Treeless Mountain
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