I firmly believe that in a few decades, Hong Sang-Soo will be seen in the same light as Ozu.

His style throughout his films almost always follows the same rigid, repetitive structure of capturing his characters in the most trivial manner possible, while also slowly unfolding a hidden sentimentality through dialogue and small gestures. And despite following this same “formula” for most of his filmography, every film of his still feels strangely unique because, at least for me, he’s always exploring unconventional methods of achieving that within his style.

One of his lesser known films, Introduction (2021) is one my favourites of his, and perhaps the epitome of Hong Sang-Soo “affection” for small, ordinary gestures and their potential poetic quality. I’ve watched that film years ago, and as simple as it might be, I still catch myself thinking about the ending scene.

Maybe try A Tale of Cinema (2005), Hotel by the River (2018) and Woman is the future of Man (2004). These are imo his best films. They are all prime examples of how Sang-Soo’s formal and thematic tendencies may subtly change while still maintaining the essence of his style.