Her Smile

Minji Kang's own summary describes this short perfectly - there is little I can add to it except to say that the movie can speak for itself: all the points she makes are eloquently expressed by the actors, with Sumi yearning for love and acceptance through hopeless optimism and the Red Hair Girl cynically deriding her for it. Chrystine Yeh and Shine Inn highlight the deep difference between their characters' outlooks, against a bleak backdrop of abuse and violence that imprisons them.

The direction and cinematography are smooth and assured - so unobtrusive that it took a second viewing to realise just how well they supported the telling of the story. The soundtrack complemented the visuals, moving between the brash, garish colours of the street and the quiet and muted shades of Sumi's room, highlighting the bleak ugliness of her life.

An excellent short movie. I look forward to seeing more of Ms Kang's work.