The long-standing collaboration between Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo continues a new project that is already arousing curiosity.
Hong Sang-soo’s latest film, The day of his return, will be released in theaters on May 6th with Kim Min-hee once again involved behind the scenes as production manager. Although he doesn’t appear on screen this time, his continued presence in Hong Sang-soo’s films keeps their collaboration firmly in the spotlight.
The newly released trailer introduces a simple but inspiring premise: a former actress, who abandoned her career after marriage, returns to cinema after a divorce. Over the course of a single day, he meets several people for interviews, revisiting his past and present through fragmented moments.
Starring Song Sun-mi as the protagonist, the film leans on Hong Sang-soo’s signature minimal style of minimal dialogue, natural pacing, and subtle emotional shifts. Visually, he experiments with layered images, blending different moments in time to create a reflective, almost dreamlike atmosphere.
Prior to its release in Korea, the film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, continuing Hong Sang-soo’s stable presence on the international festival circuit.
As in 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 attracted special 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 the public interprets their collaborations.
For this reason, a quiet, character-driven story is also popular The day of his return it seems loaded with subtext. Whether intentional or not, viewers are likely to draw connections between the film’s narrative and real life.
Sources: Daum | Money today
