The teaser introduces Im Dong-hwan, a blind painter revered for his uncanny ability to recreate portraits from memory. When he paints his late mother, long-hidden truths unravel as he and his twin father—also a character in the film—begin unlocking a 40-year-old mystery. Scenes shift from muted studio interiors to charged close-ups, painting a cinematic canvas of grief, trauma, and blurred perception. The atmosphere is eerie yet introspective, signaling Yeon’s signature balance of emotional weight with moral ambiguity. ([turn0search13]turn0search13)

The Ugly will world-premiere in TIFF 2025’s Special Presentations section, showcasing Yeon Sang-ho’s transition from kinetic spectacle to meditative human drama.