Little Forest (2018)

Calming

This movie is very calming and relaxing. It invites you to leave your daily cares and watch the simple lives of people in a small town. It's beautifully filmed and edited. I could almost feel my blood pressure dropping as I watched this. I felt absolutely nothing intrinsically wrong with it, just personally I felt like nothing was happening, and that's on me.

The actors did a fine job. Of course, they weren't actually required to do anything much anyway.

I don't remember the music.

I won't rewatch, simply because I have so much on my list already. Though, to be fair, I might want to give it another chance when my mental state is in a somewhat different place.

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Refreshing, nostalgic & lively!

A young woman moves to her hometown in the countryside to heal her emotional wounds with the help of her childhood friends, nature and food…

This movie captures a realistic countryside life; it’s simple, refreshing, aesthetically pleasing, and particularly nostalgic for me, since I was living alone for a few years in a countryside during my study, before moving to a capital city for work. Watching Little Forest brings me back to those idyllic days, when I feel my absolute best in my favorite habitat. I relate with Kim Tae Ri’s character, living a seasonal life in a simple place.

Aside from my personal attachment, I truly recommend this to all. The leads characters are all inspiring, their moments are never mundane… just the right amount of friendship spice. No angst, no cringe, no tears. Seeing Ryu Joon Yeol here remind me of Jung Hwan from Reply 1988 and I can’t be more grateful J. I love that the director put focus on seasonal appreciation and friendship besides romance, unlike the usual stereotype movie tropes.

Also, you'll be mesmerized by the food shots, so maybe grab something to eat while watching! The cooking scenes were shot with care, they will sooth your souls like an ASMR aesthetics. The thing that I was anticipating is something more intense beyond cooking or gardening. But then, it makes up a great "feel good" bedtime story, feel free to just simply watch and love it!

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This was such a beautiful and perfect movie and it was really healing for my soul. There's not any storyline at all but that doesn't mean that it's boring or draggy. It made me want to live in a small village, grow my owns crops and to make delicious meals our of them! :3
This masterpiece was shot so beautifully and the cinematography was just amazing. The director did such a wonderful job!
The actors as well! Their characters were all unique in their own ways. The doggo was also very cute. uwu
If you have two hours to spare go watch this movie. It will heal your soul and I'm sure you're going to like it.

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Very satisfying: but could have been more satisfying.

Few days ago, I was talking with my friend, how now-a-days, movies which could make you feel relaxed and satisfied were not being made. I really like those movies, where not much is happening but still something is happening, which shows you people just going on with life.
This was that kind of a movie. There was no over romanticisation of village life. Didn't try to show how good village life is, or how good the people living simple life are. 'It is what it is' - was the mood of the movie. Just eat, work, roam in nature, watch seasons change, eat again... wow. Just looking at it was so comforting.
Ryu Joon Yeol is fastly becoming my favorite actor. He never missed a beat. Kim Tae Ri is good. She is the main focus of movie, so she gets a good screen time. But Ryu Joon Yeol steals the show. And the way he does is so simple. Jin Ki Joo is okay. She doesn't get much space.

The only complaint was, 'the after' thing. The movie stops at the door. I was really left wanting for the closure. It could have been really really more satisfying. But we don't often get what we wish for.

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Want to take a break after that emotional rides from what you just finished?

That's it, it was just like a 'good break' kind of movie you would want to watch after those heavy ones you've binged watch. I didn't notice I was just smiling from time to time just at it started, then I'll just thought how simple the scenes are while not being that comedy claiming movie, it just gives off that genuine little smile you'll suddenly make. I also realized that I can watch a short movie, or a special perhaps with Kim Tae Ri as the only character. I just adore her so much, I see beauty in every angle she projects even though she's not the girly type in roles I've watched her from. Still, she's someone I'll be rooting for from now on, I just love seeing her act. Lighthearted as it can be, this movie is for you.

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This is one of those movies where I sat through and time flew by.
The idea of setting roots and having a place to return to was so beautifully executed. This is one of those where I have to tell you to just watch it because anything I write won't do it the justice it deserves. But alas, I must attempt.
Everyone, no matter the age, can relate to times of hardship and stress. This movie and the main character both provide a forest to go to and relax. In the midst of the sea that is complicated drama plots, this movie really provides the breather we need. It really embodies the idea that some of the most beautiful things are simple and how much your life can change after a realization.
This drama offers a lot. Whether your takeaway is that you should grow a garden or to simply cook more, I think it will leave some sort of imprint on your life. I found myself looking at the world a little differently even if just for a while and ever so often, I find myself back for a second and even a third watch. That says something about its rewatch value.
Though I enjoyed the sounds of nature and the vibe the music gave, I didn't remember one track in particular and that is usually how I grade the music section. But trust me when I say that it doesn't take away from the experience AT ALL. I even forgot to take the music into consideration until I had to give a score for music.
I recommend.

