Little Forest (2018): A reflective year in rural Korea
2018 • Yim Soon-rye • 2.35:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Based on the manga series by Daisuke Igarashi and directed by Yim Soon-rye, Little Forest tells the story of a young woman who returns to her rural Korean hometown after struggling to adapt to life in the city. Living alone in the countryside, she reconnects with her past through seasonal routines, simple cooking and interactions with a small group of friends.
The film is structured around the passage of the four seasons during one year and has an episodic nature. Each segment focuses on preparing food, paying close attention to ingredients, techniques, and the relationship between the environment and food production. Daily activities such as farming, cooking and maintenance become the driving force of the evolving story, with the colour palette, available produce and emotional tone changing to reflect each new season.
A quiet slice-of-life drama, Little Forest embodies the qualities of contemplative cinema. The focus is on texture, rhythm, and sensory detail, while the story centres on self-sufficiency, memory, and personal recalibration, a theme common to coming-of-age narratives. It is a film that prioritises authenticity and calm observation, finding its rhythm in the repetitive nature of the seasons.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: After failing her teaching exam and growing disillusioned with city life, a young woman returns to her rural hometown, where she reconnects with old friends, rediscovers the joy of cooking, and finds solace in the rhythms of nature. Read my review of Little Forest.
- Actors: Kim Tae-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Jin Ki-joo, Moon So-ri, Jang Jae-hee, Lee Seung-hoon, Park Ju-hyun.
- Director: Yim Soon-rye
- Year: 2018
- Cinematographer: Lee Seung-hoon
- Origin: Korean Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Genre: Drama / Slice of Life
