Petite Forêt

For the uninitiated, Soon-rye Yim's 'Little Forest' is a remake the Japanese minimal-arthouse film of the same name. I must admit, I was pretty uninitiated, and watched this delightful Korean film first. I actually preferred it to the original, it's a much easier view, focussing on the character Hye-Won played by the excellent Tae-ri Kim and relations with her mother and friends. It's a different approach to the original, more mainstream and accessible. Rural life is at the heart of things, but doesn't always take centre-stage. So, while the Japanese film documents so much detail (weather, food, recipes, cultural events, nature etc.) you lose sight of the people, which may have been the intention. Both films have their merits, but I found this one enchanting. The support work of the other actors makes the story fun and engaging (Jun-yeol Ryu is quite heroic and funny in the role of local farmer Jae-ha, Hye-won's possible 'love interest', and Ki-joo Jin is excellent as the feisty no-nonsense best friend Eun-sook), and there's a nice arc at the end, so some 'matters' seem to be resolved (unlike in the Japanese film, will they make a 3rd version so we can find out what actually happened to the mother, for example?).

So my advice, watch the original 'Little Forest' but take plenty of supplies and climb the 'mountain' in stages (with both 2014's Summer-Autumn and 2015's Winter-Spring that's 4 hours of dense and detailed viewing). While you're making all the necessary preparations, sit back and enjoy this little charmer!

It took a little time to get wrapped up in the plot, but after that it was a pleasure to watch on many levels. Ultimately, I feel it's about the question of living a simple life or not, but it also touches on other important issues.

This was such a wonderful surprise - I absolutely want to learn Korean to view in native language - - I can not say enough about the filming, music, minimal production, screen writing and or directing - I did not know the story before but the symbology (ism), metaphors, or cinematic equivalents are very well delivered - might be dismissed by others as trite and done before especially with food as the story teller - but this was so refreshing - -

'Little Forest' (2018) was recommended by a film-buff friend just a few days back. Let me first say, I've been watching too many Korean films this year and have become addicted to them (consuming all kinds with relish - from 'Parasite' and 'Burning' to 'The Wailing' and 'Grass') and I searched for the synopsis/summary first. As I began watching thereafter, I realized that the so-called synopsis/summary did not do justice to its brilliance. 'Little Forest' is one of the best and one of the most beautiful films I have seen this year. So, without reading much about the film or its plot, just delve into it. It's worth experiencing. Especially in these trying times, as people all over the world have been struggling, this is a film that heals.

Song Hye-won, played by Kim Tae-ri, comes back from Seoul to her family home in rural South Korea. She had left the home to get a teacher's certificate and escape it's slow-moving lifestyle. Her mother, played by Moon So-ri, left the home before Hye-won went to college. The father had died.

Some of the things that Hye-won learned growing up included agricultural work and nearly gourmet cooking. Her mother always prepared the most exquisite dishes and as Hye-won grew up she wanted to surpass her mother's skills.

Two of her hometown friends renew their ties to her. Joo Eun-sook, played by Jin Ki-joo is her best girl friend who stayed in the small town and works at a bank. Ki-joo yearns to escape what she sees as a boring existance. Lee Jae-ha, played by Ryu Jun-yeol, had gone to Seoul and worked in on office before deciding to return home to work as a farmer so he could make his own decisions and live life more fitfully.

Delicious meals are lovingly prepared and shared for Hye-won's friends. Hye-won can't decide if she wants to go back to the big city or stay at the family farm. She also mulls over life lessons her mother taught her in flash backs.

All I can say is that is another Korean drama that is of very high quaility. The photography of the farms and the forest are so beautiful. The conflict between mother and daughter is also well done. The scenes of fellowship with Hye-won with Jae-ha and Ki-joo are filled with love and sometimes strife.

The cast did a fantastic job and no doubt Kim Tae-ri will continue to blossom as a leading lady in Korean dramatic films!