Paju

After his negligence causes serious injuries to the small child of a girlfriend, a young activist sought by the police flees to the provincial town of Paju. The vicissitudes of fate continue to affect him there. The woman he marries dies in a gas explosion, after which he becomes entangled in an complex relationship with her little sister. In the opening shots, she returns after a lengthy absence to Paju, after which the emotionally charged yet subtly portrayed psychological drama unfolds in a series of flashbacks. The clash between the riot police and criminals gives this story about crime and punishment a feeling of urgency and topicality.
This second feature by Park Chan-Ok was one of the hottest films at the Pusan Festival. Her debut, Jealousy Is My Middle Name, received a Tiger Award in Rotterdam in 2003.