CONTENT ADVISORY
sexist language/situations
South Korea2025122 minKorean with English subtitlesCanadian Premiere2slgbtq+, Available Online
Pride celebrations are coming up, and Manok, the feisty owner of a venerable lesbian bar in Seoul, is preparing for the annual party. Except the younger organizers want a new vibe, leaving Manok’s bar on the fringes. Irritated at her obsolescence, Manok closes the bar out of spite and moves back to her rural hometown with a fresh start on her mind. But is that possible in a town run by her ex-husband? If anybody can do it, Manok can.
Featuring an endearing ensemble of country characters led by Mal-bok Yang as Manok, Manok is a chaotic fish-out-of-water comedy with musical numbers, political campaigns, and a little romance. As zany as it sounds, it never strays from its heartfelt journey of redefining oneself through life’s challenges, and of finding (and keeping) friends and lovers along the way.
– Aram Siu Wai Collier
Mal-bok Yang, Jae-yun Sung, Wan-kyu Park
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, 2025
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, 2025
AWARDS
Korean Fantastic Audience Award, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, 2025
Yu-jin Lee
Born in 1991, Yu-jin Lee studied film at the Korea National University of Arts. Lee has won awards for her various short films at the Asiana International Short Film Festival and Jeju Women’s Film Festival. She has consistently explored comedy and drama genres, with Manok marking her feature debut.
8 Nov, 2025 3:30 pm
TIFF Lightbox C4PG
CONTENT ADVISORY
sexist language/situations
IN PERSON & ONLINE ACCESSIBILITY
IN PERSON & ONLINE: This film is being presented with English subtitles for all spoken dialogue (no sound cues indicated).
Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this screening – click below to book accessible seats.
Join us for a Q&A immediately after the screening with director Yu-jin Lee.
We're welcoming back online screenings to the 29th edition of Reel Asian! This year, our virtual lineup brings the festival experience to your home with features and shorts. Grab your popcorn and enjoy cinema on your terms with flexible digital passes or individual feature tickets!
From augmented reality projects reactivating rural Chinese areas to virtual reality works shaping collective memory, this roundtable opens a dialogue on how emerging media can tell local stories and convey lived experiences.
The 29th edition of Reel Asian is about to unfold! Celebrate with us at Tha Phae Tavern!
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from Asia and the Asian diaspora. Works include films and videos by artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world. As Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, Reel Asian provides a public forum for Asian media artists and their work, and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada.
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