"Winter in Sokcho" Brings Haunting Atmosphere to South Korea's Border City
A slow-burning drama that deftly explores the complexities of family and intimacy, this film follows Sooha, a guesthouse worker played by Bella Kim, as she becomes embroiled in her life with French writer Yan, played by Roschdy Zem. The movie is an adaptation of Elisa Shua Dusapin's novel and takes its cue from Sokcho's no man's land – the demilitarised zone just north of the city.
As Sooha navigates her complicated relationship with Yan, she finds herself caught between two worlds. Her life is disrupted when he settles in for a long-term stay, forcing her to confront her prejudices about French men and ultimately leading her to discover that he's not the rough-around-the-edges foreigner she initially thought him to be.
A visually stunning film, "Winter in Sokcho" uses the breathtaking scenery of Sokcho to create an atmosphere of tension and foreboding. The cinematography is a character in its own right, capturing the claustrophobic spaces where Sooha and Yan's interactions unfold. Park Mi-hyeon shines as Sooha's mother, whose attempts at emotional support often feel suffocating, while Gong Do-yu brings a sense of complacency to his portrayal of Sooha's boyfriend.
Bella Kim delivers a nuanced performance as the film's emotional anchor, conveying Sooha's complex emotions through a series of subtle expressions and body language. Her on-screen chemistry with Roschdy Zem is palpable, if not always explicitly stated – this is a one-sided relationship where both parties are struggling to express themselves.
Despite its slow-burning pace, "Winter in Sokcho" never feels static. Koya Kamura masterfully weaves together themes of absence and control, using the city's eerie landscape to explore Sooha's inner world. While some plot threads feel somewhat disconnected from the main narrative, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise expertly crafted film.
Ultimately, "Winter in Sokcho" feels like a modern ghost story – one that probes the mysteries of human connection and the silences that bind us together. It may not fully cohere as a film, but its haunting atmosphere and outstanding performances make it a compelling watch nonetheless.
A slow-burning drama that deftly explores the complexities of family and intimacy, this film follows Sooha, a guesthouse worker played by Bella Kim, as she becomes embroiled in her life with French writer Yan, played by Roschdy Zem. The movie is an adaptation of Elisa Shua Dusapin's novel and takes its cue from Sokcho's no man's land – the demilitarised zone just north of the city.
As Sooha navigates her complicated relationship with Yan, she finds herself caught between two worlds. Her life is disrupted when he settles in for a long-term stay, forcing her to confront her prejudices about French men and ultimately leading her to discover that he's not the rough-around-the-edges foreigner she initially thought him to be.
A visually stunning film, "Winter in Sokcho" uses the breathtaking scenery of Sokcho to create an atmosphere of tension and foreboding. The cinematography is a character in its own right, capturing the claustrophobic spaces where Sooha and Yan's interactions unfold. Park Mi-hyeon shines as Sooha's mother, whose attempts at emotional support often feel suffocating, while Gong Do-yu brings a sense of complacency to his portrayal of Sooha's boyfriend.
Bella Kim delivers a nuanced performance as the film's emotional anchor, conveying Sooha's complex emotions through a series of subtle expressions and body language. Her on-screen chemistry with Roschdy Zem is palpable, if not always explicitly stated – this is a one-sided relationship where both parties are struggling to express themselves.
Despite its slow-burning pace, "Winter in Sokcho" never feels static. Koya Kamura masterfully weaves together themes of absence and control, using the city's eerie landscape to explore Sooha's inner world. While some plot threads feel somewhat disconnected from the main narrative, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise expertly crafted film.
Ultimately, "Winter in Sokcho" feels like a modern ghost story – one that probes the mysteries of human connection and the silences that bind us together. It may not fully cohere as a film, but its haunting atmosphere and outstanding performances make it a compelling watch nonetheless.
Winter in Sokcho sounds like the most atmospheric film ever! I mean, the idea of being caught between two worlds is so relatable... it's like, you know when you're on a solo trip and you meet someone new, but they just don't quite fit into your plans? 
It makes me wanna watch this movie just to see how Sooha navigates her life. And Sokcho, oh man, the cinematography sounds stunning! Can't wait to see it in theaters! 
