Christmas in August

A quiet young bachelor runs a little photo studio in Seoul. His day to day life consists of opening and closing the store, spending time with his elderly father and the occasional visit to the hospital to receive treatment for a serious illness. The woman he loved since high school has married somebody else and now has a family. They remain acquaintances but the situation is too awkward for them to be close. One day he meets and becomes friends with a young meter maid who regularly visits his studio to develop her photos of illegally parked cars. During the hottest days of summer they allow a bond to form.

This is a truly touching movie that never gets bogged down in sentimentality. The characters are simple, but recognizable and very likable. Although they never openly reveal what is going on in their hearts, the mood and acting in this picture convey it to us perfectly. The story is sad, but never melodramatic. The final sequence, set on a wintry street, is beautiful and moving. This movie deserves to be an international hit.