I'm no fan of ornaments and symbolism yet I hypocritically wanted the 100th Korean movie I watched to be one to remember. My choice of 'House of the Hummingbird' hit the target.
It's a coming-of-age story of a young teenager living in a challenging home environment whilst her need for love brings its own obstacles at school. Child abuse, in its psychological form, is evident but not simple in that the entire family is suffering. I even felt a tinge of pity for the nasty father who obviously had his own unnamed demons to deal with. The lesbian undertone was tasteful and the use of a real disaster an interesting angle.
Without shocks and melodrama, this slowburner was glued by the narrative. Consequently, screenwriter and director Kim Bora deserves the biggest kudos. That this was her first movie is remarkable, making her one I will always follow.
Actress Park Ji-hoo was perfectly cast, this also her first movie. The cinemaphotography deserves applause too.
Afterwards, I was pleased to read that 'House of the Hummingbird' has won many awards, including best at the Berlin and Busan film festivals.
