Shim EunKyung’s ‘Travel and Days’: A Healing Japanese Film

The highly anticipated Japanese film ‘Travel and Days’, starring celebrated actress Shim EunKyung, is set to release on December 10, 2025. This award-winning healing drama, directed by Miyake Sho, offers a profound look at overcoming creative and personal struggles through the restorative power of travel. The film, which already clinched the prestigious Golden Leopard award at the 78th Locarno International Film Festival, follows a Korean screenwriter on a transformative journey through the serene landscapes of Japan.

A Journey of Healing and Creative Renewal

The narrative of ‘Travel and Days’ unfolds in two distinct parts, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. The first part introduces a film-within-a-film, a story penned by the protagonist about a man and woman who meet by the sea. This sets the stage for the main plot, which delves into the screenwriter’s own life.

The Protagonist’s Struggle in This Healing Drama

Shim EunKyung portrays Lee, a Korean screenwriter who finds herself at a creative impasse. Feeling overwhelmed by a lack of talent and a formidable creative block, she embarks on a solo journey in the winter of 2025 to a remote, snowy region of Japan, often referred to as the “snow country.” Her trip is a desperate search for inspiration and a way to break through the walls she feels closing in around her.

Surreal Encounters in the Snow Country

During her travels, Lee finds lodging at an old, secluded inn nestled in the mountains. There, she meets the enigmatic owner, Benzo, played by Tsutsumi Shinichi. Their interactions form the heart of the film’s healing process. Through a series of surreal, dream-like experiences—such as venturing out to catch carp in the heavy snow—Lee begins to shed her self-doubt. These non-ordinary encounters help her find a sense of renewal and a new beginning, making this a standout Japanese film about personal growth.

Miyake Sho’s Vision and Shim EunKyung’s Performance

Director Miyake Sho crafts a unique cinematic experience that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. His deliberate choices in casting and narrative style elevate the film beyond a simple story of travel.

A Unique Narrative and Sensory Experience

The film’s structure intentionally blurs reality with fantasy, reflecting Lee’s internal transformation. This is enhanced by a rich, sensory-focused direction. The movie contrasts the auditory textures of summer waves from Lee’s script with the biting winter wind of her reality. Complemented by an orchestral score, this creates an immersive, almost ASMR-like atmosphere that draws the audience deep into Lee’s journey. This movie review highlights the film’s masterful ability to convey emotion through sound and sight.

The Significance of Shim EunKyung’s Casting

A key element of the film is the casting of Shim EunKyung. Director Miyake Sho specifically altered the protagonist from a Japanese man in the original concept to a Korean woman to cast the actress. Her nuanced performance, delivered in both Japanese and Korean (for narration), adds a profound layer to the theme of being an “outsider” or a “stranger” in a foreign land. This choice underscores the universal nature of creative struggle and the search for one’s place in the world, making ‘Travel and Days’ a must-watch healing drama.

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