“I think Dad likes her.”

Donghwa accompanies his girlfriend, Junhee, to her parents’ home outside Seoul. What begins as a simple visit turns into an extended day with Junhee’s family, filled with conversations, food, and too many drinks.

With What Does That Nature Say To You (그 자연이 네게 뭐라고 하니), Hong Sang-soo offers a slow-paced film about that sometimes stressful and decisive moment: meeting a partner’s parents. A film that relies on dialogue more than action.

Slow and wordy

What Does That Nature Say To You is a slow film. The plot develops at a snail’s pace, relying on the characters’ discomfort to create a feeling for the viewer. From the very first scene, we wonder about the characters’ relationship. The discomfort is palpable and, once they arrive at the house, it only worsens.

What sets this work apart from typical Korean films is the sheer amount of dialogue. Moments of silence are rare, and the exchanges between characters are filled with awkwardness. And the viewer feels it too. We watch this film with a mix of quiet laughter and empathy for the young man who finds himself on shaky ground.

A raw image

Another striking point is the quality of the image. The raw side of the picture works well with the story and the characters. That said, one gets the impression that it is not so much an artistic choice as a financial necessity. It doesn’t really hurt the movie, but since the movie is very slow, a more polished image might help keep some viewers attentive.

On the other hand, this raw-looking image adds a layer to the discomfort felt while watching the characters evolve. It’s as if the slightly more amateur side makes the situation we are observing feel more “real”.

The acting is also a bit raw. Not that the actors are bad, but simply that one is left with the impression of non-professional actors. Once again, this adds a layer to the discomfort felt.

A little more…

In the end, What Does That Nature Say To You offers a story very close to reality that is likely to touch viewers. Meeting the family for the first time is often a source of stress for people, whether they are Korean or Westerners.

The film is well-crafted and, despite its slowness, keeps the viewer captive. There are no unnecessary lengths, and we remain entertained.

A good little film!

Trailer

Translation by François Grondin with the help of Gemini.