★★★1/2

A series of vignettes, very loosely bundled together with the thinnest of a string, Hong Sang-soo’s legion of fans will love In Our Day, a humble, softly spoken look at a day in the life of a woman in her 40s and a man in his 70s. The woman, played by Hong’s partner and the frequently cast Kim Min-hee, is a newly out-of-work actor living with her best friend, Jung-soo. After a discussion, we see them connect over Jung-soo’s cat named Us. 

Elsewhere, Hong calls on another familiar face for fans of his films: Ki Joo-bong, who plays Uiji, a writer who finds himself having developed a rather surprising following among young people. Hong’s film breaks up these vignettes with title cards which provide brief context for the scenes we are watching unfold. Largely consisting of static shots, and longer, personal conversations, In Our Day may feel documentary-like to some viewers. Others may find it simply too slow.

Personally, I am glad In Our Day exists, inasmuch as it reminds us that no matter where we come from and where we land in the world, we all share the same worries and concerns. Whether we admit it or not, we all share a universal need to matter to those around us. Hong is willing to explore that with In Our Day, crafting a cinematic essay that works on a richly affecting level.

In Our Day was screened as part of the 50th Seattle International Film Festival.