A Greek teacher who is losing his sight and has also lost the love of his life, a deaf woman. A woman who has lost the ability to speak and also her mother and the custody of her son. Through the unfolding story of their lives and pains, both of them trapped in silence, they will slowly make eye contact during Greek lessons and the women will then help the man when he is injured. The narrative of this story is not easy, I spent time waiting for everything to tie itself together, but the writing remains fragmented all through. I feel this mirrors the characters,… broken, hesitant, navigating the world through touch, memory, and incomplete communication. A very touching moment occurs when the woman writes letters in the man’s hand, to make herself understood. A beautiful reflection on loss and resilience.
“Her son was six.
For once it was a leisurely Sunday morning, and, after an aimless conversation, she suggested to him that they come up with names for themselves based on what natural thing they most resembled. Her son liked the idea, claimed ‘Sparkling Forest’ for himself, then named her too. Decisively, as though it fitted her exactly.
‘Thickly Falling Snow’s Sorrow.’
‘What?’
‘That’s your name, Mum.’
Not knowing what to say, she peered into his clear eyes.”
Original title : 희랍어 시간 / huiribeo sigan
Translated from Korean