Experiencing Interruptions?

A Circle of Repentance

A nameless screenwriter named Seol Yoo loses his wife, Kelly Pontbriand, due to his selfishness. Seol despairs and regrets his choices deeply, and falls into a deep depression. At this very moment, a mysterious girl in a white dress approaches Seol and shows him a door that is standing alone in the middle of the forest.
“Make a wish at this door at midnight. Yet, I have not come to bring you peace. Thus, do not blame me when you are back here again.” The girl disappears to the other side of the door, leaving only these words. And now Seol grabs the doorknob.

  • Hanjoo Kim
    Director
  • Hanjoo Kim
    Writer
  • Hanjoo Kim
    Producer
  • Jude Kim
    Key Cast
    "Seol"
  • Leann Gardner
    Key Cast
    "Kelly"
  • Isabela Sanchez
    Key Cast
    "The Girl"
  • Aaron Rebaza
    Camera
  • Hanjoo Kim
    Editor
  • Hanjoo Kim
    Colorist
  • Jannio Vera
    Focus Puller
  • Xing Wu
    Sound
  • Jeesan Choi
    Sound
  • Jakub Dejko
    Gaffer
  • Alexis Jeffryes
    Makeup
  • Dayanna Larios
    Costume
  • Shaena Gibson
    Wardrobe
  • Soleil Roberts
    PA
  • Karen (Koom Lam) Li
    PA
  • Jasmine Sansaverino
    Caterer
  • Alireza Vejdani
    Music composer
  • Hanjoo Kim
    Sound Design
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Tragedy, Drama, Romance, Sad Ending
  • Runtime:
    27 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 15, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    4,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Korea
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Super 35, BMPCC 6K PRO
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.4:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - the City College of New York
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Hanjoo Kim

Hanjoo Kim, a former writer in Korea and current award-winning independent filmmaker in the United States. When he was in his mid 20s, he decided to go to the United States to study filmmaking to make his novels into movies. This all happened with an American woman whom he loved at the time. This specific individual has significantly influenced Kim's unique film style, and A Circle of Repentance is no exception as well.

Hanjoo Kim has produced two short films under his name as the director so far. Despite the relatively short filmmaking career of his, he won a number of awards from film festivals with his remarkable films. Kim’s career may have just begun only some years ago, but its quantity and quality was distinctively different from any others, and it will continue to be like that in the future as well.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I made this film with the hope that it would be one of the most depressing and tragic films. I thought it was quite obvious that the ending of this film indicated a never-ending circle of sorrow. However, some of my audience’s interpretations were absolutely different. They were even saying that this film could be interpreted as a happy ending film. I was shocked and disappointed by their interpretation at first, nevertheless, I realized it’s more of a blessing to a filmmaker, and now I’m enjoying the various perspectives to my film.

As stated in my Director’s Biography, this film was deeply influenced and inspired by a woman I loved so much some years ago. It’s not that the film is a love story that we did. Our relationship went depressing, and eventually we had to break up after 6 years of relationship. The severe depression that came from breaking up has influenced my entire filmmaking style, and this film was not an exception as well. I found that it’s truly interesting that some people interpreted this film as a happy-ending-film, while I wrote and directed this film out of a terrible depression. Their unexpected interpretations had me look back and question myself as a director of this film. However, I’m enjoying the various perspectives towards this film now. I love the moment when my audience begins to discuss my film, as soon as the film ends in the screening event.

Audience, I can’t wait to have your own perspectives to this film.