Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- warm
- witty
- hopeful
- reflective evening
- queer cinema night
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Manok is a lesbian elder whose encounters with young Seoul queers and her rural community shape the central conflict.
Manok leaves Seoul and returns to her rural hometown, where her ex-husband and past hurts await her.
Manok must face her ex-husband, who is now the mayor, combining personal history with local authority.
The hometown becomes the setting where Manok finds new friends and a chance to rewrite her story.
Films like Manok, and why
The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love
shared queer themes, intergenerational conflict, and compassionate character-driven drama
The Farewell
shared rural setting, unresolved personal history, and warm dramedy tone
Saving Face
shared LGBTQ+ identity, family tension, and bittersweet emotional realism
Movie Details
- Director
- Lee Yu-jin
- Release Date
- 2026-06-10
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1)
Cast
- Yang Mal-bok
- Sung Jae-yun
- Park Wan-kyu
- Kim Jung-young
- Sak-ja
- Kim Hyun
- Shin Ji-i
- Park Seoung-tae
- Hwang Soon-mi
- Yoo Byung-sun
Common questions
- What is Manok about?
- A lesbian elder returns from Seoul to her rural hometown, where old wounds, local power, and unexpected friendships open a path toward self-reinvention.
- What is Manok like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Manok as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Manok violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Manok.
- Which films are like Manok?
- Films with a similar feel include The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, The Farewell, and Saving Face.
- How long is Manok?
- Manok runs 109 minutes.
