The dramatic short film Home, written and directed by Al Chang, opens with Seo-won (Theresa Bome Kim) sitting on a park bench, deep in conversation with another woman, talking about her children. She seems to be having trouble focusing, and soon, her context cuts to a completely different setting and person. It’s clear that Seo-won is fragmented mentally, and we begin journeying with her through the kaleidoscopic slices of memories of her life. The viewer struggles to grasp the moment, same as Seo-won.
“…Seo-won is fragmented mentally…”
As the scenes spool out, she finds herself talking to her brother Tae-Hyun (Kang Kim), and her best friend Yuni (Angie Jho Lee). We learn that family members are angry with her for leaving her home. She’s in an emotional crisis now, struggling now for clarity, and to reconnect with that feeling of home. There is no sense of timeline as Seo-won swings from past to present in these emotional confrontations. She rests on the happier moments, reveling in those she has loved and finds solace there.
Chang opens the film with a card that indicates it is based on true events and dedicates the film to his great grandmother. The filmmaker weaves together contemplative music and compelling performances into a tapestry of confusing, jagged, but sometimes warm impressions felt by Seo-won as she tries to find her equilibrium. Home brings a bittersweet sadness that lingers with the viewer but is only momentary for her, as she seems to forget and then remember her life in waves.
"…brings a bittersweet sadness that lingers..."
