Sohn Koo-yong once again takes us on a journey into the Korean countryside after ‘A Walk' (2017), Winter in Seoul (2018) and ‘Afternoon Landscape' (2020). The Hankuk University of Foreign Studies graduate's experimental film series explores an alternative ground for movie consumption- to aid in mindfulness and mental health well-being. And his latest effort is yet another stellar genre-defying addition to his previous lineup.
Night Walk is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
The production is silent and monochrome. Shot over the director's many hikes throughout the neighbourhood of Segeomjeong, it explores empty alleyways, glossy lakes, high-rise bungalows, and the jet-black forests surrounding the city, amongst others, offering up a marriage of urban and natural landscape scenes that transition from one to another with pregnant pauses in between. The flurry of images is accompanied by Koo-yong's abstract line drawings and arresting poetry taken directly from the Seonbi of the Joseon dynasty. Although it was filmed in black and white, the poems with their colorful emphasis on the beauty of nature- like that of ‘Viridian dreams' and ‘Jade-coloured spring water' bring about a playful vibrancy that makes up for the dull textures.
“Night Walk” evokes a strange hybrid of feelings. On one hand, it is calming and meditative but also feels haunting and eerie. As the frame changes from one scene to the next, we almost expect a jump-scare ala “Paranormal Activity” . It has similar parallels to the panning CCTV camera footage in the series, which is hard-wired in audiences' brains to mean something bad is about to happen. So, it is interesting when the same effect is applied in this one but only for the viewer to appreciate and enjoy the scenery instead of finding something strange in the frame.
It could be down to intricate editing or just a stroke of good luck, but throughout the duration of the picture, nary a human soul is caught on camera. Not even when we pan out over a housing unit with its outflung widows and curtains billowing in the wind. You get a sense that you are truly alone in this intimate reflective excursion into the night, with only wild cats and ducks to accompany you.
Another plus point is how the night scenes blend wonderfully with the abstract drawings to create a refreshing and thought-provoking experience which feels like a useful tool for mindfulness meditations and mental health aid. But the novelty of the film wears off after a while and attention may wane by the midpoint of the picture, which is stretched over an hour or so. It could have been edited down for more digestible viewing or perhaps split into two separate pieces with polarizing themes.
The noise of the day is muted in the deep night. Take a “Night Walk” and see where it takes you. You might be surprised by what you can discover when you slow down and observe like those who remain awake after the setting of the sun.