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Subtle representation

All of us love to suddenly go back to our roots in the midst of the busy life of the city, to live a simple rural life beyond the barriers of modernity. This movie represents exactly that. There is no forced laughter, no exaggerated emotions; only a purity. Such a refreshing watch. Simple story yet so meaningful. And the scenics of rural beauty definitely reminds us our childhood. My most favourite parts are the reciepes and food, it made me crave for all the foods! All in all, this movie is perfect for chilling out and spending some alone time to refresh your mind and eyes!

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You need to add this movie to your watch list!

This is the first time i watched this typical of movie. A movie that give you healing vibes that keeps your heart warm.
There are so much things that we can learn from this movie! and this movie is very relatable to our life.

- Learned about patience - everything takes time just like we planted something. we need to be patience, wait the seeds to grow and become sprouts, watch the sprouts grow until it's ready to be harvested.
- Learned how to deals with problems - that keeping us busy won't solve our problems, it only make us forget about it for a while
Also i pretty much feel related with some scenes on the movies.
- The way jae-ha said "i don't like taking orders so i move back here to work as a farmer" this scene makes me want to become a farmer and just quit my job. It makes me realize that inner peace >>>> money!
- The way haewon's mom said "just ignore them who bullies you bcs they just want to make you sad"
- and the way haewon said "say what you want, don't just keep it yourself, if you keep it yourself it will rot forever in your heart"
This movie also motivates me to try and learn how to cook. I want to be such a skilled mom in the future so i can feed my kids with some delicious food <3

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Serene, Authentic, Warm

I have always loved and in constant quest to find for slow, relaxing, peaceful and lighhearted movies and Little Forest fit each and every criteria of an escapism movie. This one nonchalantly lets you take a deep breath and just immerse yourself in the beauty of Nature, home cooked foods and love.

The cinematography is excellent. The way it potrays the such serenity in a rural setting makes you reminisce of the peace you felt staying at your grandparents place. Now I can’t help but to picture myself settling at a farmhouse too!

Definitely one of my favourite movies ???

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The beauty of slow simple life

I was just thinking the other day if the rest of my life will mean working that 9 - 5 job and not having enough time to slow down and think about life and how I'm doing and if I'm happy or not. I've also always thought we should go back to the old ways of bringing food to our tables, to keep those traditional recipes alive, to learn how to cook as good and deliciously as our grandmas did. To learn how to bring everyone together just like Hyewon did.

This movie really got me mesmerized. At times it's good to do the simplest of jobs. Just recently I read about farmers being the happiest profession as of Jan 6th, 2023 and I'm not surprised. What's funny is that as kids, we always strive to move to the capital or bigger cities thinking that we'll never be able to make a living in our hometowns. Then we find ourselves missing home, waking up to cartoons and enjoying mom's food and just resting out in the sun.

I'm glad I finally watched this movie. It felt like a day off, took my mind to the peaceful picturesque village views and I felt at ease. It reminded me of how much earth gives to us and how grateful we should be of life in general, our good friends, our hard working people, our childhood home. It made me enforce the thought that romantic love isn't always the key to answer your life questions. It made me wanna rethink a few things and hopefully I'll find my little forest too.

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This film reminds me what a really good film is all about. It is about GOOD storytelling...

Little Forest reminds me what a really good film is all about; it isn’t about the best CGI, the highest budget, and not even about how the different cinematic techniques are applied. It is about GOOD storytelling, after all a film at its core is a form of storytelling.

In an industry saturated with big-budgeted, adrenaline-fueled stories, the calm and no-plot Little Forest shined steadily and confidently. It’s one of those films that would leave you with a warm feeling and would stay in your mind long after the suspense, wonder, and amazement of the other stories you’ve been told left your consciousness. The characters stay with you as if you’ve been friendly neighbors and watched each other for a long time, sometimes you even see yourself in them. That’s the beauty of a good storytelling — it lingers long.

The thing with this kind of film is that it wouldn’t work well if the actors aren’t good in their character portrayal. Kim Tae Ri, Ryu Jun Yeol, and Jin Ki Joo are all exceptional in this film too. Ryu Jun Yeol is such a gem and the way he always owns this kind of characters is simply amazing.

It always amazes me that when a character is portrayed so well, even the smallest and most common of gestures can mean a dozen of things. At the near end of the film, Ryu Jun Yeol's wave of goodbye done while his back is turned from Hae Won could be interpreted in so many ways. I remember pausing the play button after that scene and I just smiled and basked in the rush of emotions that scene evoked in me. It’s one of those moments, the little details of a well-told story that stays with you.

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