Hotel by the River

Play trailer

1:38

Hotel by the River

Released Feb 15, 2019

1h 35m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Convinced he's on the verge of death, an aging poet invites his two bickering sons to an isolated hotel for a final goodbye.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Hotel by the River finds writer-director Hong Sang-soo revisiting familiar themes from fresh perspectives -- and telling a story that potently distills his unique creative strengths.

Read Critics Reviews

Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Hong Sang-soo was the most reliable auteur of the decade...

Dec 30, 2019

Full Review

Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

It's an explosive, soul-baring display from a filmmaker who hasn't lost - and indeed, may be rediscovering - his capacity for surprise.

Dec 18, 2019

Full Review

Andrew Chan

Film Comment Magazine

For all its solemn beauty, Hotel by the River is lax and under-imagined compared to Hong's masterpieces.

Mar 21, 2019

Full Review

CJ Sheu

The News Lens International

So that’s the plot, and it only exists so that the characters can hold forth on gender dynamics in the second act. But before that, we get to luxuriate in the muted winter beauty of the river scenery, accentuated by the crisp black-and-white digital image

May 24, 2024

Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

Both of this year’s productions are in black-and-white, always a reliable indicator that Hong’s in a heavy mood; I don’t necessarily mind that, but Hotel by the River struck me as lugubrious.

Jan 4, 2023

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 41: Best of 2019 So Far

Rated: 72/100

Oct 4, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

don k

supple direction masterfully controlled. cinematography is straightforward and unpretentious despite being b&w. A throwback to 60s and 70s Europeans.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

dave d

While there is no doubt Hong Sang-soo's latest is beautiful, it failed to grab me and left me bored at times. Filmed in black and white, 'Hotel by the River' is on the nose and the backdrop for a self-fulfilling story of a poet living for free in a hotel who wants to see his two sons because he thinks he's going to die despite not being ill in any way. Along the way he meets a couple of women and boredom ensues. The plot is just too thin, despite really good acting and moments for each to shine. This one left me empty. 6.1/10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Vapid. Not even worth the time to write a thoughtful review.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great cinematography and direction except at some places when the camera zooms unnecessarily. I loved the snow in black and white, it created good contrast between the people with black dress and the surroundings. The movie is so realistic and beautiful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Hong Sang-soo

Director

Ki Joo-bong

Young-hwan

Kim Min-hee

Ah-reum

Song Seon-mi

Yeon-ju

Kwon Hae-hyo

Kyung-soo

Yoo Jun-sang

Byung-soo

Grass

92%

68%

Grass

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Grass

On the Beach at Night Alone

92%

69%

On the Beach at Night Alone

Watchlist

TRAILER

for On the Beach at Night Alone

In Front of Your Face

95%

83%

In Front of Your Face

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Alita: Battle Angel Is Style over Substance… but the Style Is Killer

Hotel by the River: Trailer 1

1:38

Hotel by the River: TIFF Trailer

1:47

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Convinced he's on the verge of death, an aging poet invites his two bickering sons to an isolated hotel for a final goodbye.

Director: Hong Sang-soo
Screenwriter: Hong Sang-soo
Distributor: Cinema Guild
Production Co: Jeonwonsa Film
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Korean
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 15, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.8K
Runtime: 1h 35m

Most Popular at Home Now