Empathy for the "other" in the films of Yim Soon-rye from the perspective of auteur theory

Yim Soon-rye is a director with a distinct thematic awareness and vivid visual expression, often hailed as the most representative female director in South Korea. Her control over visual treatment and narrative, along with the era-specific and realistic significance displayed in her works, led the "Korean Film Calendar" to note that her "film world is not confined to the term 'female'". Throughout Yim Soon-rye's films, there is a profound empathy for the "other" in society and a hopeful anticipation for the "other's" aspirations, radiating the brilliance of warm realism. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis and interpretation of the outstanding South Korean female director Yim Soon-rye from the perspective of auteur theory. It examines three aspects: the gaze on the "other" from her life experiences, the portrayal of the "other" in her visual works, and the care for the "other" in her creative style.