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What Does that Nature Say to You

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100% Tomatometer 20 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Donghwa (Ha Seongguk) is a fledgling poet in his thirties. He rejects material aspirations and seeks to lead a life dedicated to truth and beauty. On a lazy afternoon, he drives his girlfriend, Junhee (Kang Soyi), back to her parents' home outside Seoul. In the driveway, they run into her father (Kwon Haehyo), who is strangely interested in Donghwa's dinged up old car. He takes it for a spin around the block, then invites Donghwa to stay and meet the family: him, his wife (Cho Yunhee), who also writes poetry, and Junhee's reclusive sister (Park Miso), who practices the gayageum, a traditional string instrument. They end up wiling away the day together, visiting a temple by the river, climbing the hill near the house, watching the sunset, and, sure enough, imbibing drinks. Egged on by Junhee's dad, Donghwa gets progressively more drunk as the day advances. Finally, he makes a fool of himself at dinner. Then everything begins to unravel for the poet: his relationship, his art, his revolutionary ideals.
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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker 5d
It’s a tale that any cinephile could imagine Rohmer confecting, but Hong adds a crucial element utterly alien to the Rohmerverse: doubt. His vertiginous ending, suspended over a romantic abyss, redefines the very notion of an emotional breakdown. Go to Full Review
Jourdain Searles RogerEbert.com Oct 9
'What Does That Nature Say to You' has a palpable nostalgia to it, viewed through a more critical lens. Go to Full Review
Kenji Fujishima Slant Magazine Sep 17
3.5/4
Hong Sang-soo’s aesthetic is key to the resonance of his latest examination of an artist’s life. Go to Full Review
Mattie Lucas From the Front Row 4d
3.5/4
In vino, veritas, as the saying goes, and in Hong’s profound, altogether lovely film, arriving at the truth is only the beginning. Go to Full Review
Pablo Villaça Cinema em Cena Nov 22
4/5
It's always a pleasure to see how Hong Sang-soo's impressive productivity doesn't hinder the continued creation of lovely works like this one. [Full review in Portuguese] Go to Full Review
Tom O'Brien Next Best Picture Oct 9
7/10
With “What Does That Nature Say to You,” Hong has at last achieved a comfortable balance between exploring his familiar themes of the artistic process and familial relationships while never losing sight of entertaining his audience. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Giovanni P. @imgiovanni 4d The old saying "when you marry (or in this case date) somebody you marry their family" could not be more true and this film brings that idea to life. And when your values don't match the family that you may one day become a part of, funny things happen. You really get to know people when you share a meal with them, and the dinner time scene is a classic. I really enjoy this movie. See more Siwoo J Oct 1 자연이 늘 옳은 것인 줄 알 거는… See more Read all reviews
What Does that Nature Say to You

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Movie Info

Synopsis Donghwa (Ha Seongguk) is a fledgling poet in his thirties. He rejects material aspirations and seeks to lead a life dedicated to truth and beauty. On a lazy afternoon, he drives his girlfriend, Junhee (Kang Soyi), back to her parents' home outside Seoul. In the driveway, they run into her father (Kwon Haehyo), who is strangely interested in Donghwa's dinged up old car. He takes it for a spin around the block, then invites Donghwa to stay and meet the family: him, his wife (Cho Yunhee), who also writes poetry, and Junhee's reclusive sister (Park Miso), who practices the gayageum, a traditional string instrument. They end up wiling away the day together, visiting a temple by the river, climbing the hill near the house, watching the sunset, and, sure enough, imbibing drinks. Egged on by Junhee's dad, Donghwa gets progressively more drunk as the day advances. Finally, he makes a fool of himself at dinner. Then everything begins to unravel for the poet: his relationship, his art, his revolutionary ideals.
Director
Hong Sang-soo
Producer
Hong Sang-soo
Screenwriter
Hong Sang-soo
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Korean
Runtime
1h 49m