Journey There

A beautiful depiction of a non-biological mother-son relationship.

When her husband of a lifetime passes away, the childless Chun-hee is already preparing to bow out of life and follow in his footsteps. She moves from her house into a simple apartment, but the piano – which still carries the emotional weight of the man who defined her life – won't fit in the small new space. Fate then takes a hand, bringing her into contact with another resident of the building: Min-jun, a young German-Korean conductor visiting the country to find the biological mother he never knew.

He suggests keeping the piano in his apartment, inviting her to come and play it whenever she likes. This marks the beginning of a beautiful, moving friendship between a woman who never had children of her own and a young man who never had the chance to know his biological mother. The film features superb performances by veteran Korean actress Kim Hye-Ok and Justin H. Min, known for his role in Kogonada’s After Yang.

The film is part of the festival’s Mother section and centers on a lovely portrayal of a non-biological mother-son relationship.

Lasse Skagen