[1] It tells the story of two South Korean women, neighbors in the same apartment building, who take very different approaches to the difficulties of modern life; one indulges in food, sex, and spending while the other lives in self-imposed austerity.

[2][3] The film was inspired by poet Jang Jung Ill's poem "The Cook and the Anorexic.

"[4] Compulsion, a 2013 Canadian psychological thriller directed by Egidio Coccimiglio, is based on this film.

The detective finds her anorexia medicine and her written work on the subject of sex.

She digs the food out of the trash bag and puts it all on plates in front of Yoon-hee in an attempt to force her to eat but she vomits again.

The film shows a flashback to Yoon-hee's life living with her mother and step-father in their family-run butcher shop.

The film moves back to Song-hee's conversation with the detective and it's revealed that she killed, cooked, and fed her pet dog to her husband, which caused their divorce.

Another flashback shows Song-hee still married to her husband and living her life as a housewife.

The film then jumps to their divorce and the official's decision that Song-hee's husband would have to pay for her alimony and work.

The final scene shows Yoon-hee speaking to Song-hee who is lying naked on her bed.

Director Park Cheol-soo had his own "Special Program" that featured his films Farewell My Darling, Green Chair, Mother, Stray Dog, and 301, 302.