SIM Haeun
World Premiere
Choi Hyeonsam, the third son, returns to his rural roots with a dual mission: to care for his mother, Park Pungsoon, as she navigates the complexities of dementia, and to launch a senior care business in the village. However, Park Pungsoon resents her son's sudden presence and the upheaval it brings to her. Can this mother and son find a way to truly coexist and reconnect in this new chapter of their lives?
The film chronicles the daily life of Choi Hyeonsam, who returns to his hometown to care for his mother suffering from dementia. The catalyst for this return was the simultaneous diagnosis of both his parents with dementia a few years prior. In response, Choi establishes a care labor company in their rural village, which is predominantly populated by the elderly. This company, rooted in the agricultural lifestyle his parents have known all their lives, aims to provide care that respects their familiar life patterns. While the film ostensibly focuses on Choi's work and the operations of the care labor company, its true heart lies in the portrayal of Choi's mother. She emerges as both muse and villain, central to the company's existence. The film explores the nuanced interactions between Choi and his mother, whose words and actions reflect a lifetime of experiences and her aspirations for her son. Despite her memory loss, her body instinctively recalls the rhythms of farming and preparing meals for her son. Choi's efforts to care for her as a middle-aged son offer a profound awakening to the nature of life.
SIM Haeun
Born in 1999, one of the people who love cinema. With aspirations to work across both movies and documentaries, she seeks to explore diverse storytelling methods. Between the Vineyard marks her directorial debut.