Told in reverse chronological order, Lee’s sophomore feature begins with middle-aged Yong-ho on the verge of suicide by train. As he stands on the tracks, the previous two decades of his life—from tender young love to the cynicism of middle age—flash before his eyes in chapters. The events of his life correspond with volatile years in South Korea, marked by economic instability and protests against the military, connecting one man’s personal disappointments with the country’s transformative history during the late 20th century.