Hong Sang-soo

Directing

Biography

Hong Sang-soo (born October 25, 1960) is a South Korean writer-director. He has directed 33 films as of 2025. Certain elements are commonly found in Hong's films. A typical Hong film highlights a theme of domestic realism with many of the scenes set on residential streets, cafes, hotels, schools, and in the stairwells of apartment buildings. Characters are seen walking around the city, drinking soju, and having sex. The main characters are often movie directors or actors, and scenes typically consist of a single shot, often beginning and ending with a camera zoom. The budgets for his movies average about $100,000. Hong is often spontaneous when shooting, delivering the day's scene on the morning of the shoot and frequently changing stories while on set. He rarely prepares scripts in advance. Hong's style has been compared to Eric Rohmer's, and it has even been argued that allusions to Rohmer's films appear in some films directed by Hong.

Filmography Movies

Acting

MOVIE

Hong Sangsoo – Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay

6.7(0.0K)

A short film about the award ceremony at Berlinale '21 and then also about a snail.

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Hong Sangsoo – Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay

Narrator (Voice)

The Nine Lives of Korean CinemaMOVIE

MOVIE

The Nine Lives of Korean Cinema

6.0(0.0K)

South Korean cinema is in the throes of a creative explosion where mavericks are encouraged and masters are venerated. But from where has this phenomenon emerged? What is the culture that has yielded this range of filmmakers? With The Nine Lives of Korean Cinema, French critic, writer and documentarian Hubert Niogret provides a broad overview but, nevertheless, an excellent entry point into this unique type of national cinema that still remains a mystery for many people. The product of a troubled social and political history, Korean cinema sports an identity that is unique in much modern film. Niogret's documentary tells of the country's cinematic history - the ups along with the downs - and gives further voice to the artists striving to express their concerns, fears and aspirations.

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The Nine Lives of Korean Cinema

Self

MOVIE

Tony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant Observer

8.0(0.0K)

Prominent film critic Tony Rayns has long been a supporter of Korean cinema. This film illustrates Rayns’ affection for Korean cinema through interviews of Korean cineastes that have a special affinity for him, including JANG Sun-woo, LEE Chang-dong and HONG Sang-soo among others.

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Tony Rayns, the Not-So-Distant Observer

Self

It Snows on YouMOVIE

MOVIE

It Snows on You

5.0(0.0K)

Hong Sang-soo’s short film made for the 62nd edition of the New York Film Festival.

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It Snows on You

Production

MOVIE

The Novelist's Film

6.5(0.0K)

A novelist visits a bookstore run by a young colleague who's been out of touch, then takes a walk with a film director and his wife. She meets an actress and tries to convince her to make a film together.

She has never lived in a high-rise apartment, and she wonders how her sister can live at this height every day. A few days ago she kind of burst in to stay with her sister, and she is now becoming re-accustomed to life in Korea. While seeming to keep a grave secret to herself, she manages life one day at a time with a sense of mindfulness. Meanwhile a certain director, some years younger than her, has asked her to join his project, and after a polite refusal, they have agreed to meet for the first time today. Downtown Seoul is filled with narrow alleys that harbor tiny old bars, and that's where they meet. As they are getting drunk, there is sudden rainfall and thunder.

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In Front of Your Face

Director

MOVIE

Ha Ha Ha

6.3(0.1K)

Over drinks, two friends agree to swap fond memories of their recent trips to the same seaside town. As the stories unfold in flashback, it becomes evident their accounts take place at the same time and with the same people.

Woman Is the Future of Man

6.1(0.1K)

As the first snow falls in Seoul, two old friends reunite; one is a successful college professor, and the other, a struggling filmmaker recently returned from the United States. After their reminiscences, they finally decide to go in search of the young woman each had romanced years earlier.

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Woman Is the Future of Man

Director

MOVIE

Woman on the Beach

6.2(0.0K)

A movie director entices his young friend to come to the beach on the pretext of writing a script. He then starts an affair with the friend's girlfriend.

Woman on the Beach

6.2(0.0K)

A movie director entices his young friend to come to the beach on the pretext of writing a script. He then starts an affair with the friend's girlfriend.

Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors

6.4(0.1K)

When filmmaker Young-soo introduces writer Soo-jung to his friend Jae-hoon, he unintentionally creates a love triangle. While Jae-hoon pursues Soo-jung, Young-soo clashes with his crew. Yet, just as the story appears to end, it starts all over again, this time with plenty of variations.

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Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors

Director

MOVIE