A Hometown in Heart

Maeum-ui gohyang

South Korea

1949

76 Min

Black and White

1.33:1

Korean

Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
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SCR Kwak Il-byeong, Ham Se-deok

CAST Yu Min, Choi Eun-hie, Byeon Gi-jong, Nam Seung-min, Yeo Hyeon-yong, Kim Seon-yeong, Seok Geum-seong, Choe Un-bong, Cha Jin-su

Originally released in 1949, the classic A Hometown in Heart was one of the most important films made in Korea after its liberation from Japan. It was the first film from director Yoon Yong-kyu, who later made films in North Korea. Based on playwright Ham Se-deok’s A Little Monk, the film is set in a small temple in the mountains. Child monk Do-seong (Yu Min) lives a simple life of prayer and learning there with the head monk (Byeon Gi-jong). The boy develops a bond with a young widow (legendary actress Choi Eun-hie in an early role) who comes to pray at the temple. She hopes to take Do-seong as her son, but problems arise when his real mother (Kim Seon-yeong) appears… —yesasia.com

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TFCHooligan69

31Mar13

Somewhat reminiscent of an Ozu film, this is a beautiful and heartbreaking example of early Korean cinema. This classic deserves a greater audience. The fact it's available on YouTube with English subtitles is a definite plus.

InsertOzuReferencehere

2Mar13

Sweater: Garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. - Ambrose Bierce

Trolley Freak

18Jul12

This quite delightful childhood tearjerker from Korea, the first film from that country I've seen, came as a very pleasant surprise as I knew little about it beforehand. The story is sentimental but not overtly so and tells the tale of a young boy abandoned to a Buddhist temple by his mother at the age of three and yearning for her to return. Beautifully directed and boasting gorgeous cinematography, I was entranced.