It's pretty clear the top reviewers didn't watch the film. For instance, "There are no intense and pulse-pounding fights, chases, or confrontations." Of course, there shouldn't be intense fights/chases. This isn't action film like why are people comparing slice of life drama to action film??? Also, there was intense chase scene in the film, which was way overtop and completely unrealistic. Who jumps overpass and into middle street? Oh that's right an action film. " There are no absolutes, right or wrong, cruel or kind. " The film made it pretty clear who is right and wrong.
The other reviewer, "For me what Koreeda wanted to achieve was to tackle very important social issues, that foreigners and especially Japanese tend to hide in a corner knowing that they exist and at the same time smiling like nothing is wrong. "
Since when is child abuse and low income families isn't talk about??? There's tons of TV shows and films that deal with this issue all the time and even Koreeda has other films deals same issues.
The most common criticism I see on this site constantly is this film is realistic; therefore, this film or show is best. In what reality, do you live in that several major events happen in 2 hours of your life? Realistically, it would take 100 episodes for 1-2 major events in real life. Completely realistic, shoplifting family takes a child and wasn't caught in public. