(Movie Review) 'Journey There' tenderly portrays bonds born of music, grief

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- In the Korean film "Journey There," a grand piano brings unlikely strangers together as a chosen family, transcending age, borders, and even the boundary between life and death.

Set in the picturesque coastal city of Gangneung, the film follows Chun-hee (Kim Hye-ok), an elderly widow who begins a new chapter in life following her husband's death, as she moves out of the brick house he built.

Though she takes few belongings to her small new flat, she brings her late husband's vintage black sedan and his grand piano -- only to discover the instrument will not fit inside her new home.

This incident sparks a friendship between Chun-hee and Min-jun (Justin Min), a Korean adoptee from Germany who has come to South Korea to find his biological mother.

Min-jun, a conductor who feels he must trace his roots to be able to truly focus on his musical career, persuades a hesitant Chun-hee to keep the piano at his flat, assuring her that she can visit his flat whenever she likes.

Despite his limited Korean, the two soon overcome their age gap and cultural differences to become close neighbors, with Min-jun eventually coming to address Chun-hee as "eomma," or mom in Korean.

The grand piano kindles a bond not only between Chun-hee and Min-jun, but also with Seong-chan (Park Dae-ho), an orphaned but talented young pianist who struggles to make ends meet.

While the narrative flows without dramatic plot twists, the film is more than a gentle drama.

Chun-hee is terminally ill and regularly visits a nearby hospital for dialysis treatment. In fact, she and her husband -- who was her only family -- had planned to seek assisted suicide in Switzerland prior to his death.

The film neither glosses over these details nor dwells on the gravity of the situation, yet Chun-hee's calm and optimistic acceptance of her fate, without exaggeration or self-pity, lends her a quiet dignity.

Veteran actor Kim's natural performance as Chun-hee anchors the film, keeping it grounded even in scenes that seem too picture-perfect at times.

Min, a Korean American actor who appeared in the Netflix series "The Umbrella Academy" and the sci-fi drama "After Yang," matches Kim's warmth with his playful yet nuanced portrayal of Min-jun, in what marks his first Korean film appearance.

By casting Park, a piano major at the prestigious Korea National University of Arts, who made his acting debut through the film, "Journey There" establishes itself as a genuine music-centered film that underscores the power of music.

The film does not explicitly reveal Chun-hee's final course of life. But through her letters, narrated by Min-jun, it makes clear that her days following her husband's death were filled with warmth and meaning.

As Chun-hee's husband remained a cherished part of her life even after his death, the film shows that the connection between Chun-hee, Min-jun and Seong-chan will be a lasting piece of their lives that shaped them in different ways.

With its tender message about life and friendship, scenic landscapes of Gangneung and tranquil piano performances, "Journey There" offers heartfelt comfort to those who have gone through the depths of grief.

The film opens in theaters on Wednesday.

mlee@yna.co.kr
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