Kitty-Chatter

Local Cinema

KIM Bon-hee | 2022 | Documentary | Color | MOV | 20min (K, E)

SYNOPSIS

In the countryside village of Gyeongju, at the end of a small alley where one car can barely pass, lives grandma Eupcheon. While it may look like she spends the whole day alone in a small kitchen, her day is quite eventful. Jjongi, a cat, keeps crying for food at every meal time and grandma Jeonan visits to the small alley several times a day to meet Eupcheon. There might be constant squabbling, bantering, and at times cursing, however Jeonan and Jjongi are always next to Eupcheon whenever she has a break from her garden chores.

DIRECTING INTENTION

It started from the sound of a cat crying through the telephone. Grandma said “Jjongi” is a cat that keeps coming to her house to get food every day. I always started our conversations asking about Jjongi, then move on to hear about grandma’s daily lives, interests and concerns. How can asking about a cat make me learn so much more about my own grandmother? Following Jjongi’s routine at grandma Eupcheon’s house led me to meet grandma Jeonan who visits daily. Grandma Jeonan feeds cats all over the village with the cat food that her daughter sends her monthly. Grandma Eupcheon calls Jjongi her friend because he meows for her and always stays near her like he is protecting her. What’s at the essence of a friendship that has them meeting every day for over 60 years, staying together no matter what? Sharing a small slice of watermelon by making it even smaller, sowing seeds at each other’s garden, or knowing that you will meet the next day again even after all the bantering. The enviably heartwarming friendship of Eupcheon, Jeonan and Jjongi would always continue in Sanggye-ri village.

FESTIVAL & AWARDS

2022 Seoul International Eco Film Festival
2022 Seoul Independent WOmen's fiLm Festival
2022 Mokpo National Road 1 Independent Film Festival
2022 The Daegu Independent Short Film Festival
2022 EBS International Documentary Festival
2022 Seoul Animal Film Festival

DIRECTOR
KIM Bon-hee

KIM Bon-hee

2019 The Change of the Ocean and Me
2020 Growing City, Flowing Scenery

STAFF

Director KIM Bon-hee
Cinematographer KIM Bon-hee
Editor KIM Bon-hee
Music LIM Bo-mi
Sound KOH Eun-hye
Translation SONG So-youn
Cast HA Mu-sun, KIM Phil-sun, Jjongi