“A Traveler's Needs” follows a French teacher in South Korea   

The prolific South Korean writer/director Hong Sang-soo remains true to form in "A Traveler's Needs." As characteristic of his dozens of earlier films, a minimalist narrative unfolds as a limited number of characters talk, drink, listen to and play music meandering through their ordinary lives. And yet, almost inadvertently it seems, they reveal a great deal about themselves, notably insecurities.

Distinguishing this drama, the main characters is Iris, a French woman, presented with her inimitable style by Isabelle Huppert, a third collaboration with Hong. A visitor to South Korea, she teaches French in a Seoul neighborhood, though, curiously, she and her two women students speak English, the language they more comfortably share. Iris invents her unorthodox lessons on the fly. One questions her unconventional approach, to no avail.

Deftly, with each lesson and after, she calmly pushes her students to identify and probe their emotions, asking, "What did you really feel inside?" Meantime, Iris praises the drink makegeolli, which she admits to excessively indulging in, and poetry, notably one poem by Yun Dongju beautifully inscribed on a memorial boulder. This significant inclusion acknowledges a lyrical Korean poet who celebrated Korean independence and died at 28 in prison in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1945. Iris knows nothing about him but notes the difficulty of translating one language to another. Throughout, the vibrant green of Iris' sweater and surrounding foliage animates leisurely scenes.

Most important in the bare bones development of Iris' relationships is Inguk, with whom she lives and whose mother considers the mysterious Iris an opportunistic fraud, which she may be. Inguk and his mother's conversation explores weighty ideas: sincerity, diligence, obsession and adherence to facts. As presented, in contrast to films of fast-paced action and sensationalized scenes, Hong invites audiences to relax into this world, not always an easy thing in its contrast to most American fare. To encourage viewers involvement, as usual, Hong's stationary camera (which he operates) catches conversations without edits (he is also the editor), engaging viewers in the space.

While the lives captured may appear random and superficial, Hong effects a poignant examination of values and behavior. Awarded the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at last year's Berlin International Film Festival, in English, French and Korean with English subtitles, "A Traveler's Needs" screens at Webster University’s Winifred Moore auditorium Friday, December 20, through Sunday, December 22, at 7:00 each of those evenings. For more information, you may visit the film series website at: Webster.edu/filmseries.