Hotel by the River 2019

Ko Young-Hwan, a published poet, finds himself at a tranquil hotel by the Han River, where he awaits the arrival of his sons, Kyung-Soo and Byung-Soo, a renowned film director. The atmosphere is tense as the two brothers, caught in a web of rivalry and jealousy, argue while anticipating their father’s presence in the hotel restaurant. In a twist of fate, Young-Hwan dozes off in a different section of the restaurant, ultimately missing their long-awaited meeting.

Among the hotel guests is A-reum, a young woman who feigns having a severely burned left hand. She receives a visit from her concerned friend, Yeon-Joo, who is struggling with her own emotions following a breakup. As Young-Hwan meanders outside after a sudden snow, he engages both women, complimenting their beauty. Although Yeon-Joo admires his work as a poet, she and A-reum decline his offer for a drink, creating an air of intrigue and missed connections.

When Young-Hwan finally reunites with Kyung-Soo and Byung-Soo, he reveals that he has been staying in the hotel for two weeks after meeting the owner, who is a fan of his poetry and generously provides him with complimentary accommodations. However, Young-Hwan expresses a growing sense of unease, as he contemplates his mortality and indicates this was the reason for inviting his sons. He fixates on a nearby plant, insisting it needs watering, which adds a layer of urgency to his words.

Byung-Soo, filled with concern, fears that their father’s premonitions might imply a desire for death. Contrary to this, Kyung-Soo, who was old enough to remember when Young-Hwan left their family, maintains that he is strong. He chooses not to share his own recent divorce with his father. In this strained familial dynamic, Byung-Soo confesses his apprehensions about women due to past hurtful experiences. As they engage in smoke outside, their father mysteriously vanishes, only to return with two stuffed animals—endearing gifts deemed to symbolize each son. Young-Hwan’s remark about them being named to stay “side-by-side forever” underscores the fractured bond between the siblings.

In a surprising turn, the hotel’s owner urges Young-Hwan to vacate, as he feels the poet’s heart is no longer resonating with the admiration it once held.

Meanwhile, A-reum and Yeon-Joo overhear Byung-Soo calling out for his father. Yeon-Joo recognizes him, albeit somewhat critically, noting that Byung-Soo’s films are “ambivalent” and suggesting he lacks authenticity as a filmmaker. The tension continues as the two indulge in wine and cheese, sharing laughter while lying together in bed until A-reum’s dreams of her ex-partner spark deeper conversations about love and relationships.

As the evening progresses, Yeon-Joo confesses to stealing gloves from a similar car parked outside the hotel, reminding her of a painful car accident she experienced. The serendipity of their search for the car later intertwines their fates further, as they find it parked outside a restaurant. There, they encounter Young-Hwan and his sons, whose heated discussions revolve around their mother’s intense disdain for their father, revealing the rifts in their family history.

The night culminates in shared reflections between Yeon-Joo and A-reum as they debate whether to seek autographs from the esteemed poet. This spirals into a conversation about the immaturity of men concerning love, though Yeon-Joo makes an exception for her own husband.

After a night of drinking, Young-Hwan abruptly decides to return to the hotel alone, opting to hide from his sons until they depart. He circles back to the restaurant, where he recites a fresh poem for A-reum and Yeon-Joo.

As dawn breaks, Young-Hwan sends a text expressing his enjoyment of the visit and encourages his sons to head home. When they eventually visit his room for a farewell, they make a heartbreaking discovery—he has passed away in his bathroom. Meanwhile, in their own room just down the hall, A-reum and Yeon-Joo lay in bed together, tears flowing as they grapple with the fragility of life and the connections that bind them, reflecting the profound loss that has just unfolded.