Tag Archives: Parents

Ticket to Paradise (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Clooney and Roberts still have it, though

“Ticket to Paradise” made me a bit nostalgic during my viewing due to its two charismatic lead performers. Although more than 20 years have passed since they rose as major Hollywood star performers, George Clooney and Julia Roberts still shine … Continue reading

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As They Made Us (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): As her father is fading away

“As They Made Us” is a mild comedy drama which mainly revolves around its heroine’s emotional struggle with her complex family issues. While it does not bring up anything particularly new from its familiar genre territories, the movie handles its … Continue reading

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After Yang (2021) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Farewell to Yang

I value good films which make me reflect on life and existence, and I am glad to report to you that Kogonada’s latest film “After Yang” is one of such cases. As a simple but undeniably sublime science fiction tale, … Continue reading

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Mass (2021) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Four troubled parents in the room

“Mass” is a modest but undeniably compelling drama about four ordinary people struggling to deal with their respective human losses caused by one terrible incident. While it simply observes a series of tense and strained interactions among them, the movie … Continue reading

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A Sun (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Ordinary People

Taiwanese film “A Sun”, which was selected as Taiwan’s entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar in this year, is a sprawling family drama with many ups and downs throughout its slow but engaging narrative. Although some of its … Continue reading

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

“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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Ray & Liz (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): On his two lousy parents

“Ray & Liz” is a melancholic family drama which observes its human subjects and their squalid living environment with considerable emotional detachment. While this is surely not something you can casually watch on Sunday afternoon, it works to some degree … Continue reading

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Birthday (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Remembering their son

South Korean film “Birthday” is an earnest melodrama about the personal grief and sadness surrounding the sinking of MV Sewol on April 16th, 2014. While it is certainly well-intentioned and tactfully handles its subject with some restraint and respect, there … Continue reading

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Foxtrot (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An absurd war drama dancing around pathos and humor

Right after the end of the first act of Israeli film “Foxtrot”, I completely caught off guard by a sudden shift in its mood and narrative. I will not go into details here for avoiding spoilers, but I can tell … Continue reading

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Boyhood (2014) ☆☆☆☆(4/4) : Along the stream of time

 As preparing for the last steps of my graduate course at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in these days, I sometimes feel a bit wistful about my long years at KAIST. The day when I entered the … Continue reading

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