Tag Archives: South Korean Film

A Taxi Driver (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A taxi driver and his foreign passenger

Posted on August 4, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean film “A Taxi Driver” drives along a rather predictable route, but it knows well what it has to do for engaging us and then touching us. Although I still think it could be improved in several aspects, the … Continue reading →

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The Battleship Island (2017) ☆☆(2/4): Spectacle over history

Posted on July 27, 2017 by kaist455

While inspired by one of many dark tragedies during World War II, South Korean film “The Battleship Island” ultimately chooses spectacle over history. That could not be much of a problem if it were equipped with engaging story and characters … Continue reading →

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The Merciless (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): It’s merciless indeed…

Posted on July 23, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Merciless” is another South Korean gangster film which is as brutal and violent as you can expect. While it is not entirely without sense of humor and there is some interesting subtext glimpsed from its two … Continue reading →

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Ash Flower (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A tale of two girls

Posted on July 9, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean film “Ash Flower”, which is the last chapter of the Flower trilogy by director/co-writer Park Seok-yeong, is a simple but intimate character drama to admire for its sensitive and thoughtful storytelling. While it is mainly about two young … Continue reading →

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The Day After (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A slight minor work from Hong Sang-soo

Posted on July 9, 2017 by kaist455

Besides being one of the most prominent filmmakers working in South Korea, Hong Sang-soo is one of the most prolific ones. Like Woody Allen, he has usually made one or two works every year, and watching his new film has … Continue reading →

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Anarchist from Colony (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): An anarchist couple who stood by each other

Posted on July 1, 2017 by kaist455

Based on a dramatic real-life story from the Japanese Occupation era, South Korean film “Anarchist from Colony” is more amusing and entertaining than I expected. While being as serious as required by its historical subject, the movie is also quite … Continue reading →

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Yongsoon (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A country girl’s hot, problematic summer

Posted on June 25, 2017 by kaist455

While it is uncomfortable to watch at times for good reasons, South Korean film “Yongsoon” comes to us as an engaging coming-of-age drama about its adolescent heroine’s hot, problematic summer. Although it is inarguable that she clings to a very … Continue reading →

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I Am a Cat (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Aren’t they cute?

Posted on June 13, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “I Am a Cat” is full of cats, and I enjoyed that as a longtime cat lover. Since I began to photograph those stray cats living in the campus of Korean Advanced Institute of Science and … Continue reading →

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Jane (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Elusive happiness in her harsh, despairing world

Posted on June 4, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean film “Jane” begins with one story and then proceeds with another story to tell. While these two stories feel different from each other, they are gradually connected with each other as the movie observes the harsh, despairing world … Continue reading →

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Our President (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): We miss you, President Roh

Posted on May 29, 2017 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “Our President” comes to its main audiences at a point which cannot possibly be more appropriate. As the country went through two lousy presidents during last 9 years and then managed to get some possibility of … Continue reading →

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