bonneibennett
USA
I can’t believe I put off watching this for so long. I wish I hadn’t! To be honest I was scared of the tearjerker synopsis, already knowing how effective So Ji Sub and Son Ye Jin would be. But by giving in to that fear for all this time, I underestimated how uplifting it would also be, a story with so much heart told in such a simple yet clever way.
STORY
The plot in hindsight is relatively straightforward, but the way the plot unfolded wasn’t... in the best possible way. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that the pacing was deftly handled, and the thoughtful swaps in perspective were perfectly timed as well.
To be honest, a lot of So Ji Sub’s films seem to aim to capture this kind of feeling... this quiet, steady story filled with equal parts love, tragedy, and hope. In my opinion, this is his film that best manages to balance those elements.
CAST/ACTING
Speaking of So Ji Sub, he was pretty wonderful in this. A quiet, mostly subtle performance that managed to convey so much. At first I was surprised that he didn’t react with more shock or disbelief in the beginning, but as the story played out and you really got a sense of their love story and the family’s bond, it suddenly felt right.
Son Ye Jin was ethereal, radiant, just completely perfect in the role. I like her in anything and everything though.
The real scene stealer though was Kim Ji Hwan! There was a moment towards the end of the film where I suddenly realized that that entire time I’d never realized that this kid was acting. I really believed that he was a child who was experiencing these things. That’s so rare for ANY actor, let alone a child!
MUSIC
Honestly, I don’t remember any of the music at all. That’s not necessarily a bad thing in the case of the score, which supported the story without overshadowing it.
REWATCH VALUE
I don’t typically rewatch movies, but some of these scenes were so sweet... I just might!
OVERALL
Don’t shy away from this film based on the tragic premise. As the movie itself wants us to understand, sometimes experiencing the sad and painful parts are necessary steps on the path to the most fulfilling happiness and beauty.
STORY
The plot in hindsight is relatively straightforward, but the way the plot unfolded wasn’t... in the best possible way. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say that the pacing was deftly handled, and the thoughtful swaps in perspective were perfectly timed as well.
To be honest, a lot of So Ji Sub’s films seem to aim to capture this kind of feeling... this quiet, steady story filled with equal parts love, tragedy, and hope. In my opinion, this is his film that best manages to balance those elements.
CAST/ACTING
Speaking of So Ji Sub, he was pretty wonderful in this. A quiet, mostly subtle performance that managed to convey so much. At first I was surprised that he didn’t react with more shock or disbelief in the beginning, but as the story played out and you really got a sense of their love story and the family’s bond, it suddenly felt right.
Son Ye Jin was ethereal, radiant, just completely perfect in the role. I like her in anything and everything though.
The real scene stealer though was Kim Ji Hwan! There was a moment towards the end of the film where I suddenly realized that that entire time I’d never realized that this kid was acting. I really believed that he was a child who was experiencing these things. That’s so rare for ANY actor, let alone a child!
MUSIC
Honestly, I don’t remember any of the music at all. That’s not necessarily a bad thing in the case of the score, which supported the story without overshadowing it.
REWATCH VALUE
I don’t typically rewatch movies, but some of these scenes were so sweet... I just might!
OVERALL
Don’t shy away from this film based on the tragic premise. As the movie itself wants us to understand, sometimes experiencing the sad and painful parts are necessary steps on the path to the most fulfilling happiness and beauty.
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