Tumbleweed (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Chang-su's attachment to Mi-yeon brings him into danger, forcing him to flee, confront his past, and face an unresolved encounter with Do-seok.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Troubled Life and New Attachment

Chang-su picks fights, dreams of starting a business, and is reprimanded for irresponsibility. He grows attached to a woman who cleans his home, later identified as Mi-yeon.

Key Events

• Neighborhood Fights — Chang-su is volatile and picks fights in his neighborhood. Characters: Chang-su Location: Chang-su's neighborhood
• Business Ambition — Chang-su dreams of starting a business. Characters: Chang-su Location: Unspecified
• A Familiar Waitress — Chang-su encounters a waitress he knows and becomes fascinated by her. Characters: Chang-su Location: Unspecified
• A Rebuke — An older man in Chang-su's life scolds him for being irresponsible. Characters: Chang-su Location: Unspecified
• The House Cleaner — A woman cleans Chang-su's filthy home and challenges him. Characters: Chang-su Location: Chang-su's home
• Growing Attachment — Chang-su grows attached to the woman later identified as Mi-yeon. Characters: Chang-su, Mi-yeon Location: Chang-su's home

A Death That Makes Him a Suspect

Mi-yeon is found dead in Chang-su's house, and he denies killing her. His record and the evidence make him vulnerable to blame, while a local man warns him against going to the police.

Key Events

• Mi-yeon Found Dead — Mi-yeon is found dead in Chang-su's house. Characters: Chang-su, Mi-yeon Location: Chang-su's home
• A Convenient Suspect — Chang-su denies killing Mi-yeon, but his record and the scene make him an easy suspect. Characters: Chang-su Location: Chang-su's home
• Warning Against Police — A local man warns Chang-su not to go to the police or risk blame and imprisonment. Characters: Chang-su Location: Unspecified
• Gang Connection Revealed — Chang-su learns Mi-yeon was Do-seok's girlfriend and the gang is looking for him. Characters: Chang-su, Do-seok, Mi-yeon Location: Unspecified

Flight and a Confession

Chang-su learns that Mi-yeon was Do-seok's girlfriend and that the gang is searching for him. As Sang-tae offers an escape plan, he admits to an earlier betrayal; Chang-su urges him to move on and rejects his old way of life.

Key Events

• Chang-su Flees — With the gang searching for him, Chang-su goes on the run. Characters: Chang-su Location: Unspecified
• Sang-tae Offers Escape — Sang-tae tries to help Chang-su hide and suggests escaping aboard a boat. Characters: Chang-su, Sang-tae Location: Unspecified
• Fear and Isolation — Chang-su struggles with fear and isolation as the hunt closes in. Characters: Chang-su Location: Unspecified
• Sang-tae's Confession — Sang-tae admits he once betrayed Chang-su because he was afraid. Characters: Chang-su, Sang-tae Location: Unspecified
• A Resolve to Change — Chang-su tells Sang-tae to let the betrayal go and says he will not keep living the same way. Characters: Chang-su, Sang-tae Location: Unspecified

Do-seok's Return and the Unresolved Offer

The story shows Do-seok gaining power, being arrested over casino-management corruption, and leaving prison after four years. Chang-su later confronts him about Mi-yeon, is dragged away, and makes an offer to disappear for payment, but the transcript ends before Do-seok answers.

Key Events

• Do-seok Rises — The story shows Do-seok rising to power in the gang. Characters: Do-seok Location: Gang setting unspecified
• Corruption Arrest — Do-seok is arrested over corruption in casino management. Characters: Do-seok Location: Unspecified
• Four Years Later — Do-seok is released from prison after four years. Characters: Do-seok Location: Prison
• Chang-su Faces Do-seok — Chang-su asks Do-seok whether he remembers Mi-yeon and is dragged away. Characters: Chang-su, Do-seok, Mi-yeon Location: Unspecified
• An Offer to Disappear — Chang-su discusses life outside prison, asks for a cigarette, and offers to disappear for payment; Do-seok's response is unknown. Characters: Chang-su, Do-seok Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

• Chang-su's Restless Life — Chang-su's volatility and ambitions establish the troubled circumstances from which he wants to change.
  • Neighborhood Fights — Chang-su picks fights in his neighborhood.
  • Business Dream — He hopes to start a business despite being scolded for irresponsibility.
• Mi-yeon's Arrival — A woman who cleans Chang-su's home challenges him, and he grows attached to her.
  • Home Cleaning — The woman cleans Chang-su's filthy home and challenges him.
  • Growing Attachment — Chang-su becomes attached to the woman later identified as Mi-yeon.
• Death and Suspicion — Mi-yeon's death leaves Chang-su exposed to suspicion because of his record and the evidence at his house.
  • Body at Home — Mi-yeon is found dead in Chang-su's house.
  • Easy Suspect — Chang-su denies killing her but is readily suspected.
• The Gang's Pursuit — Learning Mi-yeon's connection to Do-seok turns Chang-su's predicament into a hunt.
  • Police Warning — A local man warns Chang-su that going to the police could cost him his freedom.
  • Gang Search — Chang-su learns the gang is searching for him because Mi-yeon was Do-seok's girlfriend.
• Sang-tae's Betrayal — Sang-tae helps Chang-su while admitting that fear once led him to betray him.
  • Boat Escape Plan — Sang-tae suggests that Chang-su hide and escape on a boat.
  • Past Betrayal — Sang-tae confesses that he betrayed Chang-su because he was afraid.
• A Resolve to Change — Chang-su responds to Sang-tae's confession and says he does not intend to keep living the same way.
  • Let It Go — Chang-su tells Sang-tae to let the old betrayal go.
  • Different Life — Chang-su makes clear that he does not want to continue his former life.
• Do-seok's Rise and Release — The story follows Do-seok's increasing power, arrest, and eventual release from prison.
  • Gang Power — Do-seok is shown rising to power in the gang.
  • Four-Year Release — After an arrest over casino-management corruption, Do-seok is released following four years in prison.
• Unresolved Final Encounter — Chang-su faces Do-seok over Mi-yeon and makes an offer whose outcome is not revealed.
  • Question About Mi-yeon — Chang-su asks Do-seok whether he remembers Mi-yeon and is dragged away.
  • Offer to Disappear — Chang-su asks for a cigarette and offers to disappear in exchange for payment; Do-seok's response remains unknown.

Directed by

Lee Deok-hui

Key Cast

• Im Chang-jung — Chang-su
• Ahn Nae-sang — Do-seok
• Chung Sung-hwa — Sang-tae
• Son Eun-seo — Mi-yeon
• Jeon Kuk-hwan — Jisungpa boss