The film follows the story of Emily, a young woman who is coping with the death of her husband. She decides to return to the apartment where they lived to pack up his belongings but finds herself recalling a series of memories of their relationship. As she navigates through the space, the audience is taken on an emotional journey that explores profound questions about what it means to love and what happens when that love is lost.
The bulk of the film’s narrative is presented in a non-linear fashion, with flashbacks of Emily’s relationship with her husband interspersed with her present-day activities. These flashbacks are not chronological, but they follow an intuitive and poetic order that adds to the film’s poignancy. Emily’s inner turmoil is palpable, and the audience is made to feel some of the pain that comes with the loss of a loved one.
The director’s use of color and sound is notable as well. The film surprises viewers with an almost sensual explosion of color in the flashbacks, while the present-day scenes are more subdued, conveying a sense of mourning and emptiness. The sound design, too, is sparse but poignant, using a minimalist score to accentuate key moments in the story.
One of the fascinating aspects of Hanging Heart is how it avoids being too melodramatic or sentimental, focusing instead on Emily’s introspection and journey to acceptance. In the hands of another filmmaker, the film could easily have turned into a sappy tear-jerker, but Junhyuk Cho manages to balance heavy emotions with a restrained, melancholic approach.
The film’s message is not about forgetting or moving on but about finding a way to let go and honor the past. The final scene of Hanging Heart is a powerful one that delivers an emotional punch while leaving viewers with the hope that Emily will be able to grow from her grief.
Overall, Hanging Heart is a beautiful and moving film that director Jung Jun-Hyuk Cho should be proud of. He shows remarkable skill in crafting a visual and aural experience that reflects what it means to love and lose someone. This film is a triumph of storytelling that leaves a lasting emotional impact on audiences that experience it. It is not just a movie about grief; it’s also an insight into the human soul and the challenges of accepting and moving on from loss.