House of Hummingbird

House of Hummingbird (Korean: 벌새) is a 2018 South Korean drama film written and directed by Kim Bora. The film debuted in competition at the Busan International Film Festival's New Currents section in October 2018, where it won the NETPAC Award and the KNN Audience Award.[2][3] The film has collected 59 awards including the Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Film at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival[4] and the Best International Narrative Feature Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.[5]

House of Hummingbird
Theatrical release poster
Hangul벌새
Revised RomanizationBeol-sae
Directed byKim Bora
Produced byZoe Sua Cho
Kim Bora
Written byKim Bora
StarringPark Ji-hoo
Kim Sae-byuk
Jung In-gi
Lee Seung-yeon
Park Soo-yeon
Music byMatija Strniša
CinematographyKang Gook-hyun
Edited byZoe Sua Cho
Production
company
Epiphany Film
Mass Ornament Films
Release date
  • October 6, 2018 (2018-10-06) (Busan)
  • August 29, 2019 (2019-08-29) (South Korea)
Running time
138 minutes[1]
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean

Plot

Seoul 1994, in the year the Seongsu Bridge collapsed, 14-year-old Eunhee wanders the city searching for love.

Cast
  • Park Ji-hoo as Eun-hee
  • Kim Sae-byuk as Young-ji
  • Jung In-gi as Eun-hee's father
  • Lee Seung-yeon as Eun-hee's mother
  • Park Soo-yeon as Soo-hee
  • Son Sang-yeon as Dae-hoon
  • Park Seo-yoon as Ji-sook
  • Jung Yoon-seo as Ji-wan
  • Seol Hye-in as Yoo-ri
  • Hyung Young-seon as Eun-hee's uncle
  • Gil Hae-yeon as Young-ji's mother
  • Park Yoon-hee as Homeroom teacher
  • Son Yong-beom as Joon-tae
  • Ahn Jin-hyun as Min-ji

Production

Writing

Kim Bora, who also wrote the script as well as directing draws from her own childhood as inspiration for this coming of age film.[6] Focusing on a pivotal moment in her life, the collapse of the Seongsu bridge in 1994. Her intended outcome as stated in an interview by Marina D. Ritcher was to create a, "fictional film based on very personal experiences."[6] She wanted to highlight to rapid modernization of Korea and the consequences that came with trying to change too much too quickly. Ji Hyuck Moon in his article "Cracks Everywhere: How the Seongsu Bridge collapse Changed Seouls Urban Personality" talks about the phrase, "Bbali, bbali" that was used to describe this rapid-modernization that Kim portrays in her film.[7]

Casting

As for casting the main role of Eun-hee, it took director Kim Bora three years to find her perfect Eun-hee, Park Ji-hoo.[8] They first met in the audition room where Park Ji-hoo was asked to read a scene with her onscreen mentor Yeong-ji, Bora states Park Ji-hoo was "everything I was hoping for." [9]

Filming

Cinematographer Kang Kuk-hyun's goal was to remain as true to the time period as possible and make the film as realistic looking as possible.[9] Throughout the film Kang Kuk-hyun and Kim Bora worked to use the camera to bring out Eun-hee's emotions, every move of the camera was intentional to bring out the maximum emotional impact.[8] Bora's goal on the other hand as director, was not to portray any one character negatively, saying that by giving a more nuanced portrayal of the characters she shows how "no one can win in a patriarchal system." [9]

Soundtrack

Matija Strniša, who wrote the music for House of Hummingbird, won the best original score for his work at the Valencia International Film Festival.[10] The music was made to be electronic and also represent the time period, described as "classical inspired electronic music."[8]

Critical response

House of Hummingbird received a generally positive critical response. It holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a total of 44 critical reviews.[11] On Metacritic, the film has an overall score of 82 out of 100 out of a total out of 10 positive reviews.[12]

Tomris Laffly from Variety describes the film as capturing the "soft-hued timeless look" of a time period that remains somewhat "hazy." Her review praises the no intrusive way Bora Kim explores Eun-hee's sexuality, never giving it a strict label and allowing the viewer join watch Eun-hee in her journey of self discovery. While she does admit the movie may have been too long for its premise, overall she states it "fleeting reality of female adolescence with sympathy" and intwines the "workings of both family and society." [13]

Elizabeth Kerr from The Hollywood Reporter chose to focus more on the femininity of film. Overall she describes, "Sensitive, keenly observed and unflinchingly honest," and claims that it deserves success in its upcoming run. She praised the relationship that forms between Eun-hee and Yeong-ji, saying when the two are on screen together they are allowed to fully be free in a way of quotidian struggles.[14]

Andrew Bundy from The Playlist talks about how the film explores the fine line of "harsh and heartfelt communication" which Yeong-ji helps Eun-hee discover it difference all comes down to personal understanding. While a little long, Bundy praises the film on exploring the path to show the importance of empathy and understanding.[15]

In 2020, the film was ranked by The Guardian number 18 among the classics of modern South Korean cinema.[16]

Box office

Domestically, in South Korea House of Hummingbird grossed $997,953. It opened in 140 theaters and in its opening weekend it made $103,027.[17]

