House of Hummingbird (2018)

House of Hummingbird is about 14-year-old Eunhee. In 1994, when Seongsu Bridge collapsed, Eunhee lives with her parents and older siblings in Daechidong. Her family doesn’t seem to be particularly caring, and Eunhee and her best friend Jisook go on shoplifting sprees and frequent a famous karaoke bar that all juvenile delinquents go to. She dates a boy from a neighboring school, as well as a girl from her school, floating about on a quest for love. Then finally, an adult that actually understands comes into her life – her teacher, Kim Youngji. A hummingbird is a tiny bird that flies long distances in search of honey. The director likens Eunhee to a hummingbird. Just as a hummingbird beats its wings endlessly in search of honey, Eunhee is endlessly searching for love. There are many Eunhees in the world. We all want to be loved by our family, friends, classmates and teachers. Yet the world is at times violent and cold, ignoring inconsequential little girls. House of Hummingbird reminds us of our youth, bitter failures, and broken hearts.