Korean Film 'Journey There' Portrays Bonds Born of Music and Grief

Set in the coastal city of Gangneung, the film follows Chun-hee (Kim Hye-ok), an elderly widow who begins a new chapter after her husband's death and moves out of the brick house he built. She takes few belongings to her small new flat, but brings her late husband's vintage black sedan and his grand piano; the instrument does not fit inside her new home.

The piano leads to a friendship with Min-jun (Justin Min), a Korean adoptee from Germany who has come to South Korea to find his biological mother. A conductor who believes he must trace his roots to focus on his musical career, Min-jun persuades a hesitant Chun-hee to keep the piano at his flat and tells her she can visit whenever she likes. Despite his limited Korean, the two overcome their age gap and cultural differences, and Min-jun eventually calls Chun-hee "eomma," or mom in Korean.

The grand piano also connects them with Seong-chan (Park Dae-ho), an orphaned but talented young pianist who struggles to make ends meet. The review said the narrative flows without dramatic plot twists, but the film is more than a gentle drama.

Chun-hee is terminally ill and regularly visits a nearby hospital for dialysis treatment. She and her husband, whom the film describes as her only family, had planned to seek assisted suicide in Switzerland before his death. The film neither glosses over these details nor dwells on the gravity of the situation, according to the review, and Chun-hee's calm and optimistic acceptance of her fate lends her a quiet dignity.

Veteran actor Kim's natural performance as Chun-hee anchors the film, the review said, keeping it grounded even in scenes that seem too picture-perfect at times. Min, a Korean American actor who appeared in the Netflix series "The Umbrella Academy" and the sci-fi drama "After Yang," matches Kim's warmth with a playful yet nuanced portrayal of Min-jun in his first Korean film appearance.

By casting Park, a piano major at the Korea National University of Arts who made his acting debut through the film, "Journey There" establishes itself as a music-centered film that underscores the power of music, according to the review.

The film does not explicitly reveal Chun-hee's final course of life. Through her letters, narrated by Min-jun, it makes clear that her days after her husband's death were filled with warmth and meaning. As Chun-hee's husband remained a cherished part of her life after his death, the film shows that the connection among Chun-hee, Min-jun and Seong-chan will be a lasting part of their lives and shape them in different ways.

With its tender message about life and friendship, the scenic landscapes of Gangneung and tranquil piano performances, the review said, "Journey There" offers comfort to those who have gone through the depths of grief. The film opens in theaters on Wednesday.