Tag Archives: Real-life incident

Ran 12.3 (2026) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The day when South Korean democracy was ambushed

South Korean documentary film “Ran 12.3” has a number of raw moments which still disturb me and many other South Korean citizens a lot even at this point. On December 3rd, 2024, President Yoon Seok-yeol suddenly declared the martial law … Continue reading

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My Name (2026) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): As her painful past returns

South Korean independent film “My Name” tries two different things together. On one hand, it is about an old woman who comes to face the repressed pain and sorrow from her hidden past. On the other hand, it is about … Continue reading

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Dear Juhee (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Uneven but sincere anyway

South Korean independent documentary film “Dear Juhee” sincerely attempts to juggle a number of different subjects together, and I appreciate that to some degree. Although its result is a bit too uneven and unfocused at times, it has several genuinely … Continue reading

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Hallan (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A young mother and her little daughter in the Jeju Uprising

South Korean film “Hallan” turns out to be a lot more haunting than I expected at first. Closely following the harrowing survival drama of a young mother and her little daughter in the middle of the Jeju Uprising (1948 ~ … Continue reading

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1980 Sabuk (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): It’s still painful for them…

South Korean documentary film “1980 Sabuk” is about one large-scale labor uprising which happened in one little rural coal mine town in April 1980. Although the incident is almost forgotten at present, there are still many people who remember well … Continue reading

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She Walks in Darkness (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Operating in risky murkiness

Spanish Netflix film “She Walks in Darkness”, which was released in last Friday, is often compelling whenever it focuses on the quiet but intense inner tension surrounding its heroine. While she is willing to put herself into more risk and … Continue reading

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Good News (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A South Korean disaster black comedy from Netflix

South Korean Netflix film “Good News”, which was released two days ago, is a disaster black comedy film loosely inspired by a real-life hijacking incident in March 1970. While it is clear from the beginning that most of its story … Continue reading

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The Perfect Neighbor (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): One neighborhood dispute

Netflix documentary film “The Perfect Neighbor”, which was incidentally released yesterday, focuses on one small neighborhood dispute which led to a devastating outcome for everyone involved with that. Mainly driven by a series of archival footage clips, it does not … Continue reading

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Reds (1981) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An epic left-wing period drama by Warren Beatty

While revisiting Warren Beatty’s 1981 film “Reds” at last night, I observed how it stays focused on ideas and emotions behind its grand and ambitious attempt to illustrate the life and career of its real-life left-wing American journalist hero. Yes, … Continue reading

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The Lost Bus (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): It works whenever it is on fire

Paul Greengrass’ latest film “The Lost Bus”, which was released on Apple TV+ on last Friday, works whenever it is on fire. Based on one real-life story associated with the 2018 Camp Fire in California, the movie is as clichéd … Continue reading

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