The Russian Novel (러시안 소설)

When he passes me, I cannot see him;

when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. (Job 8:14)

A man was fishing all night.

He kept catching and releasing the fish.

Another man asked why he kept doing it.

He answered,

"I'm looking for the damn fish I almost caught yesterday."

Another fisherman thought about the fish being caught and released.

He wondered if any of them was the one the man almost caught.

He decided to stop chasing after his wife.

You read it. Say something.

I like the beginning

and the ending.

That's it?

Interesting

but not well-written.

Another fisherman told Sinhyo unbelievable things about his runaway wife.

The man didn't trust him, but he wanted a listening ear.

Luckily, Sinhyo wanted to listen, ready to believe anything.

Jungsuk said strangers told him about his wife's real identity.

It was like a huge secret at first but didn't matter now.

She was an 'Avian Kind', which went extinct a million years ago.

Sinhyo wasn't surprised and kept listening.

You only went fishing, right?

You didn't tell uncle about me not being at the carpenter's shop?

Anybody come to the shop,

looking for my wife?

Who else but you?

Hello?

Father's not home.

He doesn't read just anything.

How else should I call it then?

Why are you cussing?

Can you lend me a book?

What kind?

Dad told me to ask you.

He said smart people know everything.

Garim's dad was father's student.

After his divorce, he came to live at 'Wuyeonje'.

Father got him a teaching job but he could never stick to anything.

Weird, long names.

Something "ski" and "skaya".

It's about a father and son loving the same woman.

It's good.

So complicated.

The characters are like you.

Slow, long, complicated...

You're like a Russian novel.

Did you show him my manuscript?

You're rude, like on the phone.

Don't send it to him.

He doesn't like getting random stuff.

Think you know all about him?

I know him better than you.

Is it so hard to ask him to read it?

It just won't happen that way.

Don't you get it?

No other writers could understand me except your dad, Gijin Kim.

I'm not trying to prove anything

but if he reads it, I'd be happy to die today.

Then write it again and send it.

He wouldn't read a line of your poor writing now.

I'm not kidding.

Do it again and send it.

Tell me how.

The plot could be interesting

but the writing itself is terrible.

I'm not a writer but shouldn't writing be properly clothed?

I... never studied,

never went to school.

Teach me.

He came with a revised script every week

and went home with assignments,

like a good student.

I wasn't bold enough to ignore my dad's literature.

So I created a Drama Society.

We performed 2 or 3 times a year in front of friends.

So fucking awkward.

Jehye was the only one who wasn't a friend.

She started revising scripts and memorized lines with us.

She asked questions.

Perhaps, she didn't notice.

Unlike her, we were trying to escape reality.

Why do you never perform your dad's work?

She always asked questions and never talked about herself.

Why the same play all year around?

How about posters?

I only knew her age,

that her major was nursing and that her father is a pastor.

Why do we drink while talking about others?

When I asked her a question,

she would simply stare back with an open look.

What's wrong with you?

Want a fight, asshole?

Fuck! I can't beat you!

Stop it!

Fucking nerds.

Don't hit me!

Even my father never lays his hand on me.

Stop! What's wrong?

The fucker insulted Gijin Kim.

"His philosophy reflects the shortcomings of our time."

How is that an insult?

I can't voice my own view?

If you want to understand, study!

Asshole!

Stop it!

Go inside.

All you read is his works.

That's the extent of your understanding, moron.

Everyone likes his works.

Tell Sunghwan I'm off.

I've read it all, your writing.

Which ones?

All of them.

"Hammer", "Whispers in the Ear", "Potion of a Thousand Years".

Do you want to read my other stuff?

It was her first time to express her view.

A rare thing. She realized it as it was happening.

He took her to the carpenter's shop.

It was cold and far,

so when they arrived, they were sober.

I can write all night like this.

I can't sit at the desk after working all day.

You live here?

My uncle sent me here.

I have to earn a living.

I never read other novels besides Mr. Kim's.

I did check out other books,

but I couldn't finish them unlike Mr. Kim's.

Am I too dumb to write?

You're brilliant.

To me... you're a genius.

Sinhyo asked me to introduce other writers besides my dad.

I recommended those staying at 'Wuyeonje'.

He read Garim's father's works and asked to meet him.

Been waiting for us?

It was both hard and easy to read her.

She was expressionless,

but somehow her eyes were so expressive.

I learned that you can express a lot without saying or doing much.

When we went to catch the bus, she mumbled, "There is a shortcut."

Without waiting for us, she went ahead to the Bamboo Forest.

We are the only ones allowed to trespass.

Who's "we"?

People at 'Wuyeonje'.

Anybody live there?

A shaman used to.

Garim told us about the shaman and about her potion.

She said the shaman's father's father and his father's father made the potion

that fakes death and raises one 3 days later.

Grind, mix and boil it.

The potion can fake death for 3 days.

I heard it took more than 1,000 years to make it.

The shaman made it?

You fall for such stories?

You made it up?

I took the bus back.

Kyungmi Lee made her debut when she was 19.

She was a shoe factory worker.

It was the first time for Gijin Kim to let a young,

female writer to stay at 'Wuyeonje '.

She didn't talk to us on the way back.

She was different with the writers at 'Wuyeonje '.

She wasn't talkative, but by simply answering questions,

she dominated discussions.

How dare he call it trash cos it's not about "the suffering of our times"?

Everyone's entitled to their view but

why did he say it after being on the judge panel?

He's making a point that the book's success is thanks to him. Pathetic.

They seemed to be discussing mundane stuff

but their talks were filled with social views

- and literary philosophy. - He said I lost my objectivity.

I said it depends on one's mark in life.

I never considered myself special.

Kyungmi told her life stories in relation to her book;

her labor union involvement and the attempted rape by her step-dad.

She was serene and persuasive, like her books.

Are you a writer?

Only writers who have published are allowed here.

I'm just here with a friend.

I could tell.

You're so young, but talented.

I didn't go to school properly.

Show me your works.

They're available at the bookstore.

I'm also a writer.

I'm curious how you did it, being so young.

I didn't get a good education.

I want to learn but don't know where to begin,

who to ask.

Everyone's so smart.

It's hard to follow what they are saying.

Want to look at my writing?

Next morning,

father called and told me to fetch a package from the post office.

I left early.

I thought others were asleep.

Off to school?

On vacation.