the colors we don't name | michaeng

Korea, early 20th century, during the Japanese occupation. Son Chaeyoung, a young painter from Seoul, is sent to a secluded estate on Jeju Island to secretly paint the portrait of Myoui Mina a reserved young woman of Japanese descent raised in Korea. Mina is to be married off to a wealthy man in Tokyo, and the portrait is meant to be sent ahead as part of the arranged match.

Except Mina refuses to pose. She understands exactly what the painting symbolizes : the end of her freedom. Disguised as a companion, Chaeyoung begins to observe Mina in silence, studying her movements and expressions by day, and painting her from memory at night.