Climbing
As the highly competitive Choi Se-hyeon strives for the world champion title in climbing, an unplanned pregnancy stands in her way. In compelling images, this mystery-horror animation depicts the inner turmoil of a woman whose life plan begins to falter.
Choi Se-hyeon is a professional climber who wants to take part in the world championships and has to assert herself against her teammates. But she is not only confronted with high expectations in sports; her life partner also makes demands as he thinks about their future together and wants to plan the next steps. Then Se-hyeon finds out that she is pregnant, and fears begin to plague her.
When she survives a serious car accident, all she thinks about at first is being able to train again as soon as possible. But then she receives strange messages from another self... A parallel world reveals itself, in which Se-hyeon lives a completely different life: she has been in a wheelchair since the accident, is cared for by her mother-in-law and has become a caring mother herself.
In this mystery-horror film, director Kim Hye-Mi addresses personal limits and the traumatising experience of losing control over one’s own body and life plan. The increasing pressure on the protagonist is reflected in images of Se-hyeon’s mental and physical state, allowing the audience to experience the protagonist’s dramatic emotional rollercoaster ride along with her.
“Climbing” by Hye-Mi Kim has been screened successfully at international film festivals and was nominated for the Contrechamp Award for Best Film at the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. (Leah Mastropietro)
Choi Se-hyeon is a professional climber who wants to take part in the world championships and has to assert herself against her teammates. But she is not only confronted with high expectations in sports; her life partner also makes demands as he thinks about their future together and wants to plan the next steps. Then Se-hyeon finds out that she is pregnant, and fears begin to plague her.
When she survives a serious car accident, all she thinks about at first is being able to train again as soon as possible. But then she receives strange messages from another self... A parallel world reveals itself, in which Se-hyeon lives a completely different life: she has been in a wheelchair since the accident, is cared for by her mother-in-law and has become a caring mother herself.
In this mystery-horror film, director Kim Hye-Mi addresses personal limits and the traumatising experience of losing control over one’s own body and life plan. The increasing pressure on the protagonist is reflected in images of Se-hyeon’s mental and physical state, allowing the audience to experience the protagonist’s dramatic emotional rollercoaster ride along with her.
“Climbing” by Hye-Mi Kim has been screened successfully at international film festivals and was nominated for the Contrechamp Award for Best Film at the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. (Leah Mastropietro)
Info
Duration 77'
Country KR, 2020
