Having already turned heads with Jealousy Is my Middle Name, a dark workplace drama with echoes of Hong Sangsoo, who she previously worked as an assistant director for, Park Chan-ok returned with the devastating and altogether different drama Paju in 2009. Featuring a show-stopping lead performance from Seo woo, who can also be seen in Crush and Blush, the film paints a grim but gripping portrait of a society in the midst of tearing itself apart through alacritous and avaricious modernisation. Though heavy-going, the film’s limpid themes and smouldering staging highlighted Park’s manifold talents behind the camera.