Tag Archives: Student

Playground (2021) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4) : Her little struggle at the school

“Playground”, which was selected the Belgian entry for the Best International Film Oscar in last year, is often quite difficult to watch. As firmly sticking to its little young heroine’s limited perspective, the movie closely and vividly observes her conflicts … Continue reading

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Emergency (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): One unlucky night of theirs

“Emergency”, which was released on Amazon Prime on this Friday, is an interesting mix of campus comedy and social commentary. Although its overall result does not always work, the movie keeps rolling till the expected finale thanks to the game … Continue reading

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Short Vacation (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their little summer journey

During my childhood years in Seoul, I was always fascinated with the intricate network of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. During that time, believe me or not, the Seoul Metropolitan Subway had no more than 4 lines, so it was pretty … Continue reading

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Fourth Place (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): What does really matter to this swimmer boy?

South Korean film “Fourth Place” surprised me as defiantly swimming across lanes of genre conventions with grace and tact. At first, the movie merely seems to be a simple educational tale on teaching and student civil rights, but then it … Continue reading

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Bad Genius (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A smart, exhilarating heist film from Thailand

Thailand film “Bad Genius” surprised me a lot. Bringing some fresh air into its genre conventions via its seemingly mundane story material, this smart, exhilarating heist film is constantly electrifying as serving us a number of memorable moments to amuse … Continue reading

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The Student (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A fanatic boy in the classroom

Darkly absurd and compelling, Russian film “The Student” disturbs us during its many fierce rhetorical scenes, which will grip your attention regardless of your opinion on religion. Here is an adolescent boy who suddenly starts to drive himself into religious … Continue reading

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Pluto (2012) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : They are all expendable

While I went through the South Korean education system, exam scores had been always important to me and others. My teachers and parents always emphasized that I should get scores as high as possible in every exam, and I was … Continue reading

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Monsieur Lazhar (2011) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4) : A substitute teacher in charge of the class in grief

The terrible incident suddenly happens in one Canadian elementary school during the mundane but shattering opening sequence of “Monsieur Lazhar.” While the students enjoy the free time outside the building, one of the schoolteachers is found dead, hanging herself up … Continue reading

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Terri (2011) ☆☆☆(3/4): A lonely teenager getting out of his shell

It is always better to have someone who cares about you than to be alone, and that is what the hero of “Terri”(2001) learns gradually through one of his high school teachers. Because of what I have just said, you … Continue reading

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