The Day He Arrives

Sungjoon heads to Seoul to meet a close friend who lives in the Bukchon area. When the friend doesn’t answer his calls, Sungjoon wanders around Bukchon and runs into an actress he used to know. The two talk for a while, but soon part. He makes his way down to Insadong and drinks rice wine by himself. Some film students at another table ask him to join them. Sungjoon used to be a film director. He soon gets drunk and heads for his ex-girlfriend’s house. Whether it’s the next day or some other day, but Sungjoon is still wandering around Bukchon. He runs into the actress again. They talk and soon part. He eventually meets his friend and they head to a bar called Novel with a female professor his friend knows. The owner of the bar has a striking resemblance to Sungjoon’s ex-girlfriend. He plays the piano for her. Sungjoon may have spent a few days in Seoul with his friend, or it may still be his first day there. He may have learned something from the encounter with his ex-girlfriend, or may have to meet the woman that resembles her again, for the first time. As life presents itself in no more than today’s worth of time, Sungjoon also has no other choice than to face his “today.”
South Korea
'
2011

Director
Hong Sangsoo

Script
Hong Sangsoo

Cinematography
Kim Hyungkoo |

Editing
Hahm Sungwon

Production
Jeonwons Film Co.

Cast
Kim Bokyung
Kim Sangjoong
Song Sunmi
Yu Jungsang

Music
Jeong Yongjin

Festivals
17th Festival on Wheels
WORLD CINEMA