The film's structure is inextricably tied to its setting: a four-story apartment building owned by Ms. Kim (Lee Hye-young). The protagonist, Byung-soo (Kwon Hae-hyo), a film director, visits the building with his estranged daughter, Jeong-su. As they move from floor to floor, the film shifts in time and perspective, with each level representing a different chapter or potential reality in Byung-soo's life.
Walk Up eschews traditional narrative thrust for "delicious complexities" found in everyday negotiations. Walk Up (2022)
In the prolific career of South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo, few films capture the delicate intersection of architectural space and existential drift quite like Walk Up (2022). Filmed in his signature minimalist style—crisp black-and-white photography and long, talkative takes—the film offers a languid, rhythmic exploration of a man's life as he physically and metaphorically moves through the floors of a single building. A Structural Narrative The film's structure is inextricably tied to its
As is common in Hong’s work, the director character serves as a mouthpiece for personal vulnerabilities, reflecting on the mundanity between artistic projects and the search for satisfaction. Themes of Time and Isolation As they move from floor to floor, the
The introduction of familial tension and professional weariness.
Ultimately, Walk Up is a remarkably tender film that invites the viewer to process its complexities one glass (and one floor) at a time.
Critics have praised the film for being "relaxing" yet intellectually stimulating. While it delivers what Hong Sang-soo fans expect—revealing conversations over drinks and emotionally unguarded performances—it stands out for its meticulous photography and the way it transforms a static location into a site of artistic and domestic possibility.