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‘Winter in Sokcho’ Wins Praise for Quiet Drama and Analog Beauty

Reviews emphasize a minimalist study of identity shaped by kitchen ritual within a borderland setting.

Overview

  • The feature debut by Koya Kamura adapts Elisa Shua Dusapin’s novel into a French 2024 film now in cinemas at 105 minutes.
  • Set in the South Korean town of Sokcho, the story follows Sooha, played by Bella Kim, and a visiting French artist portrayed by Roschdy Zem.
  • Critics describe a restrained, contemplative style that favors omission and quiet observation over melodrama.
  • Food preparation functions as a narrative anchor, with a detailed fugu sequence underscoring themes of care, risk and control.
  • Élodie Tahtane’s cinematography is praised for an analog look, while short watercolor animations convey the protagonist’s inner life.