Tag Archives: Illness

Coming of Age (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Now there comes the time to grow up for all of them

Posted on September 20, 2026 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Coming of Age” is a familiar mix of comedy drama. Mainly revolving around one problematic father and daughter relationship, the movie looks around not only its two main characters but also several other family members of … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Say Good Luck (2026) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her life becomes a little more complicated

Posted on September 6, 2026 by kaist455

Netflix film “Don’t Say Good Luck”, which was released in last month, is a modest but earnest coming-of-age drama film to cherish. While it is inherently melodramatic from the beginning, the movie deftly strikes the right balance between humor and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can We Get Married? (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Between his family and his girlfriend

Posted on May 14, 2025 by kaist455

South Korean film “Can We Get Married?” starts as a comedy and then becomes something more serious and painful. Although I am not so sure about whether its mix between broad comedy and sentimental drama works as well as intended, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

All the Long Nights (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): As they help and support each other

Posted on September 27, 2024 by kaist455

Japanese filmmaker Shô Miyake’s latest film “All the Long Nights” is a calm and somber character drama between two different troubled people who come to help and support each other more than expected. Although it feels predictable at times, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Petrov’s Flu (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A baffling Russian flu fantasia

Posted on April 29, 2024 by kaist455

Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Petrov’s Flu” is a boldly self-indulgent mess you may admire for good reasons. Mainly revolving around one plain hero who happens to have a serious case of flu, the movie freely and whimsically goes back and forth between … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Picnic (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Returning to the hometown with her best friend

Posted on February 10, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Picnic” is an unabashedly sappy character drama which actually earns some poignancy in the end. While it sometimes feels quite blatant in the attempts to pull our heartstrings, the movie is thankfully anchored well by two strong … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

American Symphony (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A slice of his art and life

Posted on December 2, 2023 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “American Symphony”, which came out a few days ago, simply presents a slice of life and art from John Batiste, who has been one of the most prominent American musicians during last several years. Although the documentary … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Juhee from 5 to 7 (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Her and some others from 5 to 7

Posted on November 12, 2023 by kaist455

I was disappointed to see that South Korean independent film “Juhee from 5 to 7” does not focus on its titular heroine as much as I expected from its very title. Here is a potentially interesting female figure to illustrate … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Gleason (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): His life with ALS

Posted on June 6, 2023 by kaist455

Amazon Prime documentary film “Gleason” gives us an honest and intimate look into one former professional athlete’s daily life with his serious illness and the following complications. While never overlooking all those difficulties and frustrations experienced by him and several … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Everything Went Fine (2021) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A restrained but poignant drama by François Ozon

Posted on September 12, 2022 by kaist455

French film “Everything Went Fine” is restrained but poignant as simply observing a very serious family matter. While never overlooking its main characters’ emotional struggles over that matter, the movie thoughtfully lets us get to know more about them and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments