This week’s review is about a 2017 indie film, with a lot of soul and a unique storyline. Let’s chat about ‘Microhabitat’ (aka. ‘A Little Princess’).
Written and directed by Jeon Go-Woon, ‘Microhabitat’ narrates the story of a woman who is happy with her simple lifestyle, even though all her closest friends are in completely different chapters in their lives. She accepts them as they are, however, her friends don’t think of her the same way.
Mi-So (Esom) is our main girl and she works as a housekeeper, she works to do the things she loves, drinking whisky and smoking cigarettes. However life challenges her lifestyle when the price of cigarettes rises along with her rent. Her current work situation means she has to sacrifice something from her expenses and she decides to move out from her place.
Mi-So decides to make a list of her old bandmates who were really close friends with her, and decides to visit them and stay with them while trying to save money and sort out her situation.
As she visits her friends, she discovers how much they have all changed, some of them have a completely new life and a family, while others live comfortably but have emotional issues.
She tries to comfort them and be a good friend while staying with them, but unfortunately she isn’t able to remain with one of them due to their family or life issues, or her boyfriend not being comfortable with her sharing with other men.
As she passes each one of her friends’ houses, they all remember the good memories of their youth, and after a sad incident they are finally all reunited, but Mi-So doesn’t go.
Defying social standards
‘Microhabitat’ is a candid movie that shows a different perspective in life. Mi-So as a character was happy with her life and just wanted to be able to enjoy the things she liked the most.
She doesn’t follow the same structure and lifestyle her friends have, but she is happy the way she lives and she is also happy for her friends, but it was interesting seeing the contrast of her good feelings toward them with their opinions about the life she carried.
Her friendship was somehow unconditional, and based on their good memories. She thought she had a place to go to, but she also experienced the reality of how life changes people and their feelings.
This movie is heartwarming, funny at times, and absolutely unexpected, definitely an easy watch that will have you rethinking life and happiness. Watch the trailer below.
