.
Then I'll be right back.
I'll go tidy things up a bit, and I need to call her.
Alright, what time then?
- How about two? - Two?
Okay, two then.
Hold on.
- Hello? - Director Kim, it's me.
- How are you? - Fine, of course.
Did you happen to read the paper this morning?
It said that a film director named Kim died in a car accident.
And so I called just in case.
I felt awful because of that. So you're alright?
That was in the morning paper? Interesting.
- Anyhow, I wonder who it was. - Someone, I guess.
- So, is the script almost done? - Uh, well...
Actually, I was just taking off to somewhere quiet to work on it.
To concentrate for a few days.
I see, where to?
There's this town called Shinduri. On the west coast.
But I heard a sandstorm's on its way. And it's supposed to be nasty.
- Sandstorm? Again? - Yes, a nasty one, too.
So why don't you wait a couple of days and then go?
I have a strange feeling about today.
Okay. Well, I'll work hard on it.
Producer Jung, everything's fine with you, too?
So, do you still have some money left for expenses?
Ah, yes. A little. Later perhaps, you can...
Thank you.
Well, take care. Good luck with your script.
- Thank you. - Bye.
- Sit here! - No, the backseat's fine.
- Please, sit here. - No, I'm okay.
Hello.
We're off.
Wow, it's a new car. Really nice. Did you pay for it?
- Of course, who else? - You must be making a lot of money.
But your dad could've paid for it.
Come on, I fend for myself now.
By the way, how did you two meet?
Well, I worked on a student film way back.
I built a set for them.
And she did the music.
Oh, so that's how you met.
Like me, she's an avid fan of yours.
Really?
Have you lost your mind? Are you nuts?
By the way, I'm Kim Moonsook. Nice to meet you.
- So you do music? - Yes, it's nothing really.
Her music is great!
How do you like this music? I brought this CD for you.
What? Is this her music?
Yes, isn't it nice? She's mainly a composer.
She made this to use as a demo for her singing debut.
Very nice.
This is a bit mainstream.
I also have some weird stuff. Want to hear it?
No, it's nice. Let's listen to this first.
I really like this one. A lot.
She's a fan of yours. A huge fan.
- Moonsook. - Yes?
- A lot of cars, huh? - Yes.
Thanks for the bow.
Director Kim, I bought some gum. Some bubble gum, too.
Need anything else?
- Should I get some potatoes, too? - No, let's go get some sushi.
- Some delicious sushi. - Yes, let's.
Would you like a piece of gum?
The Best Recreation on the West Coast! Shinduri Beach!
White Birch Pension
Do you have a room?
A small one is 80,000 Won per night. A larger one is 100,000 Won.
That's too much.
- It wasn't so expensive before. - The price is the same.
On weekends, it's 120,000 Won.
I've been here before. And it wasn't so expensive then.
How many nights are you staying?
One for starters.
- Just one? - Yeah.
- What about you? - That's okay.
- We'll just stay for one night. - No vacancies on the weekend.
I think he's fooling us. It wasn't so expensive before.
I agree. It's a rip off.
The rooms seem pretty much empty.
- See? No one's here. - You're right.
He was trying to make you stay longer.
We'll stay here the night, and I'll look for some place cheaper.
- Let's look for one after we eat. - Sure.
There's a lighthouse.
The sandstorm is not so bad.
How fortunate.
Oh yeah, I enjoyed the music.
- Wasn't it nice? - Yeah.
- Did you really like it? - Yes.
The melody is soothing. Nothing exaggerated.
You sung how an average person would.
I liked that amateur feel to it.
I admire your good taste in music.
Changwook, I admire you as well.
How?
It's hard for a married man
to openly bring along his girlfriend like you.
You must really trust me.
- You really do trust me. - You're the best, Director Kim.
I told you he's really great.
What trust?
I don't trust people so easily.
- By the way, he's not my boyfriend. - Sorry?
- Oh, come on. - Come on what? What?
But, he said you were.
Do we have to have sex to be boyfriend and girlfriend?
Whatever.
And yes, you have to have sex. Right, Director Kim?
This is fun.
We're just friends, you and I.
- Do friends kiss? - That's so childish.
Yeah, we kissed once. Big deal.
Damn it. This isn't funny.
No, it's funny. Very funny.
It's a sea star.
It's dead.
Cigarette.
When the tide's out, it'll ebb to that lighthouse.
- Like the Red Sea, right? - Yes.
You have beautiful legs.
Thank you. I'm a bit too tall, aren't I?
No, you're perfect. You look great.
No, I'm too tall. I wish I could cut them short.
Come on, don't do that.
Director Kim, guess you got to work on your script now.
I guess so.
What is it about this time?
I only have the title.
"About Miracles."
Does it sound too scholarly?
"About Miracles," I see.
