TREELESS MOUNTAIN opens this week in New York City and I cannot stress how great an opportunity this is for cinephiles. Director So Yong Kim has crafted a touching film that can only come from the creative inner depths of one’s own heart. It’s the kind of film that gets easily overlooked with all the millions of advertising spent on big budget films. And that’s a shame.

TREELESS MOUNTAIN was filmed in South Korea and is presented with English subtitles. Music is by the fantastic indie rockers Asobi Seksu. TREELESS MOUNTAIN opens in New York City on Wednesday, April 22, then in select cities across America afterwards. See below for nationwide opening schedule. So Yong Kim will be appearing herself at the Weds, 8pm and Friday, 8pm shows.

TREELESS MOUNTAIN has won the Prize of the Ecumenical at the Berlin International Film Festival, Muhr Award at the Dubai International Film Festival, and the Netpac Award at the Pusan International Film Festival.

Let’s listen to what some other people have to say:
“Exquisite. A quiet, poignant drama of abandonment and resilience.”
– A.O. Scott, The New York Times

“Simply one of he best films about childhood ever made! Remarkable performances.”
– Melissa Anderson, Village Voice

“Lovely.” – Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

“Life-affirming… beautifully natural performances.” – Robert Koehler, Variety

Synopsis: When their mother needs to leave in order to find their estranged father, seven year-old Jin and her younger sister, Bin, are left to live with their Big Aunt for the summer. With only a small piggy bank and their mother’s promise to return when it is full, the two young girls are forced to acclimate to changes in their family life. Counting the days, and the coins, the two bright-eyed young girls eagerly anticipate their mother’s homecoming. But when the bank fills up, and with their mother still not back, Big Aunt decides that she can no longer tend to the children. Taken to live on their grandparents’ farm, it is here that Jin comes to learn the importance of family bonds in this beautiful, meditative, and thought-provoking second feature from So Yong Kim, the acclaimed director of IN BETWEEN DAYS.

Opening Night Venue: The Film Forum, 209 W Houston St, New York, NY 10014
Showtimes: Wednesday, April 22 – Tuesday, May 5; 1:15, 3:15, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00
For more info: http://www.filmforum.org/films/treeless.html

US Opening Schedule:
New York, NY – Film Forum – 4/22/09
Los Angeles, CA – Music Hall; M Park – 5/8/09
San Francisco, CA – Landmark Theatres – 5/15/09
Dallas, TX – Angelika – 5/15/09
San Diego, CA – Gaslamp – 5/29/09
Rochester, NY – George Eastman House – 5/30/09
Atlanta, GA – Regal Tara – 6/5/09
Kahala, HI – City Cinemas – 6/5/09
Boston, MA – Kendall Square – 6/19/09
Seattle, WA – NW Film Forum – 6/26/09

On a personal note, I’d like to congratulate the people I know who worked on this special film: Bradley Rust Gray, Ben Howe, Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy, Douglas Seok, Eric Offin, Mark Garcia, and of course, So Young Kim.

Also this week in New York City, Bradley Rust Gray’s feature film THE EXPLODING GIRL will have its North American premiere as part of the Tribeca Film Festival. Bradley is So Yong Kim’s creative partner. Expect to hear more about THE EXPLODING GIRL soon.

Trailer!