Hong Sang-soo is no stranger to consistently putting out films. This is the first year since 2020 that he hasn’t released at least two films. What Does That Nature Say To You follows a young poet who drops his girlfriend off at her parents’ house and is amazed by its size. He bumps into her father, meets her mother and sister, and they all end up spending a long day together, fueled by conversation, food, and libations. This is more of a slice-of-life film sprinkled with commentary, which slowly reveals social commentary on our current state and observes the class and generational divide.
A simple plot like this is what Hong Sang-soo is known for. The way he can take such simple premises that have so much depth and feel genuinely life-like is a great talent. The realistic dialogue is a highlight of the majority of his films. It feels like these are conversations you would legitimately have with your own friends and family in your life. The film has all of his trademarks: unbroken one-takes, intimate conversations, and a minimalist style. It feels like you are a silent observer watching a home movie while also feeling like you are in the room with these characters as their day unfolds.
I would put this in the category of slow cinema, and not everyone is a fan of this genre. You must let the journey wash over you, then you will deeply appreciate the conclusion. Reminiscent of Richard Linklater, they both make dialogue feel like an action sequence.
The casualness and light-hearted tone hide a bubbling tension between our main character and his girlfriend’s parents. In the beginning, it seems all is well. I mean, meeting the parents for the first time is always a little awkward, but it starts out with a good interaction. Hong introduces ideas about differing generations and class-oriented politics in such an easy way. Each idea is presented in numbered chapters, and as each chapter progresses, there is more of a wedge coming between the characters.
The ensemble cast is quite exceptional. Ha Seong-guk and Kwon Hae-hyo are standouts as the boyfriend and his girlfriend’s father. Most of the tension and progression comes between them. The relationship seems okay at first, but as we go along, we can sense judgment coming from the father, who feels that the boyfriend doesn’t work hard or take life seriously.
Ha Seong-guk plays very reservedly the whole film, but when he is needed to make big dramatic turns, he does so in incredible fashion. Kwon Hae-hyo portrays the father figure with such poise and gravitas. Giving that nice guy attitude, but you can feel the judgment based on how he interacts with certain revelations of Ha’s life. This is a slow burn, and it helps when you have a performance like theirs anchoring the entire narrative together.
The script is definitely Hong at his most straightforward. Previous films are more abstract in their presentation of their ideas, but this film is the opposite. He doesn’t just outright give it to you, but unfolds it elegantly throughout. Especially his ideas on class and the assumptions people make about class. Everyone assumes the children of high-status parents have it easy and always have access to anything they need. He breaks this down by showing that sometimes children of wealth do not want to be associated with that if they can. Wanting to make a name for themselves in life without the heavy help of their parents.
All of these ideas come to a head in a pivotal dinner scene, showcasing the prominence of these ideas while also giving the actors a very meaty set piece as a huge argument ensues. What is great about all of these ideas is that he presents them slowly throughout, which makes the smaller, slower scenes worth it. It may seem tedious at first how he goes about presenting these ideas, but he makes the presentation worth it if you appreciate the smaller moments of life. Which then, in turn, makes the big moments of these ideas feel extra special.
What Does That Nature Say To You works best if you succumb to the journey it takes you on and allow yourself to be fully immersed in the ideas it seeks to convey. It does take a minute to settle into the groove of what Hong is trying to do, and I can understand if it tests the audience’s patience. That patience is heavily rewarded in the final act and really showcases all of the actors’ distinct talents. Hong Sang-soo is one of my favorite filmmakers due to his profound dialogue, his balance of tone, and the way he is able to portray mature themes without being in your face. If you haven’t seen any of his films, I highly recommend diving into his filmography because it holds a lot of wonderful surprises.
Review Courtesy of Jacob Diedenhofer
Feature Image Credit to Jeonwonsa Film Co. via Deadline