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Out-of-work actor Gyung-soo flees to a popular country town to visit a former schoolmate, now writer, Seong-wu. Soon upon arrival, he has a brief, intense fling with a dance instructor Myung-sook, who happens to be Seong-wu's girlfriend. Concerned more about Myung-sook's protestations than with two-timing his friend, Gyung-soo hot-foots it once more. Taking the first train out of town, he meets Sun-Young, who recognizes him from his stage work.The two strike up a friendship which blossoms further, with surprising results for Gyung-soo.
South Korean director Hong Sang-soo, who impressed MIFF audiences in 2001 with Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors, returns to his popular theme of characters contradicting and deluding themselves in matters of love. Working wrth a group of exceptional actors, Hong utilises an improvised, collaborative working method and the result is an intricately plotted, disciplined film full of entertaining, believable dialogue. Turning Gate—the title refers to the legend of a temple Gyung-soo visits, at whose gate a lover waited in vain for his princess to return to him—is insightful and wryly humorous.