- "About Miracles." - Miracle? What kind of miracle?
A man travels to a foreign beach and stays at a hotel.
And in his room he plays Mozart on his CD player.
Then he leaves his room and hears the same music on the lift.
He walks out of the hotel,
then takes a turn at the corner, and on the street is a clown.
He's doing his mime to the exact same music.
It's an incredible coincidence.
But this man doesn't think it's a mere coincidence.
He wonders why he heard the same music three times.
And he concludes that if he can find the reason why this happened,
he can unravel a secret to the world.
And he's obsessed with that thought.
So he starts tracking hints. For ten years.
First, he begins with info about the clown,
the women he met, his preferences, everything.
Down to the speaker's brand in the hotel elevator.
Sounds like a real mystery.
Does it?
Anyway, in the end
he finds this very thin string that links everything.
I think that might be hard to get across.
People only believe in things that are very sound.
But that string, even if he finds it, well, it's something like a soul.
There is nothing bodily. It's very, very light.
Damn it.
Not interesting?
It's interesting.
I don't quite get it.
But you have a way with words.
I like people who are eloquent.
I don't trust anyone who can't logically explain himself.
Really?
- What the hell? - So adorable.
- What's his name? - Dori.
You're Dori, huh? You're so cute.
- How old is he? - He's eight months now.
You're eight, are you?
- Sorry, but we got to go. - No, I'm sorry.
Bye, Dori.
Scared?
Yeah, I've been bitten once, and never been near a dog since.
What's there to be afraid of? He's so lovely.
Lovely, no way.
Hey, no one's here. Hello? Hello?
This sushi place is really big.
I'm starving.
Excuse me, is anyone here?
What the hell?
Are you open?
- Here to eat? - Yes.
So you're open? Yes, we are.
Have a seat.
Oh, man. Let's sit.
But where? Sit here?
Anywhere. Sit anywhere.
Forget it. We're leaving.
What's wrong?
Fuck, learn how to run a business right.
Let's go!
What did you just say?
You should be fucking nice to your customers.
When was I ever not nice?
And why are you swearing at me? You don't have the right!
You little prick! Fuck off!
- What's his problem? - You're my problem!
The way you're treating people, asshole!
I tried to keep my mouth shut.
Who is that man?
I'm sorry.
But be nicer to your customers.
I'm sorry. Very sorry.
Please forgive us.
What the hell is this?
- You're scary. - I just yell, that's all.
- Have a cigarette. - Yes.
- Let's go someplace else. - Director Kim, that wasn't right.
What?
You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't treat people like that.
Go and apologize. I'm serious. Go apologize.
What's wrong with you?
You don't do that to people! Even if he's a waiter!
This isn't right.
Go and apologize, okay?
- You really should. - I won't!
Why on earth should I?
You won't?
You really won't do as I say?
Director Kim.
Director Kim!
Director Kim, get back here, right now!
Director Kim, come here now!
I'm not going to let this one go. I'm serious.
I can't stand it when a person mistreats another.
Can't stand it? So what?
I still like you, even if you've done wrong.
I respect you as a director. Now, go and apologize.
I'm serious. Go say you're sorry.
That's the right thing to do.
You apologize if you like. Why should I?
Because you treated him like dirt!
You really won't apologize?
If you don't, I'm going back to Seoul.
You won't? Okay, I'm leaving.
Let's go!
Seriously? Back to Seoul?
What's gotten into you?
Alright, I did wrong. Let's stop this!
No, you have to go and apologize. Then, we can have...
fun afterwards. Let's do that.
Enough, okay?
I'm really sorry, so let's stop.
I'm a bastard. No, I'm an asshole, okay?
I didn't ask you to apologize to me.
Have I ever done this to you before?
You've done wrong today!
What's wrong with you?
Is that the restaurant you mentioned?
Yes, it is.
Let's go in. We'll eat and have a drink.
You must be hungry. You should eat.
Let's have a drink, okay? Let's go.
Let's have some sushi.
- Welcome. - Hello.
- We can sit over there, right? - Yes.
- There's three of you? - Yes.
I thought about it as I was walking.
You're too opportunistic.
Why all the fuss? You nearly brought tears to my eyes.
What about me that's so opportunistic?
Frankly, it wasn't tears but disgust.
You were just trying to show me that you're a man.
You have no principles.
You're just like us. And you're selfish, too.
You've gone nuts, haven't you?
Just eat your fish.
Moonsook, you have a lovely face.
Thank you.
My face is rather big. Wish I could cut some off.
No, you have a lovely face.
You're drunk already, aren't you?
Yeah, a little bit.
Moonsook, what makes you sad?
My father, maybe. We don't see each other anymore.
Her father is a famous composer. He's written many well-known songs.
Now, I hate him the most.
But I'm also very sorry about it.
