Watch Microhabitat

Microhabitat is a 2017 South Korean film directed by Jeon Go-woon. The movie circles around Miso (played by Esom), a young woman in her early 30s who decides to give up her home after the South Korean government imposes a new real estate tax. Due to her meager income, Miso finds it difficult to afford her life necessities, especially cigarettes, whiskey and shellfish.

Throughout the movie, we see Miso sleeping on friends' couches as she struggles to find a place to call home. She stays with a series of ex-boyfriends, each time feeling hesitant to ask for a place to stay as she recognizes it would mean they would have to rent her a larger living space as the new tax law decrees.

As Miso hops from couch to couch, she tries to maintain her life requisites. She visits her wealthy ex-boyfriend, who provides her with a regular supply of whiskey and invites her to his dentist office hoping to persuade her to return to him. However, she declines and instead seeks refuge in each of the men's apartments temporarily. Despite not having a place to call her own, Miso maintains a close relationship with her friends, especially Young-sook (portrayed by Kim Jae-hwa).

As Miso continues to lose her support networks, she begins to realize the cost of the lifestyle she has chosen. With her world getting smaller, Miso begins to consider if she can afford to continue living this way. She refuses to give up her everyday rituals even if it means a cut-back in medical help, an alternative in heating positions, and becoming more honest about her lifestyle with those close to her.

We see Miso's world begin to fall apart when an injury leaves her unable to work for some time. Miso has no health insurance, and her impoverished state means that she cannot pay her rent. Miso is forced to rely even more heavily on her friends who are unable to pay her new share of the rent.

The film's running theme around the idea of monetary values in society and our chosen lifestyles provide a deep insight into the plight of many who live in low-income neighborhoods. We follow Miso, who is struggling to maintain her individualism in the face of society's shared ideals. We also see the struggles young people face in the ever-changing face of what is called progress in modern society.

In conclusion, Microhabitat offers a bittersweet and sentimental tale of urban poverty and the tenacious human spirit of defiance. Jeon Go-woon's movie is an emotional journey that offers an insight into the lives of individuals who are forced to live in poverty not out of choice but due to the political and economic situation in their country. Esom's lead performance is a standout with a perfectly understated portrayal of Miso, a character with a heart that won't stop even when everything else has fallen apart. The movie brings attention to the issues affecting numerous low-income households and people living in small-sized housing in other countries, ensuring it hits close to home.

Microhabitat is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.