Author Archives: kaist455

Shine (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A slow story in the island

Posted on August 12, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Shine” is curiously somber and distant in terms of story and character. While it seems to care about its main characters at times, it also often observes them from the distance without delving that much into whatever … Continue reading →

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A Song of Korean Factory Girls (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): The oral history of Korean factory girls in Japan

Posted on August 11, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “A Song of Korean Factory Girls” illuminates the relatively unknown history of many young Korean women who had to work in Japan during the Japanese colonial period in the early 20th century. As the documentary calmly … Continue reading →

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Revolver (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): She simply wants to get paid as promised…

Posted on August 8, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Revolver” is a dry but wryly engaging mystery noir thriller which keeps its attitude as straight as possible along with its lead actress. While it takes some time for us to discern the rather complicated situation around … Continue reading →

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Brother (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Memories of his big brother 

Posted on August 5, 2024 by kaist455

Canadian film “Brother” surprises me for being more sensitive and thoughtful than I expected. On the surface, it may look typical as another black slum neighborhood drama film, but it comes to show more heart and soul as its introverted … Continue reading →

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Carmen (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As they run away together

Posted on August 5, 2024 by kaist455

I am not sure whether I understood everything in “Carmen”, but that did not bother me at all during my viewing. Mainly driven by a series of musical dance sequences, the movie presents a very familiar type of story with … Continue reading →

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Will You Please Stop, Please (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): How she endures at her workplace

Posted on August 4, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Will You Please Stop, Please” is often painfully funny as following the ongoing hardships of its rather meek heroine. While usually quite busy with doing one task after another at her workplace, she finds herself cornered … Continue reading →

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The Wonder (2014) ☆☆☆(3/4): An intimate drama of one rural family

Posted on August 4, 2024 by kaist455

Alice Rohrwacher’s second feature film “The Wonder”, which was somehow released in South Korean theaters a few days ago, is a small but intimate drama of one rural family to observe. While we do not get to know everything about … Continue reading →

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Pilot (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A pilot in drag

Posted on August 2, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Pilot” does not convince me enough with its drag comedy. Right from its first drag scene, I could not help but aware of its artificial aspects as the camera, which can be quite glaringly objective as many … Continue reading →

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Attila Marcel (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Proustian tale presented by Sylvain Chomet

Posted on July 31, 2024 by kaist455

As watching Sylvain Chomet’s live action film “Attila Marcel”, which was somehow re-released in South Korean theaters in last week, I could not help but wonder whether it worked better it were an animation film. In my inconsequential opinion, many … Continue reading →

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Before Sunrise (1995) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): When Jesse and Céline Met

Posted on July 28, 2024 by kaist455

Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise”, the first movie of his Before trilogy which was incidentally re-released in South Korea in a few weeks ago, is charming and delightful as before. While it surely feels all the more poignant now thanks to … Continue reading →

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