Program Note
Judith works as an emergency doctor in Berlin, travels with her husband to a remote village in Austria to inspect a house she inherited from her biological father. Intending to sell it off quickly, she finds herself staying longer than expected, gradually uncovering fragmented memories and the unsettling truths of the strange local community.
Starting from a familiar setup - an insular village community exerting pressure on an outsider - Welcome Home Baby evokes a modern reinterpretation of The Stepford Wives (1975). Although the village may appear to be matriarchal, it is in fact ruled by outdated customs, with a constant sense of mystery and dread. By portraying a bleak society that exploits individuals by demanding their assimilation and even controlling childbirth to meet communal expectations, the film goes beyond the framework of a typical thriller. It explores the clash between individuality and collectivism from a distinctly female perspective. (CHO Jaewhee)