The Preparation (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A seriously ill mother tries to prepare her dependent son for life without her, while he struggles to accept her coming death.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Life of Daily Care

Ae-soon handles In-gyu's everyday needs, taking him along to work. He resists her instructions and longs to live independently.

Key Events

• Ae-soon Cares for In-gyu — Ae-soon wakes In-gyu and helps him with everyday tasks. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Their home
• Preparing His Meals — Ae-soon prepares meals for In-gyu as part of his daily care. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Their home
• Helping Him Dress — Ae-soon helps In-gyu get dressed for the day. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Their home
• Taking Him to Work — Ae-soon takes In-gyu with her when she goes to work. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Ae-soon's workplace
• In-gyu Resists Instructions — In-gyu often resists Ae-soon's instructions and wants to live on his own. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu

Teaching for an Uncertain Future

After learning she is seriously ill and needs an operation, Ae-soon begins preparing In-gyu to manage without her. She teaches him household tasks and seeks practical-skills support.

Key Events

• In-gyu Resists Instructions — In-gyu often resists Ae-soon's instructions and wants to live on his own. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu
• Ae-soon Learns She Is Ill — Ae-soon learns that she is seriously ill and needs an operation. Characters: Ae-soon
• Preparing In-gyu for Independence — Ae-soon starts trying to teach In-gyu to manage without her. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Their home
• Learning to Cook — Ae-soon asks In-gyu to cook and shows him how to make a fried egg. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Their home
• Practicing Household Tasks — Ae-soon asks In-gyu to wash and clean for himself. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Their home
• Seeking Employment Support — Ae-soon seeks practical-skills support for In-gyu at an employment center. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Disabled people employment center
• Struggling with New Routines — In-gyu struggles with unfamiliar people and routines. Characters: In-gyu Location: Disabled people employment center

Learning to Face Others

In-gyu struggles with unfamiliar people and routines and believes others hate him. Ae-soon reassures him, while his efforts reveal his memory and concern for those around him.

Key Events

• Struggling with New Routines — In-gyu struggles with unfamiliar people and routines. Characters: In-gyu Location: Disabled people employment center
• In-gyu Feels Rejected — In-gyu believes that everyone hates him and thinks he is an idiot. Characters: In-gyu
• Ae-soon Reassures Him — Ae-soon tells In-gyu that she does not hate him and encourages him to greet others and be kind. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu
• Showing Care for Family — As he practices, In-gyu shows he remembers details about his family and cares about people around him. Characters: In-gyu
• Holding to Her Promise — In-gyu clings to the promise that Ae-soon will return whenever he gets into trouble. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu
• Ae-soon's Condition Worsens — As Ae-soon's condition worsens, she continues preparing In-gyu for a future without her. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu

The Truth at the Funeral Home

As Ae-soon's condition worsens, she tries to explain that death is permanent, after In-gyu has understood it as a journey from which people return. At the funeral home, she tells him she will die soon and cannot come back to care for him; he cries out in refusal.

Key Events

• Ae-soon's Condition Worsens — As Ae-soon's condition worsens, she continues preparing In-gyu for a future without her. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu
• Explaining Death Through Chicks — Ae-soon previously used the loss of chicks to try to explain death to In-gyu. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu
• A Journey to Heaven — In-gyu understands death as a journey to Heaven from which the dead return. Characters: In-gyu
• At the Funeral Home — Ae-soon takes In-gyu to a funeral home to explain that the dead do not come back. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Funeral home
• In-gyu Rejects Her Explanation — Ae-soon tells In-gyu she will die soon and cannot return to care for him; he cries out against it. Characters: Ae-soon, In-gyu Location: Funeral home

Story Breakdown

• Daily Dependence — Ae-soon provides In-gyu with hands-on care throughout his daily life.
  • Morning Care — Ae-soon wakes In-gyu and helps him with everyday tasks.
  • Shared Workday — Ae-soon takes In-gyu with her to work.
• Desire for Independence — In-gyu resists Ae-soon's instructions and wants to live on his own.
  • Resisting Instructions — In-gyu often pushes back against Ae-soon's directions.
  • Living on His Own — In-gyu expresses a desire for an independent life.
• Illness Changes Everything — Ae-soon's serious illness makes her consider how In-gyu will manage without her.
  • Diagnosis and Operation — Ae-soon learns that she is seriously ill and needs an operation.
  • Planning for His Future — She begins teaching him to manage daily life without her.
• Learning Household Skills — Ae-soon tries to build In-gyu's practical independence at home.
  • Making a Fried Egg — Ae-soon shows In-gyu how to prepare a fried egg.
  • Washing and Cleaning — She asks him to wash and clean for himself.
• Seeking Practical Support — Ae-soon seeks help so In-gyu can learn skills and become more independent.
  • Employment Center — Ae-soon turns to a disabled people employment center for help.
  • New Routines — In-gyu struggles with unfamiliar people and routines.
• Building Self-Confidence — Ae-soon responds to In-gyu's insecurity and encourages him to engage kindly with others.
  • Fear of Rejection — In-gyu believes everyone hates him and thinks he is an idiot.
  • Reassurance and Kindness — Ae-soon tells him she does not hate him and encourages him to greet people and be kind.
• Signs of Growing Care — In-gyu's practice reveals his ability to remember family details and care about others.
  • Remembering Family — In-gyu shows that he can remember details about his family.
  • Caring for Others — He shows concern for the people around him.
• Confronting Death — Ae-soon tries to make In-gyu understand that she will die and cannot return.
  • The Chicks Example — Ae-soon previously tries to explain death through the loss of chicks.
  • The Funeral Home — She tells In-gyu that the dead do not return and that she will die soon.

Directed by

Cho Young-jun

Key Cast

• Goh Doo-shim — Ae-soon
• Kim Sung-kyun — In-gyu
• Yu Seon — Moon-kyung
• Park Cheol-min — Chief Park
• Shin Sae-kyeong — Gyeong-ran