A Girl at My Door (Dohee-ya), 2014.
Directed by July Jung.
Starring Kim Sae-ron, Bae Doona, and Song Sae-Byeok.
SYNOPSIS:
Banished to provincial purgatory after a censure for misconduct, a former star of the Seoul police force finds her maternal instincts unexpectedly awoken when she meets a troubled teenage girl.
Exiled to a rural town to serve as the chief of police because of a sexual scandal, a female law enforcement officer becomes embroiled with another controversy involving the physically abused daughter of an important local businessman; she becomes a mentor and protector of the psychologically damaged girl who is routinely beaten by her classmates as well by her grandmother and father both of whom have a weakness of alcohol. Trouble erupts when the new town arrival is accused of molesting her young charge.
Initially, the film takes a surreal tone with a close-up shot of a teenager in a dirty school uniform taking hold of a frog. There are certain character traits such as the protagonist has a habit of drinking from bottle water which is in fact disguised alcohol while the girl loves to dance. The abuse is quickly discovered, thereby, making the developing relationship between the two women the driving force of the drama. Shots linger and the cinematography does not feature any fancy camera moves allowing the focus to be on the actors with the only weak link being Song Sae-Byeok (The Servant) who borders on being a one note caricature of a volatile drunk.
Credit must be given to director July Jung who is able to capture a nuanced acting performance of Bae Doona (Cloud Atlas) who does not talk a lot but is able to say a lot through her facial expressions and body language. Kim Sae-ron (The Man From Nowhere) is a talent to be reckon with as even at the age of 14 she already has an impressive resume; she is able to portray a troubled youth who becomes obsessed with the only person who is prepared to show her some kindness. The on-screen chemistry between Doona and Sae-ron is believable and captivating which makes A Girl at My Door a joy to watch.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★★★★/ Movie: ★★★★
Originally published September 11, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
