The 31st Busan International Film Festival has selected director Kim Jong Kwan’s ‘Love in Between (Tentative English title)’ as its opening film. ‘Love in Between’ follows the witty, understated, and charming conversations shared by four pairs of men and women who briefly cross paths at the same café as the seasons transition from summer to fall. The film depicts the chance encounter between Yoo Jin (played by Kim Min Ha) and Hyun Oh (portrayed by Joo Jong Hyuk), who visit the same café at different times, as well as the quirky and unexpected reunion of Sang Mi (played by Han Sun Hwa) and Young Min (portrayed by Jang Ryul), who were friends in middle school. It also features the laughter-filled, sparks-flying first meeting between Hye Jin (Shim Eun Kyung), a web novel writer, and Dong Nam (Lee Hee Joon), a film director, along with the tender moments shared by Na Kyung (Jeon So Young), an aspiring idol, and her boyfriend Jong Soo (Kim Dong Hwi). Making full use of the café’s nature as a place where people come and go, staying only briefly before moving on, the film portrays each character’s story, personality, atmosphere, and subtle nuances with a light rhythm and thoughtful perspective. Director Kim Jong Kwan received the Jury Special Award at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival for his 2004 short film debut, ‘How to Operate a Polaroid Camera.’ He quickly established himself as a promising filmmaker with a talent for delicate emotional storytelling.
He went on to direct numerous short films, including ‘Paradise’ (2005) and ‘Ghosts of the Archive’ (2014). In 2016, he further established his reputation by winning the FIPRESCI Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival for his feature film ‘Worst Woman.’ He has since presented a variety of works, including ‘The Table’ (2017), ‘Josée’ (2020), and ‘Shades of the Heart’ (2021). He has also participated in omnibus projects such as the Netflix original series ‘Persona’ (2019), ‘The Night of the Moon’ (2022), and ‘The Killers’ (2024). The Busan International Film Festival described ‘Love in Between’ as “a fluid film that represents the tentative maturation of the cinematic interests, style, perspective, and world that Kim Jong Kwan has persistently and diligently explored as a creator.” The festival also highlighted the film’s ability to thoughtfully portray each character’s unique inner voice and emotions, as well as subtle changes in their relationships, without relying on excessive setups or dramatic developments. Finally, the festival explained its selection by noting that the film features an impressive ensemble of established actors known for their strong performances alongside promising newcomers, showcasing their chemistry to the fullest. It described the film as “lighthearted yet earnest.” The 31st Busan International Film Festival will take place from October 6 to 15.