Awards and nominations
Awards Category Recipient Result
Asian Film Critics Association Awards Best New Director Kim Bora Won
Beijing International Film FestivalBest New FilmHouse of HummingbirdNominated
Special MentionKim Bora Won
Bergen International Film FestivalCinema ExtraordinaireWon
Berlin International Film FestivalGrand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best FilmHouse of HummingbirdWon
Crystal Bear for Generation 14plus - Best FilmNominated
Teddy for Best Feature FilmNominated
Busan International Film FestivalKNN AwardWon
NETPAC AwardWon
Heartland Film FestivalGrand PrizeHouse of HummingbirdWon
Hong Kong Asian Film FestivalNew Talent AwardKim Bora Won
International Istanbul Film FestivalGolden TulipHouse of HummingbirdWon
Jerusalem Film FestivalFIPRESCI PrizeWon
BFI London Film FestivalSutherland TrophyNominated
Molodist International Film FestivalBest Feature FilmWon
FIPRESCI PrizeWon
Seattle International Film FestivalGrand Jury PrizeWon
Taipei Film FestivalGrand PrizeKim Bora Nominated
Special Jury PrizeWon
Transatlantyk FestivalTransatlantyk Distribution Award for Section "New Cinema"Nominated
Tribeca Film FestivalBest International Narrative FeatureHouse of HummingbirdWon
Best ActressPark Ji-hooWon
Best CinematographyKang Gook-hyunWon
Malaysia International Film Festival (Golden Global Awards)Best DirectorKim Bora Won
Best Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukWon
Best CinematographyKang Gook-hyunWon
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film FestivalBest Narrative FeatureHouse of HummingbirdWon
Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest FilmNominated
Best Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukNominated
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Best New DirectorKim Bora Nominated
Best ScreenplayWon
Asia Pacific Screen AwardsBest ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukWon
Best New DirectorKim Bora Won
FIPRESCI AwardWon
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooWon
Top 10 Films of the YearHouse of HummingbirdWon
Director's Cut AwardsBest DirectorKim Bora Nominated
Best ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Best New ActressWon
Best New DirectorKim Bora Won
Best ScreenplayNominated
Busan Film Critics AwardsBest CinematographyKang Gook-hyunWon
Grand Bell AwardsBest FilmHouse of HummingbirdNominated
Best DirectorKim Bora Nominated
Best Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukNominated
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Best New DirectorKim Bora Won
Best ScreenplayNominated
Best CinematographyKang Gook-hyunNominated
Best MusicMatija StrnišaNominated
Cine 21 AwardsBest FilmHouse of Hummingbird2nd place
Best New DirectorKim Bora Won
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooWon
Chunsa Film Art Awards[18]Best Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukNominated
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Best New DirectorKim Bora Nominated
Best ScreenplayNominated
Buil Film AwardsBest FilmHouse of HummingbirdWon
Best DirectorKim Bora Nominated
Best Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukNominated
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Best New DirectorKim Bora Nominated
Best ScreenplayWon
Best CinematographyKang Gook-hyunNominated
Baeksang Arts AwardsBest FilmHouse of HummingbirdNominated
Best DirectorKim Bora Won
Best Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukWon
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Best New DirectorKim Bora Nominated
Best ScreenplayNominated
Wildflower Film AwardsGrand PrizeNominated
Best DirectorNominated
Best ActressPark Ji-hooWon
Best Supporting ActressKim Sae-byukNominated
Best New ActressPark Ji-hooNominated
Best ScreenplayKim Bora Nominated
Best CinematographyKang Gook-hyunWon
Korean Film Producers Association AwardsBest FilmHouse of HummingbirdWon
Ale Kino! International Young Audience Film FestivalNominated
Cyprus International Film FestivalGlocal ImagesKim Bora, Mass Ornament FilmsWon
Heartland Film FestivalGrand Prize for Best Narrative FeatureHouse of HummingbirdWon
International Istanbul Film FestivalGolden TulipWon
Seoul Independent Film FestivalBest FilmWon
Committee AwardKim BoraWon
Washington West Film FestivalBest Feature Narrative DirectorWon
Nikkan Sports Film AwardBest Foreign FilmHouse of HummingbirdWon

References
  1. "'House of Hummingbird' ('Beolsae'): Film Review | Busan 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  2. "BIFF | 4–13 October 2018". www.biff.kr. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  3. "House of Hummingbird (2018)". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  4. "PRIZES OF THE GENERATION 14PLUS INTERNATIONAL JURY". Berlinale.
  5. "Tribeca 2019 Awards: "House of Hummingbird" and "Scheme Birds" Land Top Honors". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  6. Richter, Marina D. (2019-07-01). "Interview with Bora Kim: "House of Hummingbird" is a fictional film based on very personal experiences". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  7. Moon, Ji Hyuck. "Cracks Everywhere: How the Seongsu Bridge Collapse Changed Seoul's Urban Personality". acidemia.edu: 8.
  8. "Coming of Age in Korea: Kim Bora Discusses "House of Hummingbird"". MUBI. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  9. "HOUSE OF HUMMINGBIRD Director KIM Bora". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  10. "Matija Strnisa | Film score composer | Berlin | Feature Film | Documentary | Commercial — House of Hummingbird". MATIJA STRNISA - Film score composer. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  11. "House of Hummingbird (Beolsae) (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  12. "House of Hummingbird Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  13. Laffly, Tomris (2019-05-01). "Tribeca Film Review: 'House of Hummingbird'". Variety. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  14. "'House of Hummingbird' ('Beolsae'): Film Review | Busan 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  15. "'House Of Hummingbird': Confident Debut Film That Delicately Questions The Fine Line Between Being Heartfelt & Being Harmful [Tribeca Review]". theplaylist.net. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  16. Bradshaw, Peter. "Classics of modern South Korean cinema – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  17. "House of Hummingbird". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  18. Park, Ah-reum (March 9, 2020). "'엑시트' 개최 연기 춘사영화제 6개 부문 최다 노미네이트" [Held 'Exit' Acting Chunsa Film Festival's 6 Nominations]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Naver.
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