Program Note
His dream was simply ordinary. To live in a comfortable apartment, waking up to a happy morning with his loved one. However, as he roams around a casino located in Gangwon Province, everything he had crumbles. Young-gil, who dreamed of a happy future with Harim, finds himself trapped in the temptations of the casino, sinking into an abyss with no bottom. He can’t escape the allure of the casino, losing his way in an unpredictable swamp.
Young-gil, who used to rely on his truck for his living, ends up pawning it, betting with the borrowed money from Harim’s mother instead of regaining the truck. He even spends the meager amount given by the village elder for the transport fare to the casino. His actions go beyond recklessness and into despair. Despite having several chances to escape the quagmire of misfortune, and encountering kindness from others, Young-gil ultimately fails to save himself. His image reflects a society where “money” has become of absolute value, portraying a risky and heartbreaking self-portrait. It feels even more precarious and poignant. (MO Eun-young)