House of the Seasons (2023)

Tofu and Money

What a nice movie! House of the Seasons is a slow-paced meditation on a Korean family, portraying one year (from spring to winter) and four generations of family members living together. What we see here is the bond within the family—both in good times and in bad—and the movie also gives us foreigners a glimpse into the traditional Korean way of life. It is mesmerizing to observe and reflect on the traditional rituals and the dynamics between generations. There is a lot of dialogue in the movie, but the best moments for me were the silent portraits of people and nature, filled with gentle music. The changing of the seasons corresponds to the rhythm of family life (spring brings new life and opportunities, while winter points to death and loss). But life is bigger than one year and one generation, and after winter a new spring will come.

I would say that the director did a great job making this movie. It is not for everyone, but it has the potential to become a classic for future generations. The movie isn’t so much plot-driven as it is character-immersive, and the director uses the symbol of tofu to represent the building of a family. In contrast to tofu, there is also the symbol of money, which may divide the family.

I want to eat some tofu now and pray for my family.

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