Spring in My Hometown

A reevaluation of Spring In My Hometown (???? ??), Lee Kwang-mo’s poignant exploration of childhood in wartime

The inaugural volume of the Cinemas of Asia series, this book offers a fresh perspective on South Korean director Lee Kwang-mo’s 1998 film Spring in My Hometown (???? ??). Written and directed by Lee, the intensely personal film tells the story of his grandfather’s relationship with his ten-year-old father during the Korean War. This volume examines the industrial context in which Lee attempted to bring his film into production, the cinematic cycle from which it emerged, the unique style that captivated festival juries and audiences, and the critical reception that challenged and inspired critics but divided audiences. Jackson’s book offers a rare, historical insight into an important Asian cinematic industry on the verge of commercial transformation at the end of the last century. Cinemas of Asia is the first series dedicated to the cinemas of South, Southeast, East, Central Asia, and global Asian diasporas. Each volume provides a critical analysis and interpretation of a notable film from Asian cinema and consists of thematic chapters, accessible writing, and screenshots and illustrations. Authors analyze each film from a variety of angles, including film, literary, historical, gender, post-/decolonial studies, and each volume is accessibly written, informative, and appeals to academics, students, cinephiles, and non-experts alike.