On the funeral day of Jinrye, matriarch of a 300-year pansori lineage, her daughter Chae Sun, a renowned master singer, and granddaughter Soryeon, who dreams beyond tradition, each hum their own tune, shaped by different sorrows.
Program Note
At the heart of the story lies the intense conflict between a mother, who seeks to continue ancestral traditions through pansori, and her daughter, who dreams of becoming a musical actress. Contrasting values are reflected in the film's meticulously composed symmetrical and opposing framing, which heightens the tension. The daughter, Soryeon, races forward with a passionate young heart to break free from the constraints of tradition, only to collide with a wall filled with ancestral portraits dating back 300 years. Soryeon's resistance—rejecting the 'misuse' of tradition rather than herself—is paradoxically a pure expression of the talent inherited from her ancestors. (Lim Sae-eun)
He began directing while pursuing an MFA at Dongguk Univ. His debut short The Owner of Coffin won the Grand Jury Prize at the 12th Chungmuro SFF and the Audience Award at the 17th Korean University FF. His second film Ancestors are Nowhere won the Audience Award at the 50th Seoul Independent FF. He continues to experiment with narratives bridging tradition and modernity, truth and belief, challenging genre boundaries.
ProducerLee Narin
CastPark Jahee, Lee Jaekwang, Kang Hyeonwoo, Lee Hyeonkyu
