A Traveler's Needs

a film by Hong Sangsoo
2024, 90 minutes

Poster

Synopsis

A comedy of improbable encounters and unlikely language lessons, A Traveler’s Needs marks the third collaboration between Hong and Huppert (following 2012’s In Another Country and 2017’s Claire’s Camera). This time Huppert plays Iris, a woman who finds herself adrift in Seoul and without any means to make ends meet, turns to teaching French via a très peculiar method. Through a series of encounters, as we grow to know more about Iris and her situation, the mysteries of her circumstances only deepen.

A charming troupe of Hong regulars complete the cast, including Lee Hyeyoung as one of Huppert's students and Kwon Haehyo as her flirty husband. A film about meaning and connection and the comfort of makgeolli, A Traveler’s Needs, offers a surprising take on inter-continental rendezvous and continues one of the most unique actor-director collaborations in contemporary cinema.

Reviews

"[A] short, shimmery comedy of the elusive human condition."
- Guy Lodge, Variety

"A perceptive film about the performative coping strategies of a stranger in a strange land."
- David Jenkins, Little White Lies

"One of Hong's more enigmatic and alluring works."
- Jonathan Romney, Screen International

"Huppert is sensational, blending a deft sense of innocence with a hint of mischievousness."
- Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com

"Hong's funniest film in years... a breath of fresh air."
- Rory O'Connor, The Film Stage

Press Materials

Press Release
High Res Stills and Press Kit

Where to watch

In Theaters

Playdates

Nov 22: Film Forum - New York, NY
Nov 22: Film at Lincoln Center - New York, NY
Nov 29: Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Nov 29: Kan Kan Cinema, Indianapolis, IN

Dec 2: Cleveland Institute of Art - Cleveland, OH
Dec 6-12: Gene Siskel Film Center - Chicago, IL
Dec 6-12: Northwest Film Forum - Seattle, WA
Dec 6-12: The Film Center/SBIFF - Santa Barbara, CA
Dec 6-12: Lark Theater, CA
Dec 6-12: Cinema Art Lewes, DE
Dec 6: DelArt Cinema - Wilmington, DE
Dec 6: Digital Gym Cinema - San Diego, California
Dec 8-11: American Cinematheque Los Angeles, CA
Dec 13-30: Roxy Cinema, New York, NY
Dec 13-15: Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City, OK
Dec 20-22: Webster Film Series, St. Louis, MO
Dec 21- Jan 1: New Plaza Cinema, New York, NY
Dec 26: Museum of Modern Art - New York, NY
Dec 27- Jan 2: Austin Film Society - Austin, TX
Dec 27- Jan 2: Roxie Theater - San Francisco, CA

Jan 2: TIFF Cinématique - Toronto, Canada
Jan 2-13: Palm Springs Intl'l Film Fest - Palm Springs, CA
Jan 3-9: Plaza Theatre, Atlanta, GA
Jan 10: Hard Light / Studio Two Three - Richmond, VA
Jan 10-19: FACETS - Chicago, IL
Jan 10-19: Time & Space Ltd, Hudson, NY
Jan 11-15: Metro Cinema Society - Edmonton, BC
Jan 16: Museum of Fine Arts Boston - Boston, MA
Jan 17-Feb 3: The Cinematheque - Vancouver Canada
Jan 18-Jan 19: Doc Films, Chicago IL
Jan 24 - Jan 30: Imagine Cinemas Carlton - Toronto, Canada
Jan 28-31: Detroit Institute of Arts - Detroit, MI
Jan 31-Feb 1: Union Cinema - Milwaukee, WI
Jan 31: Suns Cinema, Washington, D.C

Feb 2-9: The Boedecker Theater - Boulder, CO
Feb 5: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art - Madison, WI
Feb 6: Space Gallery, Portland ME
Feb 24 - March 3: The Dietrich, Tunkhannock PA

Mar 7: Martha's Vineyard Film Center - Vineyard Haven, MA