Tag Archives: South Korean Film

Harbin (2024) ☆☆(2/4): A piece of dry and mediocre seriousness

South Korean film “Harbin” is so serious and ponderous that it often forgets engaging or entertaining its audiences. I do understand that it attempts to be a grim and gritty period drama about one famous real-life national hero and his … Continue reading

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

Time to Be Strong (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Their aimless little trip in Jeju Island

South Korean independent film “Time to Be Strong”, which is incidentally the 15th movie project of the National Human Rights Commission in South Korea, is a somber but haunting character drama about three young people feeling lost and desperate in … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Hidden Face (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A twisted erotic triangle

South Korean film “Hidden Face”, which is the remake of the 2011 Colombian film “The Hidden Face”, an erotic mystery thriller which turns out to be naughtier than it seems at first. Like many thriller films, the movie surely depends … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Tenants (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): His problematic tenants

South Korean independent film “The Tenants” tries to be a quirky mix of SF, comedy, and a bit of horror. The overall result is amusing as sort of a satiric allegory on the current economic struggle of many people out … Continue reading

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

Sister Yoojung (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): The truth about her younger sister

South Korean film “Sister Yoojung” is about a young woman who comes to realize that she has not been that close to a family member she should have supported and comforted more. While its story begins with a rather alarming … Continue reading

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

Sandstorm (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A sandy league of their own

South Korean documentary film “Sandstorm” reminds me that there are still many things I don’t know much about. Looking around several female athletes quite passionate about their respective professional athletic careers, the documentary attempts to illuminate its rather obscure main … Continue reading

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

The Berefts (2023) ☆☆(2/4): A fake marriage for better life

South Korean independent film “The Berefts” is another grim social drama about several economically disadvantaged people around the bottom of the South Korean society. As dryly following its main characters’ struggle for better life, the movie attempts to make some … Continue reading

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

The Land of Morning Calm (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A fisherman’s insurance scam

You will not easily forget the old but tough hero of South Korean film “The Land of Morning Calm”, which won three awards including the Best Film Award at the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival a … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Delivery (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A comedy about unplanned pregnancy

South Korean comedy film “Delivery” wants to generate some laughs from unplanned pregnancy, and that was fine with me at the beginning. Sure, it is true that anything can be comic material, but the movie does not work as well … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mimang (2023) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): Three different meanings via three acts

South Korean independent film “Mimang” presents the three different meanings of its title via the three acts loosely connected together. Although I am not sure about whether it works as well as intended by its filmmaker, it is engaging to … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment