Treeless Mountain

There are some images that emphasise huge cultural divides and the sight of impaled still-living grasshoppers being, in effect, roasted alive is one of them (actually more like four of five of them) These delicacies are a money-making scheme to enable young Jin and Bin to fill the large pink piggy bank given to them by their mother. She tells them that by the time it's full she will have returned to them. Little Bin briefly wonders whether the grasshoppers are in pain but the overwhelming desire to fill Piggy and magically bring their mother back is the overriding concern. The casual callousness of the children pales into insignificance compared to the neglectful behaviour of most of the adults. The mother abruptly uproots them from home and school and leaves them with her sister-in-law, Big Aunt, while she goes off to find their father. Big Aunt is far from maternal and it becomes clear that she drinks too much. The hungry children clamour for food (occasionally fed by the kindly woman next door, whose retarded son plays with Bin), don't go to school and seemingly wear the same clothes every day. Delightedly Bin discovers the miracle of receiving change in a shop and the girls eagerly exchange large coins for lots of small ones. Piggy is full but the mother doesn't return. The simple shots of the sisters, Jin clutching Piggy, waiting at the bus stop and scanning every passenger amply convey the descent from hope to disappointment. Big Aunt eventually shows them the letter from their mother, saying that she can't afford to support them. Another upheaval follows, to their grandparents' farm. Despite the hard life and the apparent reluctance of the grandfather, this is ironically the place where they are happiest and cared for the most. Granny takes an interest in them, involves them with her work and ensures they are fed. The children meanwhile offer up the precious piggy bank so she can replace her delapidated shoes. The light softens and the images are suffused with a warm hue by the end. It's unclear what the future holds but the children have shown themselves to be resilient in the fact of adversity.