Review | Berlin 2025: What Does that Nature Say to You movie review – Hong Sang-soo’s comedy drama
Korean director’s film examines, with humour, the difficulties of artistic life through the lens of a man meeting his girlfriend’s family
4/5 stars
Veteran Korean director Hong Sang-soo specialises in delicate character studies, but rarely has he found such a warm ray of humour as he does in his latest film, What Does That Nature Say to You.
Premiering in competition at the Berlin International Film festival – a feat Hong seems to manage almost every year without fail – this new work is an incisive domestic comedy-drama that feels like it has the potential to break out of the festival circuit.
The story begins as a couple arrive by car from Seoul. Dong-hwa (Ha Seong-guk), a poet in his thirties, has driven his girlfriend, Jun-hee (Kang So-yi), to her parents’ home in Yeoju.
Introduced to her father, Or-yeong (Hong regular Kwon Hae-hyo), he is convinced to spend the day at the family homestead. Soon enough, he is drinking makgeolli with Jun-hee’s father, and promising that he wants to love her.
Dong-hwa, who earns money shooting wedding videos, is also principled, and refuses financial help from his parents.