{
  "id": 13037828,
  "title": "Ambience takes center stage at BIFF opener 'The Table: Day and Night'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/ambience-takes-center-stage-at-biff-opener-the-table-day-and-night",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T05:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/20261009/ambience-takes-center-stage-at-biff-opener-the-table-day-and-night"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The opening film of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) this year was The Table: Day and Night, directed by Kim Jong-kwan. The romantic anthology film highlights the beauty of fleeting moments in life, focusing on conversations between four different couples who visit a cafe throughout summer and autumn. The ensemble cast includes Kim Min-ha, Shim Eun-kyung, Han Sun-hwa, and Pachinko star Kim Jong-kwan, with the latter playing Yoo-jin, a young woman gifted a broken watch by a relative.\n\nThe film masterfully captures the ambiance of a quiet Seoul neighborhood cafe, spending considerable time on the details - from tables and cups to the diverse portraits of customers. Conversations range from mundane topics like loans to the search for the right person. Notably, a group of lively girls communicate using sign language, indicating their regular presence at the venue.\n\nThe first vignette features Kim Jong-kwan as Yoo-jin, a young woman, and Joo Joong-hyuk as Hyeon-oh, a young man captivated by the intimate world of the cafe. Their story, alongside the others, offers a glimpse into the daily lives and interactions of those who frequent this special place.",
  "summary": "As director Kim Jong-kwan noted, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opening film, \"The Table: Day and Night,\" is dedicated to the beauty of the fleeting little moments in life. The romantic anthology film, starring a solid ensemble of actors including Kim Min-ha, Shim Eun-kyung and Han Sun-hwa, portrays the conversations between four different couples who visit the venue through summer…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"The Table: Day and Night\" opens BIFF as romantic anthology film",
    "Captures ambiance of quiet Seoul cafe through detailed scenes",
    "Features ensemble cast including Kim Jong-kwan as Yoo-jin"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The film's focus on everyday conversations and cafe ambiance reflects a shift in cinematic storytelling towards nuanced, character-driven explorations of ordinary life.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Ambience takes center stage at BIFF opener 'The Table: Day and Night'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/ambience-takes-center-stage-at-biff-opener-the-table-day-and-night-13041368",
        "published": "2026-10-09T05:52:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}