This film consists of only one shot, and that is the most salient characteristic of this film. One long-take scene of 1.5 hour is, consequently, restricted in many ways; limited spaces and the same length of running time and plot time. The description is also constrained. It seems almost impossible to build up a story tightly in these constraints, and makes the effort of debuting director even more valiant because this kind of film often results in mixed reviews, compared to more stylistic experiments. However, The Dream of Eleuteria is a not a film that requires the patience of the audience. The film shows a young woman named Teria who lives in a poor Philippine fishing village. She is about to board a ship to marry an old German man she has never met, to settle her family’s debts. The story takes place on the road from home to the port, and the characters are Teria’s parents who demand Teria to sacrifice herself for the family, a younger sister whose future depends on Teria, an ex-boyfriend who tries to hold her back, an extravagant cousin who married a foreigner, a talkative marriage broker, and excited village people participating in the village’s festival. The film maintains its tension, centered on Teria who remains undecided until the end of whether to board the boat or stay behind with the man she loves. Although the story in the film is short, it deals with many social issues of contemporary Philippines. The disappointment, anger, sadness, and joy present in the story and the experimental single shot provide an interesting film experience. (Jeong Minah)