Watch Claire's Camera

Claire's Camera is a 2017 movie directed by Hong Sang-soo, the South Korean filmmaker famous for his naturalistic yet surreal approach to storytelling. Starring Isabelle Huppert, Kim Min-hee, and Mi-hee Chang, the movie revolves around the relationship between a French woman named Claire and a Korean woman named Man-hee who works as a tourist guide in Cannes.

At the beginning of the movie, Man-hee is fired from her job for apparently stealing a watch from one of her clients. Devastated and confused, she wanders around Cannes, hoping to find someone who would believe her story and help her clear her name. That's when she meets Claire, a cheerful and curious woman who is visiting the city to attend the Cannes Film Festival. After a brief conversation, Claire offers to take pictures of Man-hee and the places she visits, hoping to cheer her up and bring some light to her troubled situation.

As Claire and Man-hee explore the city, they encounter various people and situations, each of which is captured by Claire's camera. They have funny and insightful conversations about life, love, and cinema, revealing their individual perspectives and quirks. Meanwhile, in a parallel storyline, we see another group of people, including a film director named So Wansoo (played by Jung Jin-young) and his mistress Kim Jeon-sook (played by Kim Sae-byuk), who are attending the festival and interacting with each other in various ways.

Throughout the movie, Hong Sang-soo plays with the themes of perception and reality, as each character sees and understands things differently. Claire's camera becomes a metaphor for this concept, as it captures moments, expressions, and emotions that are subjective and fleeting. The editing and pacing of the movie are also unique and unconventional, with some scenes repeating with slight variations, creating a sense of deja vu and ambiguity.

What makes Claire's Camera such an enjoyable and engaging movie is the excellent performances of the cast, especially Isabelle Huppert and Kim Min-hee. Huppert's Claire is a charming and enigmatic character who fascinates and surprises us with her insights and actions. Kim's Man-hee is a vulnerable yet strong-willed woman who elicits our sympathy and admiration. The chemistry between the two actresses is palpable and delightful, as they share moments of intimacy and humor.

Another aspect of the movie that stands out is its beautiful cinematography, shot in Cannes during the actual festival. The colors, lights, and landscapes of the city are portrayed in a vivid and poetic manner, adding to the dreamlike quality of the movie. The soundtrack, as well, is a mix of classical and contemporary music that complements the movie's atmosphere and mood.

In conclusion, Claire's Camera is a charming, insightful, and visually stunning movie that showcases the talents of its director, cast, and crew. It's a movie that rewards multiple viewings, as it unfolds its layers and nuances with each watching. Its themes of perception and reality, friendship and love, and cinema and art make it a memorable and meaningful addition to the filmography of Hong Sang-soo, one of the most celebrated and innovative filmmakers of our time.

Claire's Camera is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 80.