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Korean auteur Hong Sang Soo adds a new chapter to his impressive body of work, taking a gently delightful new perspective on themes dear to his poetics.

This is a story of Ihashi Satoru - an ambitious young man whose plans of becoming a first-rate chef. His goal is hindered by the hard-nosed traditionalists of Restaurant Fujimura. Based on a popular manga by the same name.

The story takes place in the late 18th century of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), during the last years of King Yeongjo’s reign. Ice is a commodity more valuable than gold. Blocks of it are harvested from frozen rivers in winter, put in royal storage and distributed or sold throughout the year for general consumption. When corrupt officials conspire to form a monopoly and fix its price, a gang of 11 professionals is formed to stop the scheme — and to do that they must make all the royal ice blocks in five storage rooms disappear for a night.