Before there were reevaluations of his filmography, this film was regarded as Shin Sang-Ok′s best work. It stills ranks high on the list of his major films. Choi Eun-Hee, who, other than in A <b>Flower in Hell</b>, usually portrayed a traditional Korean woman, here plays the main character struggling with tradition. She is a war widow who lives with her mother-in-law (also a widow), and her daughter in a small country town. She lives her life maintaining her chastity for her dead husband. But when her dead husband′s friend comes to stay at the master′s room, she faces a moral dilemma. This dilemma reflects the time when Confucianist traditions and modernist values collided. The lyrical scenes effectively portray the inner conflicts of the main character. The love and conflict between the two characters are seen through the eyes of the daughter. Throughout the film, the child gives her views on the adult world. The mother-in-law, the egg seller, and the maid who were not in the original novel add epic depth to the film. <b>Mother and a Guest in the Master′s Room</b> was awarded the Best Picture Award in the 1962 Asia Film Festival. This film was the starting point for director Shin′s international recognition. (Kwon Yong-Min)