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Treeless Mountain
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
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  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: G. Allen Johnson
    100
    A minimalist masterpiece.
  2. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    100
    In the end, this melancholy, inspiriting movie achieves a breathtaking emotional harmoniousness.
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    90
    Treeless Mountain is skillfully unsentimental--because of, but also despite, the presence of two irresistible, unself-conscious performers in virtually every scene.
  4. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Bruce Eder
    88
    The movie is thoroughly engrossing from the opening frame to the end credits, and it's a beautiful viewing experience.
  5. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    88
    Feels both masterful and hesitant - it's the work of a born filmmaker who's still not quite sure what she wants to say.
  6. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Noel Murray
    83
    At times, Treeless Mountain almost feels like a fairy tale--but without the magic.
  7. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    80
    Both lovely and wrenching, So Yong Kim's intimate drama feels so honest, it's often difficult to watch.
  8. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    80
    It's in this final chapter that the director states his message, which is handled so lightly, almost incidentally, you might miss it. But it's a profound one. For what the girls learn is that the way to get what they want -- no, need -- isn't by hoarding something, but by letting go.
  9. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    75
    With Treeless Mountain, Kim establishes herself as a first-class filmmaker.
  10. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Kerr
    70
    Without wallowing in sentimentality or judging any of her characters, Kim has drawn a mature portrait of an elementary school girl old before her time and a loss of childhood that rings true on every level.
  11. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    70
    Delicate, wrenching, occasionally vexing.
  12. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Ella Taylor
    70
    Kim is deft and sensitive with her tiny co-stars, but Treeless Mountain lacks the freshness and surprise of "In Between Days."
  13. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    50
    The problem with this American indie filmed in Korea is that, despite the captivating faces and sad predicament of these little girls, nothing much happens.
  14. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    50
    The problem is that while the children are lovely because they are children, there is nothing inherently interesting about them or their lives.
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. PabloL
    8
    Why do critics think that something must happen for a film to be good? This is a wonderful film, the action is on the faces and understanding of the two little girls, the message is almost Zen in its minimalism.… Full Review »
  2. RonG
    5
    Great acting but doesn't gp anywhere.
  3. KevinV
    6
    Treeless Mountain is a quietly adorable little movie in which nothing much happens. It's filmed from the perspective of two little girls whose mother has left them, and I found the portrayal quite convincing. The film bogs down towards the end, but the situation, acting, and cinematography were compelling enough to carry through the whole movie.… Full Review »
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