The Way Home (2002)
"Jibeuro" (original title)

Seven-year-old Sang-woo is left with his grandmother in a remote village while his mother looks for work. Born and raised in the city, Sang-woo quickly comes into conflict with his ... See full summary »

Director:

Jeong-hyang Lee

Writer:

Jeong-hyang Lee

Stars:

Eul-boon Kim, Seung Ho Yoo, Hyo-hee Dong

7 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Eul-boon Kim	...	Grandmother
Seung Ho Yoo	...	Sang-woo
Hyo-hee Dong	...	Sang-woo's Mother
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kyung-hyun Min	...	Cheol-e
Eun-kyung Yim	...	Hae Yeon

Storyline

Seven-year-old Sang-woo is left with his grandmother in a remote village while his mother looks for work. Born and raised in the city, Sang-woo quickly comes into conflict with his old-fashioned grandmother and his new rural surroundings. Disrespectful and selfish, Sang-woo lashes out in anger, perceiving that he has been abandoned. He trades his grandmother's only treasure for a video game; he throws his food and he throws tantrums. When Sang-woo's mother finds work and finally returns for him, Sang-woo has become a different boy. Through his grandmother's boundless patience and devotion, he learns to embrace empathy, humility and the importance of family.

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Plot Keywords:

grandmother grandson relationship

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Taglines:

Discover the magical movie that has captured the heart of a nation.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Release Date:

5 April 2002 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Camino a casa

Filming Locations:

Jeetongma, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$29,737 (USA) (15 November 2002)

Gross:

$444,931 (USA) (2 May 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CJ Entertainment, Tube Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 89 min 85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

User Reviews

I've not seen anyone depict better the bittersweet relationship between a spoiled child and his patient grandmother.

I've not seen anyone depict better the bittersweet relationship between a spoiled child and his patient grandmother than Korean director Lee Jeong-Hyang's ` The Way Home.' Nothing spectacular happens during seven-year-old Sang-woo's visit to grandmother's home in a rural village after his single mother drops him off. Changes occur, albeit predictably; the glory is in the small matters that will matter much to the boy as he matures long after the visit.

Why won't this film make it big if I like it so much? Well, the kid kills no one, smokes nothing, and speaks in child language, so audiences might just yawn. Additionally, the boy is a poor actor who hasn't been directed well. But grandma, now there is an actress. Kim Eul-boon was discovered in her native village, 78 years old and never seen a movie! Hunched over, skin leathery and crinkled, expressions minimalist, she embodies the infirmities of old age and the resolution of a tough spirit to care for herself and other ancient neighbors to the last breath. Her grandson, abusive and self-centered, is just another person to care for who she knows is worth saving, in unconditional love probably unacceptable to aggressive Americans.

When grandson plays with neighbor kids, he learns about the life's dangers by experiencing the menacing bull regularly chasing them down a particular stretch of necessary road. When he longs for the companionship of a neighbor girl, he learns you have to work at love. When he looks for grandma's love, he finds it in her smallest gestures, like buying and cooking him a chicken she thinks he wants when all he really wants is KFC.

And so this country life goes on with the boy erratically moving from resentment to love and back again in an endlessly ambivalent cycle. The batteries he uses up for his electronic games serve as metaphor for his city life's wasteful and empty energy.

The semi-modern buses coming to and from the market also serve as emblems of the tenuous relationship between city and province, grandmother and daughter, grandmother and grandson. So real is the slow and unglamorous rural life that you know Hyang has understood accurately that life and love are served slowly through its minor moments.

I guarantee you will never forget the charismatic grandmother outfitted as a lowly peasant-she is a survivor and one hell of an actress. The film is dedicated to all grandmothers. `Here's looking at you, Kid.'