Tag Archives: Adoption

Ema (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Odd, opaque, but fascinating anyway

Posted on May 2, 2020 by kaist455

Pablo Larraín’s latest work “Ema”, which is going to be released on MUBI in UK, Ireland, and India this week, is often odd and opaque in its clinical character study, but it is still a fascinating experience I will probably … Continue reading →

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One Child Nation (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Memories of Policy

Posted on November 16, 2019 by kaist455

Documentary film “One Child Nation”, which won the Grand Jury Prize when it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival early in this year, is often powerful and heart-wrenching in its sobering but intimate presentation of one brutal family policy … Continue reading →

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Luce (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): They need to talk about their adopted son…

Posted on November 7, 2019 by kaist455

“Luce” is supposed to be a complex and compelling drama on race and identity, but it somehow left me with considerable dissatisfaction. While raising several interesting questions to reflect on, the movie often feels contrived and heavy-handed in terms of … Continue reading →

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Woman at War (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her comically defiant activism

Posted on June 30, 2019 by kaist455

“Woman at War”, which was selected as the Icelandic entry for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in last year, is a dry black comedy film packed with whimsical touches to delight us. While steadily and seriously maintaining its deadpan attitude … Continue reading →

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Three Identical Strangers (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Far stranger than fiction

Posted on October 7, 2018 by kaist455

Documentary film “Three Identical Strangers” starts with an incredible real-life story and then reveals a far more unbelievable thing which remains shrouded in questions even at present. I will try not to reveal too much here in this review, but, … Continue reading →

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Lion (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4) : A long way to his hometown

Posted on February 3, 2017 by kaist455

Based on one remarkable real-life story, “Lion” tries to tug at our heartstrings, and it succeeds with several powerful moments during its first half. Although it stumbles a bit during the second half which is more conventional in comparison, the … Continue reading →

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Twinsters (2015) ☆☆☆ (3/4): Twin sisters’ reunion after 25 years

Posted on March 5, 2016 by kaist455

Documentary film “Twinsters” starts its story with one unbelievable encounter which can happen only in our digital era. Two young women suddenly came to learn of each other’s presence through online communication, and they were naturally surprised by their uncanny … Continue reading →

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Approved for Adoption (2012) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : An outsider between two countries

Posted on May 11, 2014 by kaist455

Some animation films try different things outside the usual territory for young audiences, and little Belgian animation feature film “Approved for Adoption”, which was released as “Couleur de peau: Miel” in Europe, is one of such works. It is not … Continue reading →

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Philomena (2013) ☆☆☆(3/4): A long road to her lost son

Posted on February 18, 2014 by kaist455

 Any sensible person would feel angry about what happened to Philomena Lee, a woman who was unjustly treated just because of a small innocent mistake during her adolescent years. When she found herself getting pregnant after one passionate encounter with … Continue reading →

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Re-encounter (2010) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : She can’t abandon her past – like her dogs

Posted on June 12, 2011 by kaist455

  No matter how much we try to leave behind, it seems inevitable that our past always comes back to us – to be picked up by us again. In case of Hye-hwa,  a young heroine of South Korean movie … Continue reading →

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