Everyone’s childhood seems to crash eventually—the utopia of nonexistent rules or parents to listen to always seems to fade. There are numerous films that deal with theme of having to grow up quickly. Some, like the recent Slumdog Millionaire, use sentimentality and other tricks to create a melodramatic story with sweeping, emotive conclusions. Others, like director So Yong Kim’s second film, Treeless Mountain, which opens Wednesday at Film Forum, rest in the naturalist style of the Dardenne brothers, letting the acting and the story create an arguably more poignant film.
Partially based on the director’s own childhood experiences, Treeless Mountain tells the story of seven-year old Jin and her little sister Bin. When their mother leaves to search for their father, they remain with their aunt and an empty piggy bank, as well as a promise that she will return when that piggy bank is full.
She underestimates their business acumen, however, and the piggy is quickly grows full. With the bank full and the mother still absent, the aunt decides she can no longer raise the sisters, and they are forced to move to their grandmother’s farm.
The film’s success lies in Kim’s ability to distance herself from the story despite its autobiographical nature. While the camera is generally kept intimately close on Jin’s face, the cinematography manages to maintain an air of detachment. The film creates a certain voyeuristic tendency—implicating the viewer and Jin alike in the actions of the two sisters. Their innocence and hope is perfectly captured, but Jin’s maturity is never lost on the audience—she is one of us, weary and cynical of the adult world. There is nothing more affecting than watching the two sisters sit at the bus stop with their piggy bank day after day, seeing their hopes slowly diminish as the truth emerges.
Ultimately, Kim displays an assuredness seldom seen in sophomore films and a distinct vision that will undoubtedly continue in the future. Her work with industry newcomers in addition to professional actors shows that she has the ability to draw out strong performance from whomever she is working with. Her understanding of adolescent and teenage angst also present in her first film, In Between Days, should be a reminder to non-adults everywhere that we, too, have experienced tough times. Ironically, the two sisters walk up a hill at the end of the film singing a translation of Grandaddy’s The Nature Anthem. The lyrics describe an idyllic place. In their world where everything has been turned upside down, they have nothing but each other. Yet it seems that is enough for them. Their familial bonds overcome all other problems—at least for the time being.
Where It’s At
Location: Film Forum—209 W Houston St. (Varick and Houston)
When: Throughout the Week, Times Vary
Price: $11
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