He's given me so much love.
Every weekend, he'd take only me on his travels.
He was like an octopus,
wrapping me from behind in that closed grip,
squeezing me and not letting go.
He worries about me more than I do myself.
But does that make sense?
It makes my skin crawl.
That's why she studied abroad. To run away from him.
Hey, you crying? Need this?
No thanks.
My tears are clean.
I have a question.
- Are you lonely? - Yes.
I have no expectations. Nothing.
We should earn the real thing without any help from others.
But I think I still want to get it through people.
I know I shouldn't expect it of them.
- A real pleasure meeting you. - Same here.
Me, too.
You know my intentions were genuine earlier, right?
Yes, of course.
You never quit.
So strange. I wonder what's so fun about it.
They're just enjoying themselves.
Why did Nature have to divide us into male and female?
I'm so sick of it.
You're a male, yourself. You know that.
Yeah, yeah. That's why I'm like this.
Want to drink some more?
Yes, well, as you like.
As I like? So you want to drink more or not?
Really, do as you like. If you want to drink, then do so.
Okay, I'll go buy some more.
Moonsook, I need to ask you something. Can you come over here?
Sure.
What is it that you want to ask?
You see, I think Changwook and I both want you.
If you happen to like both of us, who would you choose?
You see, this situation is making us awkward.
I think it would help if things are set clear.
So who's your pick?
I like you better, Joongrae.
I understand. Thanks.
You should get back.
How long did you stay in Germany? Quite a long time.
You must be fluent in German.
Just enough to get by.
She's good. Very good.
- Were there Koreans there? - Not really.
It was a small tourist city, so I saw some Korean travelers.
- What are people like there? - A bit boring.
But they are honest. Very much so.
They express their feelings as they are.
They seem more laid back than people here.
Have you dated foreigners?
- Men, I mean. - Ah, men.
Do you really want to know?
- Well, I think... - No, don't say it.
I don't care what you did there.
Keep it to yourself till you die.
For me.
Should I not say it?
What's wrong? It's no crime to date them...
Changwook will not take this well.
- Did you date them? - Yes.
How many?
I've had maybe two or three serious ones.
- That's quite a lot. - I told you not to say anything!
I was lonely.
Yeah, they love Asian women. They just go crazy about them.
Even if the women are ugly.
It's not necessarily like that.
But there's a premium if they go there.
Not many Asian women in Europe.
Western men have a fantasy about them.
Many Korean men seem to think so.
Frankly, it's rather a disgrace.
Unpopular women here are considered pretty over there.
Don't you think it's a disgrace?
Well, that's not how I feel. Look here.
It's a person meeting another. It's not like what you said.
Oh, you might think that I have an inferiority complex
about my dick size compared to Western men, but that's not it.
You have to live where you were born,
whether you're ugly or not.
Why do unpopular girls here go over there to live comfortably?
That's really not cool!
But I'm not referring to you, Moonsook.
You're different from your films.
Sorry, but you're actually just another Korean man.
What are you sorry about?
No, I take that back. My point is you are a Korean man.
Hey, I'm going back to our room. I'll be back shortly.
Not coming with me?
That was a hit-by-pitched ball. Stricter rules will apply to this.
If you let the ball hit you when you could've dodged it,
it's either a ball or a strike.
Like a regular strike or ball.
Even if you get hit, it may not be a hit-by-pitched ball.
- Doesn't apply to intentional hits. - Yes, that's right.
He's in the bathroom.
Want to get some fresh air?
Yeah, sure.
Wait.
This way.
I don't think we can go any farther. Shoes are all wet.
- You know what? - Yes?
As I get older, I like the west coast.
It's where the sun sets.
And also where the stars rise.
That's right.
Why are you laughing? Come on.
Ah, I got a question.
If we're the only beings that are conscious of this universe,
us looking up and appreciating it is a very good thing, right?
Are we the only ones? If so, yes.
I'm almost certain we're the only ones.
So if we're not conscious of it,
it's meaningless, isn't it?
Yes.
If we occasionally look into space and think about it,
then the universe will not be lonely.
You're so beautiful.
Thank you.
But I've been repeating this ever since I was very young.
It's just some words of nostalgia.
- Am I being too honest? - It's alright.
This may sound simplistic, but the really real thing
that I have absolute faith in
is the stars.
Stars?
I don't quite understand, but you must explain it to me later.
Thanks for listening.
- Aren't you cold? - Cold?
Hold on.
- Yes? - Where the hell are you?
Are you with Director Kim?
Yeah, we're taking a walk on the beach.
This late? It's so dark, you can't see a thing.
Where are you? And why did you leave me behind?
We're just taking a walk.
You took so long in the bathroom. That's why we left without you.
- Come join us. - Where? I can't see you.
Come down to the beach and walk to the left.
