Danish-Korean debut film "Hana Korea" receives mixed reviews

Frederik Sølberg's Danish-Korean debut feature film, "Hana Korea," is garnering mixed reviews as it prepares for its theatrical release in Denmark. While acknowledged for its atmospheric visuals and strong documentary elements, the film struggles to fully engage its audience with its central character's journey.

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Frederik Sølberg's Danish-Korean film about a refugee's new start in South Korea is beautiful and atmospheric. But as an audience, one misses getting closer to the traumatized main character.

Reviewers from Kristeligt Dagblad and Filmmagasinet Ekko awarded the film four and five stars, respectively. However, Soundvenue and Politiken offered more reserved critiques, giving three stars and three hearts, with Politiken noting the film's difficulty in drawing viewers in. Soundvenue suggested the film missed opportunities to be "truly exciting."

The film centers on Hyesun, a young woman who fled North Korea and arrived in China by swimming. Actress Kim Min-ha, known for her role in the American-Korean series "Pachinko," portrays the lead. Critics lauded the film's documentary-style approach, with Ekko's reviewer describing Sølberg's transition to narrative filmmaking as "unusually assured and moving." The "overall quiet intensity" and the actors' "overwhelming performance in mimicry and detail," alongside beautiful cinematography, were highlighted as strengths.

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With 'Hana Korea,' Frederik Sølberg has translated his documentary eye into an unusually assured and moving feature film debut.

Despite these positive aspects, a recurring theme in the reviews is the emotional distance from the protagonist. The film's minimalist style and understated language, while effectively conveying a "violent story with very small arm movements," leave some viewers wanting a deeper connection to the traumatized main character. Sølberg's "fine-tuned minimalist style" effectively portrays a character who has endured immense hardship at a young age, but the film's subtlety may leave audiences feeling detached.

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With simple means and a finely tuned minimalist style, Sølberg gives a clear impression of a person who has gone through far too much at a far too young age.