A rebellious Korean teenager, Hayoung, aims for a life greater than her upbringing in the working class. Going as far to pretend she lives elsewhere, helping her mom at her cleaning job is both a sense of embarrassment and a means to fantasize about living a life of luxury. However, when an accident happens at work, Hayoung realizes the amount of pressure put on her mother and the importance of family.
“Soft Sounds of Peeling Fruit” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
The fixation on popularity, and the financial freedom that can come with it, is deeply ingrained in culture, in part, through glorification on social media. Arguably, we have entered an age of entitlement and envy unlike anything previously seen before, where fame seems closer with a world audience one computer away. Consequently, many people seem to push aside or forget life's simplistic joys, whether it be quiet family time or the calm method of peeling fruit (living in the moment). Understanding the importance of quiet reflection, director So Young Shelly Yo is able to cut through the noise and focus on the story of a daughter who has lost perspective on the sacrifice that comes with a mother's love.
Certainly, living in embarrassment of parents is a common trait among teens with ‘coming of age' often defined by two major characteristics, rebellion and seeking love. As such, Hayoung is not unlike other teenagers her age, carrying a disdain for her parents through their career and status – her views are contemptible but seeped in authenticity. As such, the story has a sincerity which expands past labeling the film as being culturally exclusive in exploring the relationship between mother and daughter. The crux of making the short poignant, So Young Shelly Yo is able to convey a perfectly realized reflection of struggles with identity – tying everything together for an emotionally driven and idyllic conclusion.
The score, from composer Alexander Arntzen, is awash in relaxing lo-fi beats and compositions inspired by classic music. Additionally, the soundscape compliments the visuals from cinematographer Arlene Muller, particularly in the opening sequence which captures the purity of youth in love with dreamlike flow wrapped in the upbeat music. Visually, the choice to present the film in 4:3 ratio gives the production a sort of warm nostalgia awash in a brighter color palette. All these elements make for a lush visual experience, which may not be prominent throughout the film but flow in and out in complimentary fashion.
“Soft Sounds of Peeling Fruit” is not a film that will necessarily inspire viewers in a cinematic or narrative sense. Instead, the work is grounded in a sincerity which holds equal importance in storytelling – the beautiful way in which cinema can remind us of what is important in life. Overall, Director So Young Shelly Yo has certainly proven the ability to tackle complex issues by approaching them with a genuine humanity that carries a universal appeal – it will be exciting to see what what project she decides to take on next.
