Watch The Day He Arrives

The Day He Arrives is a 2011 South Korean film directed and written by Hong Sang-soo. The movie follows the story of a film director named Seongjun (played by Joon-Sang Yoo) who arrives in Seoul after a long time away. He takes up temporary residence at a friend's home and spends time with old friends, including an actress named Youngho (played by Sang-Jung Kim) who he used to date but who is now married.

The film is divided into several chapters that depict Seongjun's repeated encounters with various individuals, leading to a sense of déjà vu. The scenes unfold in a circular narrative structure, where we see the same events from different perspectives or with slight variations. As the days pass, Seongjun navigates through a series of emotional events, seeking answers to his personal dilemmas.

One day, Seongjun meets a group of film students who invite him to speak at their school. While there, he meets an attractive woman named Boram (played by Song Seon-mi), and starts a romantic relationship with her. Their relationship serves as a respite from the past, but it remains uncertain if it has any real chance of lasting.

Hong's film explores the uncertainties of life and relationships by delving into the everyday moments we experience in our lives. Through his direction and visual style, Hong captures the minutiae of interpersonal relationships and presents them in a unique and engaging way. The Day He Arrives is a movie that is both complex and simple, offering philosophical musings, as well as playful humor.

The film shows us how we can get tangled up in the dense web of our own choices and how the traumas of our past can manifest in latent or unexpected ways. The characters are complex and flawed, and it is their imperfections that drive the film's subtle sense of humor. Even Seongjun, the protagonist, is not immune to this attribute, and his imperfections make him feel relatable and real.

The crisp black-and-white photography of the film adds to the overall melancholic tone, with the camera lingering on the city streets and buildings to evoke a sense of nostalgia. The repetition and the circular narrative only serve to amplify the sense of déjà vu, creating an almost dreamlike experience for the viewer.

The Day He Arrives is a thought-provoking film that encourages reflection and introspection. It shows that our lives are made up of small moments and that each of these moments can hold meaning and significance. With its non-linear narrative, the movie unspools like a puzzle, not only inviting the viewer to interpret it in their own way but also providing a unique perspective on life and the nature of our existence.

In conclusion, The Day He Arrives is a must-watch movie for fans of world cinema, arthouse films, and the contemplative genre. The film's narrative style may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is worth experiencing for those who appreciate unconventional storytelling techniques. Hong's direction and the performances of the cast are the real strengths of this movie, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

The Day He Arrives is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 83.