This review may contain spoilers
Confused by the Story, Intrigued by the Idea
Tale of Cinema was quite a confusing watch for me. It took a while to realize that the **first part is actually a film within the film**, while the **second part follows the real people behind it**. Once I understood that, things made more sense, but it still felt emotionally distant and hard to engage with.The concept is interesting — showing how cinema and reality can blur, and how someone might try to live out what they see on screen. However, the pacing is very slow, and the story drifts without much emotional connection. The performances are subtle, but the overall tone feels detached.
There are thoughtful ideas about regret, obsession, and imitation, but the execution left me more puzzled than moved. It’s clever in theory, but not something I’d call enjoyable. I think it would worked well in a book.
A smart idea that doesn’t quite work. Worth a watch only if you’re into Hong Sang-soo’s unique storytelling style.
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