Park Joon Ho delivers a fascinating, deeply poignant story of one man’s search for fulfillment. An escapee from North Korea, Cheol-jun (Cho Youhyun) is having trouble adjusting to life in Seoul. Shy, socially awkward, and deep in the closet, Cheol-jun is advised to join a social group for young gay men, but venturing into the subculture of open homosexuality, he finds its customs and codes hard to understand. Hiding his true self from his fellow “defectors”, Cheol-jun tries his best to gain admission to university, while holding onto the hope of reuniting with his parents…
As the confused, unformed protagonist, Cho gives a superb performance. From his restrained body language to his halting speech and perplexed, almost blank facial expressions, he radiates innocence and honesty — qualities that work against him in a social scene defined by brashness and irony. Park’s film walks a fine line: the writer-director is humane enough to avoid cynicism, and honest enough to reject false uplift.
Oct 6 & 7: Q&A
Cooperating Organizations
![]()
Media Partner
Community Partner
Youhyun Cho, Hyeonmok Kim
South Korea
2025
In Korean with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Credits & Director
Producer
Lee Hyein
Screenwriter
Park Joon Ho
Cinematography
Han Sangkil
Editor
Park Joon Ho
Production Design
Choi Junsik
Original Music
Lee Soobin
Park Joon Ho
Born in Yeosu, South Korea, Park Joon Ho studied film directing at the Korean National University of Arts, where he made several short films, including EUNSEO (2019) and Almond: My Voice is Breaking (2017). Before directing his debut feature 3670 (2025), he worked as a screenwriter.
Filmography: Almond: My Voice is Breaking (2017)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Erupcja
Charli xcx headlines this indie gem about a young English couple coming unmoored over a few days in Warsaw. Will means to propose. Beth has cold feet -- and an escape hatch she has barely admitted to herself... Think Before Sunrise 2025.
The Doll
In our new Film Studies series on Thursdays, Devan Scott guides us through the evolution of lighting techniques from the silent era to the present day. Each presentation will include a classic film screening; this week, The Doll (1919).
The Art of Adventure
The unbelievable adventure story of how painter Robert Bateman and ecologist Bristol Foster drove a Land Rover from Africa to Australia in 1957, developing a love of nature to last a lifetime. An inspirational love letter to the adventure of life itself.
How Deep Is Your Love
Filmmaker Eleanor Mortimer tags along with a team of oceanographers and marine biologists as they survey the Clarion-Clipperton fracture, one of the most remote spots on Earth, home to a dazzling array of unknown creatures.


