Watch Hill of Freedom

Hill of Freedom is a 2014 South Korean movie directed by Hong Sang-soo, and starring Ryo Kase and Moon So-ri. The film is labeled as a comedy-drama and follows the story of a young man from Japan named Mori, who arrives in Seoul to find a woman named Kwon. The story is presented in a non-linear format, as it jumps back and forth in time, presenting different storylines and character perspectives that center around Mori and Kwon.

The movie opens with a scene of Mori sending a letter to Kwon, expressing his fondness for her and the desire to meet. The rest of the movie plays out as a series of flashbacks and interwoven storylines that detail Mori's experiences in Seoul, as he waits for Kwon to return his affections. Mori's story is presented as a series of disconnected anecdotes that revolve around his encounters with various women, including men who are infatuated with him, and the relationships that he ends up engaging in with them.

Mori's search for Kwon takes him to a boarding house owned by a woman named Youngsun, where he ends up staying for the duration of his time in Seoul. Youngsun is initially wary of Mori, but as she gets to know him better, she begins to develop a crush on him. However, Mori doesn't seem to reciprocate her feelings, and the two end up going their separate ways after a brief encounter.

Another important character in the movie is a café owner named Areum, who Mori meets early on in the film. Areum is a student who works part-time at her family's café, and Mori spends a considerable amount of time at the café, drinking coffee and exchanging stories with Areum. Areum seems to grow fond of Mori, but he remains uninterested in her romantically.

Throughout the movie, Mori's search for Kwon takes on different meanings and interpretations as he struggles to come to terms with his feelings and the reality of his situation. He initially sees Kwon as the love of his life, but as he spends more time in Seoul, he begins to question whether she really feels the same way about him. Mori's apprehension about the strength of his relationship with Kwon is reflected in his interactions with other women he encounters in Seoul, and he begins to question whether he is capable of making a connection with anyone.

One of the key themes of Hill of Freedom is the relationship between language and emotion, particularly in the context of cross-cultural communication. Mori speaks Japanese, while most of the people he interacts with speak Korean, and there are multiple scenes in the movie where the characters struggle to communicate with one another due to the language barrier. This theme is illustrated in the way that Mori's relationships with the women he meets are built on misunderstandings, non-verbal cues, and subtle gestures.

Overall, Hill of Freedom is a quirky and engaging movie that explores the complexities of human relationships in a witty and thought-provoking way. The nonlinear structure of the movie may be confusing to some viewers, and the slow pace may be frustrating to those looking for a more traditional romantic comedy. However, for those who are willing to invest their attention and patience, Hill of Freedom is a rewarding and satisfying experience that offers a unique and relatable take on the human condition.

Hill of Freedom is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 7 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 73.