Ji-sook, a teahouse owner in a seaside town, hires three ladies: Miss Hong has money trouble because of her father’s medical expenses; the frivolous Miss Yang is a would-be actress; and the innocent Miss Yoon is not only her family’s primary breadwinner but is also paying her college student lover’s tuition. The teahouse also doubles a spot for prostitution, and old Miss Joo works there, despite clients avoiding her. One of the darkest films in Im’s body of work, Ticket illuminates strangely invigorated passions and lust amid corruption and collapse. Along with Gilsoddeum, this is a controversial work by Im, where the outward narrative includes and collides with a latent pathological energy.