Set over decades, this is the story of childhood sweethearts in Seoul who are separated when Nora’s parents emigrate to America. It starts in the present day as Nora sits in a bar between two men, one Hae Sung who has travelled to America to see her, and her husband Arthur, a fellow-writer whom she married, partially to obtain a green card. An unseen narrator speculates about the relationship between the woman and the two men, and we are then taken back to her childhood friendship with Hae Sung. They had re-established contact through an internet connection twelve years ago which she brought to an end to concentrate on her career. Now, in the present day, Hae Sung has come to visit her. Meeting up with him in person, she realizes how Korean he still is, how much he is still invested in that childhood relationship, and how much she has changed. Her husband Arthur can only watch on, uncertain of whether she will stay or go. It reminded me a bit of the beautiful film Brooklyn in that both deal with emigration, the pull of the past and choices but it was much quieter than that film, with none of the main characters seeming to have friendships or connections beyond each other. It was a bit slow, but the ending made up for its languid pace.
My rating: 3.5 stars
The Resident Judge of Port Phillip 
I greatly enjoyed the film, and did not have a sense of slowness. The acting is exquisite; perhaps the engagement that this induced kept me from feeling any drag.
Yes, I loved the way that they were eating each other up with their eyes when he came to visit her in America.
My favourite movie of the year! Here’s why: