THE WOMAN WHO RAN [blu-ray]

The 24th feature from Hong Sangsoo, THE WOMAN WHO RAN follows Gamhee (Kim Minhee), who has three separate encounters with friends while her husband is on a business trip. Youngsoon (Seo Youngwha) is divorced, has given up meat and likes to garden in her backyard. Suyoung (Song Seonmi) has a crush on her architect neighbor and is being hounded by a young poet she met at the bar. Woojin (Kim Saebyuk) works for a movie theater. Their meeting is polite, but strained. Before long, their shared history bubbles to the surface.

With characteristic humor and grace, Hong takes a simple premise and spins a web of interconnecting philosophies and coincidences. THE WOMAN WHO RAN is a subtle, powerful look at dramas small and large faced by women everywhere.

"Elegant, dryly funny and quietly moving."

-Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

"Working with characteristic wit and sly structural repetitions, [Hong] brings this deft, unassuming story to a startlingly emotional place."

-Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

"A bittersweet rumination on female friendships, beautifully anchored by [Hong’s] regular muse Kim Min-hee, and featuring a feline cameo for the ages."

-Guy Lodge, The Guardian

"The best film of the year."

-James Quandt, ArtForum