by JOANNE LATIMER

What a delight to come upon a simple antidote to the current crop of big-budget costume dramas and self-referential Hollywood comedies. The Way Home couldn’t be a more pleasing tonic. It’s an uncluttered tale about a seven-year-old Korean boy who learns to love his grandmother. That’s it.

Did I mention that the grandma’s mute? And living in near primitive conditions in the countryside? Her grandson, Sang-Woo (Seung-Ho Yoo) is a toxic little brat from the city who cares only for his Gameboy and junk food. He’s forced to go live in granny’s house while his negligent mother drags herself through Seoul to find work.

It becomes shockingly clear that Sang-Woo was taught neither manners nor morals. He isn’t happy about the outhouse, the lack of electricity and non-existent processed food. His reactions to granny’s ancient ways are beyond rude. The kid assaults her. She’s about 100 years old and stooped completely over from carrying buckets of water, yet her vile little grandson calls her names, steals her hairpin, pushes her and hides her shoes. He doesn’t offer to help with the chores and he mocks her disabilities.

Can you imagine what happens when the batteries die in his Gameboy? It ain’t pretty. But his grandmother’s patience and unconditional love start to make an impression on Sang-Woo. Director Jeong-Hyang Lee isn’t very subtle about transforming the bad-seed kid into a loving grandchild, but the scenes are inventive and unexpected, involving Kentucky Fried Chicken, constipation, a disastrous haircut and a mad cow.

The Way Home is an anthem to keeping the story small. Set near a nameless Korean village, the shots are full of poise and beauty. Sang-Woo’s callous behaviour is all the more shocking when unleashed in this setting. Granny sets out to civilize her grandchild with buckets of love and it works—no lectures, no time-outs. Lee, who also directed the award-winning Art Museum by the Zoo, makes her point clearly—that patience and time are an ancient cure-all. :

The Way Home opens Friday, Jan. 17

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