© Jeonwonsa Film Co.
Hong Sang-soo’s latest film, What Does That Nature Say to You, reaffirms the prolific Korean director’s status as a filmmaker capable of uncovering profound insights within the mundane. With this being his 32nd feature film, Hong continues to explore themes of life, art, work, and healing.
Original Title: Geu jayeoni nege mworago hani
Directed by: Hong Sangsoo
Year: 2025
Country: South Korea
Length: 108 minutes
The narrative follows Donghwa (Ha Seong-guk), a thirty-something aspiring poet, who accompanies his girlfriend, Jun-hee (Kang So-yi), to her parents’ expansive home. Upon arrival, Donghwa is introduced to Jun-hee’s father, Kim Oryeong (Kwon Hae-hyo), her mother, Choi Sunhee (Cho Yun-hee), and her sister, Neung-hee (Park Mi-so). The family spends an extended day together, engaging in conversations, sharing meals, and partaking in drinks, which leads to a heated discussion regarding art, work, and life itself.
A significant subplot involves Neung-hee’s return home to recuperate from a period of depression. Her interactions with Donghwa and the family subtly explore the process of healing, illustrating how familial support and open dialogue contribute to personal recovery. This narrative thread underscores Hong’s ability to address complex emotional landscapes through everyday interactions
One of the most striking aspects of the form in What Does That Nature Say to You is its visual presentation. Shot with a deliberate lack of clarity, the film’s blurry, low-resolution is a conscious formal strategy. The camera adopts Donghwa’s own impaired to creating a visual atmosphere of his perception, as the character remarks that while he needs glasses he does not mind seeing the world through a blurry vision. Hong has used this approach before, most notably in In Water (2023), where an intentionally out-of-focus image aligned with the characters’ uncertain creative process. As in that film, the blurriness here is not an act of beautification or abstraction. Here it serves the plot, reinforcing the emotional and psychological textures of the narrative. Hong’s formal decisions are never superficial; his style always emerges from, and feeds back into, the stories he tells.
Hong’s minimalist approach remains present in his use of long takes and static shots, allowing the actors’ performances to drive the narrative. This technique emphasizes the authenticity of the characters’ interactions, drawing the audience into their world. The film’s visual style, characterized by its simplicity, mirrors the thematic focus on finding depth in ordinary moments.
Despite his extensive filmography, Hong continues to offer fresh perspectives on familiar themes. His consistent exploration of the human condition, particularly the nuances of relationships and personal growth, resonates with audiences. In What Does That Nature Say to You, Hong delves into the theme of healing, showing how life’s simple moments, reflecting on those and making art out them leads to self-fulfillment
What Does That Nature Say to You demonstrates Hong Sang-soo’s ability to constantly find profundity in the banal. Through the lens of a family-in-law’s day together, the film explores themes of healing, art, and work. Hong’s minimalist form and focus on everyday interactions invite the audience to reflect on the subtle yet significant moments that shape our lives.
What Does That Nature Say To You premiered at the 2025 Berlin Film Festival, where it premiered as part of the festival’s Competition
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