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The Power of Kangwon Province
The Power of Kangwon Province
7.4
/10
546 Ratings

THE POWER OF KANGWON PROVINCE

Kangwon-do ui him

Directed by Hong Sang-soo
South Korea, 1998
Drama

Synopsis

A young woman, Jisook, fresh off a relationship with a married man, joins two girlfriends for a vacation in the mountainous Kangwon region and tumbles into bed with a married policeman. Meanwhile, her ex, Sangwon, happens to be visiting the same region and threatens to cross Jisook’s path.

Synopsis

A young woman, Jisook, fresh off a relationship with a married man, joins two girlfriends for a vacation in the mountainous Kangwon region and tumbles into bed with a married policeman. Meanwhile, her ex, Sangwon, happens to be visiting the same region and threatens to cross Jisook’s path.

Our take

Hong Sang-soo’s second feature, this time working from his own script, sees a leap towards a signature style. No zooms just yet—but plenty of soju—in a film of playful repetitions and savvy symmetries, whose long takes and structural innovations underpin twin perspectives on a single set of events.