The long-running collaboration between Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo continues with a new project that is already stirring curiosity.
Hong Sang-soo’s latest film, The Day She Returns, is set to hit theaters on May 6, with Kim Min-hee once again involved behind the scenes as production manager. While she does not appear on screen this time, her continued presence in Hong Sang-soo’s films keeps their partnership firmly in the spotlight.
The newly released trailer introduces a simple yet thought-provoking premise: a former actress, who stepped away from her career after marriage, returns to filmmaking following a divorce. Over the course of a single day, she meets several people for interviews, revisiting her past and present through fragmented moments.
Starring Song Sun-mi, the film leans into Hong Sang-soo’s signature style minimal dialogue, natural pacing, and subtle emotional shifts. Visually, it experiments with layered imagery, blending different moments in time to create a reflective, almost dreamlike atmosphere.
Before its Korean release, the film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, continuing Hong Sang-soo’s steady presence on the international festival circuit.
As with many of his works, the story revolves around relationships, personal choices, and introspection. But this time, the theme of a woman rebuilding her life after divorce has drawn particular attention.
Given the well-known personal history between Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo, the film is already being viewed through a more layered lens. Their relationship, which became public in 2017, has long influenced how audiences interpret their collaborations.
Because of that, even a quiet, character-driven story like The Day She Returns feels loaded with subtext. Whether intentional or not, viewers are likely to draw connections between the film’s narrative and real life.
Sources: Daum | 머니투데이
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