Watch Like You Know It All

Like You Know It All is a 2009 South Korean comedy-drama film directed by Hong Sang-soo. The film follows the story of a successful film director named Goo Kyeong-nam (played by Kim Tae-woo) who is invited to a small town to serve as a juror for a film festival. While he is there, he meets several people who remind him of his own past experiences and his own flawed and petty personality.

Throughout the film, Goo Kyeong-nam struggles with his own ego and insecurities, as he tries to navigate his relationships with others. He becomes involved with a young film student named Choi Hee-jung (played by Uhm Ji-won), who he finds himself attracted to, even though she is in a relationship with someone else. He also meets a famous actress named Kim Hee-suk (played by Hyun-Jung Go), who he previously had a romantic relationship with and has not seen in several years.

As Goo Kyeong-nam spends more time in the small town, he is forced to confront his own selfishness and shortcomings. He realizes that his success as a film director has not brought him true happiness, and that he may have hurt others along the way. He begins to rethink his priorities and his approach to life, as he receives advice and guidance from some of the people he meets during the festival.

Like You Know It All is a nuanced and thought-provoking film that explores themes of self-awareness, personal growth, and the fickle nature of success. Director Hong Sang-soo is known for his unique style of storytelling, which often involves unconventional narrative structures and a focus on character development over plot. In this film, he uses a series of flashbacks and non-linear storytelling to explore Goo Kyeong-nam's personal history and his relationships with the other characters.

The performances in the film are strong across the board, with Kim Tae-woo bringing a sense of both charisma and vulnerability to his role as Goo Kyeong-nam. Uhm Ji-won provides a strong contrast as Choi Hee-jung, a young woman who is confident in her own artistic abilities but unsure of her own emotions. Hyun-Jung Go rounds out the main cast as Kim Hee-seok, bringing a sense of world-weariness and bitterness to her character's interactions with Goo Kyeong-nam.

The film's production design is not particularly flashy, but effectively captures the small-town setting and the atmosphere of the film festival. The cinematography is subtle but effective, often focusing on character interactions and small moments of everyday life.

Overall, Like You Know It All is an engaging and introspective film that explores the complexities of human relationships and the pursuit of happiness. With its strong performances and unique storytelling style, it is a film that is well worth seeking out for fans of Korean cinema and independent films more broadly.

Like You Know It All is a 2009 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.