In this week’s review, we bring you a touching story about the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter—one that transcends even death. Let’s dive into the heartwarming 2023 production, ‘Our Season.’
Written by Yoo Young-ah and directed by Yook Sang-hyo, ‘Our Season’ is a poignant tale of healing and reconciliation, centring on Park Bok-ja, a mother who has passed away, and her daughter Bang Jin-joo. Through food, memories, and love, they find a way to reconnect.
A Holiday from Heaven
Park Bok-ja, portrayed by the incredible Kim Hae-sook, is given a special holiday—a rare three-day return to earth from heaven. Wasting no time, Bok-ja visits the house where she once lived and is surprised to find her daughter, Jin-joo (played by Shin Min-a), living an entirely different life than she expected.
Jin-joo, once a professor at a prestigious university in the USA, has left behind her successful career to move to the countryside. She now runs a quaint restaurant, serving just one main dish a day. Her decision baffles Bok-ja, but as she observes Jin-joo from the sidelines during her short stay, she discovers that her daughter is using her cooking as a way to revive her mother’s recipes and heal the emotional void her passing left behind.
Revisiting the Past
Bok-ja’s time on earth also leads her to confront the impact of her choices as a mother. Through quiet moments and memories, she learns about the depth of Jin-joo’s struggles—how she battled depression and the pain of growing up estranged from her mother after being left in her uncle’s care at a young age. Their life together had been fraught with hardship, marked by economic struggles and an emotional distance neither fully bridged while Bok-ja was alive.
Despite these painful memories, Bok-ja begins to see the ways in which Jin-joo is honoring her legacy through her cooking and the effort to reconnect with her mother’s spirit. Jin-joo, in turn, finds comfort in the recipes that now hold not just flavor but pieces of her mother’s love.
Healing Through Food
At its core, ‘Our Season’ is about healing—both for the living and the departed. Through Jin-joo’s culinary journey and Bok-ja’s brief return to earth, the film explores themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and finding peace with what cannot be undone. The shared moments, even if fleeting, remind us of the powerful connections that live on between mothers and daughters.
Shin Min-a and Kim Hae-sook deliver breathtaking performances, portraying their characters with such sincerity that their journey feels deeply personal and universally relatable.
If you’re a fan of heartfelt storytelling with a focus on family, food, and healing, ‘Our Season’ is a must-watch. Check the trailer below!
