Winter in Sokcho: Roshdi Zemi’s melancholic and fascinating search for identity in the heart of South Korea

The birth of an intriguing relationship

In Sokcho, a small seaside town in South Korea, 23-year-old So-ha leads a routine life between visiting her mother, a fishmonger, and dating her boyfriend, Joon-oh. The arrival of a Frenchman, Ian Keran, at the small pension where So-ha works awakens her questions about her own identity and about her French father, about whom she knows almost nothing. As winter darkens the city, So-ha and Ian Keran observe each other, appreciate each other, try to communicate through their own means, and forge a fragile bond.

This incredible duet is performed by two actors whose complementarity grows stronger as the story progresses. For her first role, Bella Kim brilliantly plays the mysterious So-ha. The charismatic Roshdi Zem (Children of Others, L’Innocent), winner of the 2020 Roubaix, une Lumière Best Actor César, plays the engaging comic artist. Their ambiguous relationship, which combines filial piety and attraction, never ceases to hold the audience in suspense.

A rich and ambiguous search for identity…

Winter in Sokcho is adapted from the novel of the same name by Elisa de Dussappin, which won the 2016 Robert Walser Prize as well as the Régine DeForges Prize. In this way, the Franco-Japanese director Koya Kamura signs the first feature film that subtly addresses the notion of the search for identity through his own experience.

“Winter in Sokcho will resonate not only with those who share a similar mixed-race experience, but more broadly with anyone who questions what defines them. The film director explains. By capturing So-ha’s doubts, hopes, and discoveries, I hope to capture the beauty and complexity of the search for identity while honoring the spirit of the novel.“

… with a unique visual and emotional journey

Under the artistic direction of Deux Moi cinematographer Elodie Tahtan, the film’s aesthetic enhances the subtle emotions of the characters, capturing the icy beauty of Sokcho and fleeting moments of intimacy.

Winter in Sokcho is also interspersed with poetic animation sequences directed by Agnes Patrón that offer a dreamlike look to So-ha’s thoughts, enhancing the introspective nature of the story.

Through its visual and narrative poetry, Winter in Sokcho transcends geographic and cultural boundaries to address universal issues of identity and self-acceptance.

Both delicate and intense, Winter in Sochi is now available in cinemas.