Haewon (Nobody's Daughter) review

Hong Sang-soo's subtly sharp studies of male/female dynamics are gentler than most South Korean films released here.

His follow-up to Isabelle Huppert starrer In Another Country might be too soft for its own good, but a warm naturalism anchors its snapshots of studying actress Haewon's (Jeung Eun-chae) negotiations with various feckless male admirers.

Set at a discreet distance, Hong's camera seems to eavesdrop as they walk, talk and booze.

The casual plotting leaves loose ends, but Hong's rhyming rhythms take up some of the slack.