Yeoja, Jeong-hye (This Charming Girl) (2004)

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A conservative South Korean girl who thinks she's got her life fully under control slowly begins to unravel in director Lee Yoon-ki's melancholic drama. Jeong-hae (Kim Ji-su) is a rock. Pretty, neat, and punctual, she takes regular lunches with her colleagues at a Seoul post office and returns to… More A conservative South Korean girl who thinks she's got her life fully under control slowly begins to unravel in director Lee Yoon-ki's melancholic drama. Jeong-hae (Kim Ji-su) is a rock. Pretty, neat, and punctual, she takes regular lunches with her colleagues at a Seoul post office and returns to her quiet but well-equipped apartment. Then, a stray cat wanders into Jeong-hae's life, throwing her completely off balance. Later, after catching a glimpse of her dead mother out of the corner of her eye, Jeong-hae crosses paths with her ex-husband, who's about to remarry. A visit to the hospital only reminds Jeong-hae more about losing her mother, and an awkward encounter with an over-enthusiastic show salesman leaves her wondering if she can ever form another human connection. Desperate for companionship, she reaches out to an author who frequents the post office, though her social awkwardness only leads to more disappointment when he stands her up for dinner. Later, Jeong-hae is attempting to steer a drunk away from suicide when she swipes his knife. Sitting on a park bench alone, she ponders the possibility of using it on herself. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi