Die koreanische Hochzeitstruhe

Accordingtotradition,aKoreangroomoffersanelaborateweddingchesttohisbride'sparents.Dressedintraditionalgarb,hecarriesitsmeticulouslylayeredtreasures,eachoneprescribedbycenturies-oldcustom,strappedtohisbackallthewaytotheirdoor.VenerablefilmmakerUlrikeOttingerdelicatelyunpackstheornateritualsandcomplexmoresoftheKoreanweddingrite.Whileclearlyreverentofthepast,Koreaalsohasapervasivemodernweddingindustry,whichamplifiesthedriveforeverythingtobepictureperfect,downtothelasthighlycodifieddetail.ThetraditionalPeBaekceremony,whichseesthenewlymarriedcouplereceivetheirparents,isnowawkwardly,andratherhilariously,runbyweddingassistantswhophysicallyliftrelativesintoposition.Likeapoliteguest,however,Ottingerneverinterrupts,allowingherpoeticimagestospeakforthemselvesasoldandnewKoreamarryinthisfascinatingculturalportrait.