A study of mannerisms and relationships that pauses for the occasional philosophic sidebar.
Woman on the Beach (2006)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:26
Fresh:23
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.5/10
Consensus: Hong brings his usual light touch to this well-acted salvo in the battle of the sexes.
Theatrical Release:Jan 9, 2008 Limited
Synopsis: A creatively blocked film director journeys to an off-season beach resort to finish his script in this slyly observant comedy from Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo. Whether needing the help, or merely... A creatively blocked film director journeys to an off-season beach resort to finish his script in this slyly observant comedy from Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo. Whether needing the help, or merely inviting distraction, Kim Joong-rae (Kim Seung-woo) petitions his production designer Won Chang-wook (Kim Tae-woo) to come along for the ride. But when Won brings along Kim Moon-sook, his "girlfriend" (a title that becomes more suspect as the film goes along), complications follow. Among the resort's empty beaches and vacant hotels, a love triangle unfolds that, like the slow roll of the surf, is as languorous as it is hypnotic. Needless to say, not much work gets done. Later, returning alone and still supposedly at work on his script, the director encounters a vacationing woman and the powerful emotional undercurrents of the story are brought to the surface. Striking a delicate balance of sympathies, A WOMAN ON THE BEACH offers both a fascinating study of human relationships and an intensely entertaining romantic comedy. With its largely static framings, the film emphasizes the lead characters' casually shifting allegiances and cargo of contradictions: Kim's film director is both a self-serving egotist and a needy romantic; his love interest, Moon-Sook, can be as vulnerable as she is calculating. It is a testament to Sang-soo's skill, and the wonderful performances by the actors, that the film remains gripping without resorting to overblown emotional displays. While the outcome of its romantic entanglements is just right, at the film's core are the murky motivations of its characters who, if queried, would likely be as baffled and amused as the viewer. [More]
Starring: Kim Seung-Woo, Kim Tae-woo, Ko Hyun-joung, Song Sun-mi
Starring: Kim Seung-Woo, Kim Tae-woo, Ko Hyun-joung, Song Sun-mi
Director: Hong Sang-Soo
Director: Hong Sang-Soo
Producer: Oh Jung-Wan
Composer: Jeong Yong-jin
Studio: New Yorker Films
Get This Movie
Reviews for Woman on the Beach
Woman on the Beach, perhaps [director Hong's] most accessible film (and often a funny one, too), is a good introduction, even if it is not a masterpiece. Here's hoping more of his films see the light of an American day.
Hong [Sang-soo] moves slowly but deftly through scenes rich with social games and veiled confessions and allows his characters to emerge sadder but wiser.
A richly satisfying film that compassionately probes the human heart while preserving its elusive mysteries.
Reminiscent of Godard's Contempt, but writer-director Hong Sang-soo--South Korea's foremost chronicler of romantic maneuvering--is more aptly compared to Eric Rohmer for his subtle comedy.
You won't need a degree in Korean cinema to anticipate that complications will arise.
The scenery's great and the performances adequate, but wake me when it's over.
Woman On The Beach is a stripped-down, witty explication of how we all get stymied by the impulses and options inherent in the simple act of living.
Newcomers intoxicated by Hong’s amorous pileups and power plays will hopefully treat the movie as the gateway to an incredible back catalog.
Korean director Hong Sang-soo’s Woman on the Beach offers flavors of quarterlife angst and romantic insecurity for which American audiences clearly have an insatiable appetite.
The pace is leisurely, the humor sly, and the cast superb. All in all, a civilized way to spend two hours.
Writer-director Hong Sang-soo, called the Asian Eric Rohmer by some, has crafted what may be his most accessible exploration of young adult relationships
Unpredictable and refreshingly inventive, this flick certainly stands on its own as perhaps South Korea's kookiest contribution to the battle-of-the-sexes genre.
This witty Korean satire dissects men's self-absorption, insecure sexuality, and fear of intimacy with critical honesty, wry humor, and delectable irony.
Latest News for Woman on the Beach
January 10, 2008:
Critical Consensus: Bucket Gets Kicked, The Orphanage is Certified Fresh, In the Name of the King Not Screened
This week at the movies, we've got two wild and crazy guys, pious crooks, botanical buccaneers, haunted expatriates, tormented mothers, and Uwe Boll. What do the critics have to... More...
January 10, 2008:
The elliptical scenario has the feel of your typical French romantic romp, given the roundelays of coupling and uncoupling, broken up by chain smoking and heart-to-heart dialogue. ![]()
More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Woman on the Beach at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.

TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



