야행 (1977) / Night Journey – Korean Movie Review and Synopsis
“Night Journey (야행),” directed by the acclaimed Kim Soo-yong, is a 1977 Korean drama that dives deep into the emotional dissonance of modern relationships in post-war Korea. The film centers around a middle-aged woman trapped in a sterile, loveless marriage to a successful but emotionally distant husband. Her life is dictated by societal expectations and the cold rhythm of routine, until one fateful night ignites a silent rebellion within her.
Lonely and searching for meaning, she enters into a quiet, forbidden affair with a younger man. Unlike her husband, he offers her tenderness and an escape from her inner desolation. Their meetings, cloaked in night’s anonymity, represent her only moments of vulnerability and truth. However, as reality begins to creep into their stolen nights, she is forced to confront the consequences of her desires—caught between guilt, love, and the burden of tradition.
“Night Journey” explores the tension between societal duty and personal freedom, painting a melancholic portrait of a woman torn between repression and self-liberation. It is both a psychological character study and a social critique—portraying the unseen struggles of women in a rapidly modernizing but still conservative Korea.
With its haunting cinematography, restrained dialogue, and slow-burning emotional weight, the film remains a q