Left? Towards the inlet?
Yeah, turn left and straight on. Hurry up.
Okay, be right there.
You told him to walk down that way?
Yes, in the meantime we should go back to our rooms.
It feels so weird.
- Yeah. - Where are you? I see nobody here.
Keep on walking to the end of the beach.
All the way to the end?
Yeah.
It's so wonderful. I'm hearing so much about films from Director Kim.
Keep on walking and you'll see us.
Alright, wait for me.
Okay.
What is it? A splinter?
I think so.
I'll poke it out where there's light.
Yeah, thank you.
Let's tell him that I vomited. That I got a bad stomachache.
And we had to run to the pharmacist so that's why we missed each other.
Are you worried?
Okay, we'll do as you say.
- Excuse me! - Yeah?
Aren't we going back? We still have some time, right?
For what?
I want to be with you a bit longer.
When he comes...
He'll take a while to get back. Let's just go somewhere.
Where? Anywhere.
Let's just look for a place.
Ah, here.
They don't even have a front desk.
Isn't it the one outside? Is it?
Let's try the second floor.
They're all empty.
No one's here.
This is crazy.
- No, please don't. - I think I'm going crazy.
Be patient. Let's meet in Seoul. He'll go nuts if he finds out.
But I want to have you. So bad.
- Really? - Yes, really. For real.
Then, strip.
Everything?
No, that's fine.
Joongrae, I like you.
You live foolishly.
You know me?
Just, a little.
You're reckless,
but not loathsome.
You know nothing about me.
I knew I'd meet you some day.
Seriously?
Do you love me?
I like you very much.
- Do you want me that much? - Yes, more than any other woman.
Then, have me. I don't mind.
But I still love you.
Joongrae, you are mine today.
Thank you, Moonsook.
I love you.
I love you, too.
Have a seat.
You must've gotten up early. Aren't you tired?
No, are you?
No, but I think I'm coming down with something.
It's because we worked ourselves too hard last night.
Oh, come on.
You were married once, right?
Yeah, I got divorced. A long time ago.
Should I leave you alone? Seems like you were deep in thought.
That's okay.
No, go back to your thoughts. Changwook is still in the shower.
- Did you go to our room? - Yes.
Keep working. I'm going down to the beach.
Go ahead.
Please, go ahead.
Oh, it's Dori! Hello.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Hello, Dori.
He looks like a really nice dog.
Well, people say so.
- Do you get his fur trimmed? - No need to. He's the Jindo breed.
I see. Oh, you cutie.
Sorry for keeping you.
- Let's go. - Let's go, Dori.
Good-bye, Dori.
- Good-bye. - Bye.
How's this place? It looks pretty cheap.
What's the rate?
On weekdays 60,000 Won, 80,000 Won on weekends.
Oh, it's cheaper here.
- Do you have many rooms? - Yeah, we do.
Do you need one?
- Yes, maybe. - We have many.
I'll think about it, and come back later. Let's go.
I'm going back to Seoul. You are? Why?
It's too quiet here.
Don't think I'll be able to write in this lonely place.
Makes sense. Okay, let's go together.
Yeah, let's.
Hwasung Rest Area
- Do you want some coffee? - Sure.
Over there.
- Hello. - Potatoes, large size, please.
It's 2,400 Won, sir.
Director Kim.
You know I once lost my father in a rest area like this.
You did?
There was this little stream behind a building like this one.
I was there, but no one knew. They went crazy searching for me.
My dad really scolded me for that one.
Let's see each other in Seoul.
Don't strain yourself for me.
No, don't say that.
Just say what you want.
You have to speak up. How else can I understand you?
Why are you so distant suddenly?
I just want to freshen up my head a bit.
Oh, that's it.
Well, sir, you should do what you prefer.
When things become clear to me, I'll call you.
It will become clear for sure. I'll talk to you then.
I'll express myself not with words, but with action and time.
What's the date today?
Ah! You're here!
Have some coffee. It's better than I'd expected.
Have some potatoes. Coffee, no thanks.
Ah, yes. I'll have some coke.
- Okay, do you have change? - Yeah, I've got some.
- Changwook! - Be careful.
- Shall we go, Director Kim? - Uh, yeah.
- It's a beautiful day, isn't it? - Lovely.
What's gotten into you?
Two days later
Help me, please.
The phone has been turned off.
You will be connected to the voice mail after the beep.
To record a message, press one.
Please speak after the beep, then press the star or pound key.
I see you're not picking up.
That day, I think I had too much on my mind and I was a bit afraid.
Actually, I'm sure of myself, but I didn't do you right.
I called you because the sea is so beautiful.
There are so many idiots who take life for granted.
In this beautiful place I've seen people
fight over some money, and a couple argue.
It's disgusting.
You're beautiful.
Very beautiful.
Yes.