By the Stream

In a huge contrast to A Travelers Needs, By The Stream is filled with conversations of great emotional and philosophical import: living sincerely and peacefully dominate. Hong is playing the hits with BTS filled with artists, working or semi retired, filling out the cast, but with a new focus on character interiority. The director/Hong surrogate is the most likeable relative to earlier films, as are all the characters with the exception being a younger director who may represent Hong of days past. Hong here seems content to create art "by his own hands" for his immediate circle of friends. Past scandals and audience reaction fade into the background but not without the hint that they may overwhelm ones pursuit of sincere/peaceful life. The late scene of improvised poetry is one of my new favorite Hong scenes. His signature pan and zoom have rarely hit so hard.