Sooha's character is so complex and relatable, especially with her struggles to open up to Yan 
And that cinematography? 
The way they captured Sokcho's beauty and atmosphere is stunning! I love how the film explores themes of absence and control, it's like a modern ghost story 
Can't wait to rewatch it for more subtle expressions from Bella Kim 
I'm loving how this movie uses Sokcho's vibe to create an atmospheric slow-burn drama 
It's like you can feel the tension building in every shot, especially with those breathtaking scenery shots 
And yeah, Bella Kim's performance is super nuanced, she really conveys Sooha's emotions without saying too much 
I also love how the film explores themes of absence and control, it's so relatable 
The cinematography is stunning, but sometimes I felt like some plot threads were a bit meh 
still, overall I'd definitely recommend "Winter in Sokcho" for its haunting atmosphere and outstanding performances 
. But what I loved most was how the film just lets you feel the tension and unease, no need for loud music or over-the-top scenes 
. It's like they're saying, "Hey, let's just observe this character's emotional landscape" 
. And honestly, it works 
.
i can totally relate to Sooha's struggles in navigating her complicated relationship with Yan - it's like, he's not what she expected at first, but that just makes him more interesting 
the cinematography is stunning, it really captures the eerie atmosphere of Sokcho in winter 
i'm a bit skeptical about some plot threads being disconnected from the main narrative tho 
. This movie "Winter in Sokcho" might be slow-paced, but it's got some serious depth to it...
. Still, I guess it's worth checking out if you're into slow-burning dramas and atmospheric vibes 
You know what's a real "Winter in Sokcho" moment? When you're stuck in a relationship that's just like Sooha's situation – all emotional depth and no clear direction 
. And can I just say, that cinematography is giving me major "divided nation" vibes 
.
This movie is like a slow-burning fire that just gets deeper and more emotional the longer you watch it. The cinematography is, like, woah... the way they captured the eerie landscape of Sokcho is so breathtaking it'll give you chills. 
she's like the heart and soul of the movie. I love how she conveys Sooha's emotions through her expressions and body language - it's like you're right there with her, feeling all her feels. 
... I mean, can we talk about how Sokcho's setting adds to the tension? The cinematography is insane 
... those claustrophobic spaces really bring home Sooha's feelings of suffocation. And have you noticed how Park Mi-hyeon's character brings a sense of awkwardness to their interactions with Sooha? It's like, she's trying so hard to be supportive, but it feels like she's just making things worse 
... anyway, I was thinking, what if we fast-forwarded through the slow parts and just got straight to the emotional core of the film? Would that work for you? 
. It's like, can we just talk about how beautifully shot this movie is without getting too deep into the plot? 
, but also a bit of an emotional manipulator 
. Overall, "Winter in Sokcho" is like that one friend who always brings the feels – you might not fully understand what's going on, but you're gonna feel all the drama 
and I'm still reeling from the experience 
. The cinematography is insane 
. I ship Sooha & Yan so hard 
, even if their relationship is complicated. Koya Kamura did an amazing job weaving together these themes of absence and control 
. Definitely check this out if u're a fan of atmospheric dramas 
#WinterInSokcho #GhostStory #AtmosphericDrama #KoreanCinema
️. And Bella Kim and Roschdy Zem, omg, their chemistry is giving me life 
.
. Park Mi-hyeon as Sooha's mom is giving me all the feels, her character's emotions are so relatable 
. I'm still trying to process everything after watching this movie, but in a good way 
I'm telling you, this movie is just a distraction from the real issues. Think about it, Sokcho is right on the border, just waiting for something to happen. And what happens? A French writer shows up and everything gets all complicated. It's like they want us to focus on Sooha's feelings instead of the truth. I mean, have you seen the cinematography? It's all creepy and atmospheric, but that's just a cover-up for the real agenda. The director is trying to tell us something, but what? That we're all trapped in our own little worlds? Give me a break. 
. I'm not buying into the whole "haunting atmosphere" thing, it just sounds like a bunch of fancy cinematography to me 
. And don't even get me started on the plot... who needs all that unnecessary complexity? Just give me something straightforward and done with already 
. Definitely gonna have to check this one out, sounds like it's a real thought-provoker