Hong Sang-soo's "Introduction" begins with a prayer, a man's private plea for a second chance from God. We never learn exactly what's troubling him or if God ever comes through. Really, we don't learn much about this particular character (he's played by Kim Young-ho) beyond the fact that he's overworked and easily distracted for reasons that thwart our understanding, if not our compassion. He may be an acupuncturist, but he isn't — sorry — the point of this story.
Teasing out the point, as admirers of this prolific South Korean filmmaker will know, is part of the fun. And there is reliable fun to be had — pleasure might be a better word — in Hong's well-traveled world of awkward encounters, amusing conversations and pervasive romantic melancholy. "Introduction," which was shot (by Hong himself) in black-and-white and lasts a smooth 66 minutes, is another of the writer-director's sharp, elegant miniatures. (Some recent ones include "Grass" and "Claire's Camera.") You could call them slices of life were it not for Hong's consummate slyness, the games he likes to play with the possibilities of time, duration, repetition and even alternate realities. "Introduction's" economy is deceptive, its staying power surprising.
The story unfolds in three chapters, each featuring the acupuncturist's son, Young-ho (Shin Seok-ho), an earnest, good-natured young man whose handsomeness people make a habit of pointing out. The first chapter, set amid lovely flurries of snow, sees Young-ho making a rare trip to his father's office, where their scheduled visit is delayed by the unexpected arrival of a famous actor and family friend (Gi Ju-bong). The second chapter finds Young-ho pulling off an unexpected arrival of his own, hopping on a plane and surprising his girlfriend, Ju-won (Park Mi-so), while she's on holiday with her mother (Seo Young-hwa) in Berlin. The mother isn't thrilled.
