IN OUR DAY Luminaries

Hong Sang-soo’s wily 30th feature probes the mind of the artist to find meaning in the mundane. Sangwon (Kim Min-hee, Hong’s regular collaborator turning in another winning, naturalistic performance) is a 40-something former actress, taking refuge at the home of a dear friend. She’s visited by a fragile younger cousin, looking for advice on how to break into the industry. Hong (Ki Joo-bong) is an acclaimed older poet, ordered by his doctor to stop drinking. He spends the afternoon with a young documentary filmmaker and a smitten actor looking for answers to life’s big questions. Tears are shed, an adorable cat goes missing and spicy ramyun noodles are prepared. IN OUR DAY finds Hong back in semi-autobiographical mode with this charming diptych, illuminating the parallels between art and artist. –Josh Gardner