House of Hummingbird

In the summer of 1994 Seoul, the city hums with the restless energy of a nation on the brink of change. Amid the cramped apartments and bustling markets, a quiet twelve‑year‑old girl named Eun‑hee lives in a modest household, balancing the expectations of a working‑class family with the tender turbulence of early adolescence. Her world is painted in muted tones, yet it flickers with the soft glow of a sketchbook she carries everywhere, a refuge where she can translate feelings that words cannot capture.

At school, Eun‑hee navigates the pressure of upcoming high‑school entrance exams while seeking moments of connection beyond the walls of her home. She shares a close bond with her classmate Ji‑hu Park, whose easy‑going spirit offers a welcome contrast to her own reservation. A charismatic Chinese language teacher, Ms. Kim, arrives at their cram school, exuding a free‑spirited confidence that hints at possibilities beyond the familiar. Around them, another peer, Yu‑ri, appears with an earnest curiosity that promises the kind of friendship Eun‑hee secretly craves. Even a discreet romance with her boyfriend Ji‑wan adds a fragile thread of hope to her days.

The film’s tone is gentle and contemplative, suffused with the delicate sounds of Seoul’s streets and the intimate rustle of notebooks. It captures the fragile beauty of a teenager’s search for identity, belonging, and acceptance amid familial indifference and societal expectations. As Eun‑hee sketches the world around her, the audience is invited to linger on the quiet moments that shape her emerging sense of self, hinting at a journey that will gently unfold beyond the familiar confines of home and school.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:15