Treeless mountain 07

Even though Treeless Mountain is in its core a tragic story about failure of care and fragmenting families, director and screenwriter Kim chooses instead to turn this film into a testimony of children’s fundamental strength and enormous adaptability. Left to an alcoholic aunt in a cold and poor city environment, the small sisters Jin and Bin show how children’s joy in small things, and the hope to see their mother again, constitute a mental survival instinct that grown-ups should admire. A piggy bank that is to be filled with change thus becomes a poetic symbol of the sisters’ hope for a reunion. The film is made in a realistic and sober style, where an unsteady and extremely mobile handheld camera and sudden cuts constantly keep the focus on the children, especially the big sister Jin, who in addition to her great longing must carry the burden of responsibility for her sister. The total absence of film music, evident improvisation and the children’s powerful performances lend the film an inestimable mood of authenticity and emotional nakedness. Director Kim neither can nor wants to beautify the surroundings or events. All of this turns the film into an honest film and a genuinely painful film experience. lab

Original title Treeless Mountain

Year 2008

Director KIM So Yong

Screenplay KIM So Yong

Cinematography Anne MISAWA

Producer Bradley Rust GRAY, Ben HOWE, KIM So Yong, Lars KNUDSEN, Jay Van HOY

Cast KIM Hee-yeon, KIM Mi-hyang, KIM Song-hee

Production Company Parts and Labor

Runtime 1h 29m

Format 35mm

Links IMDb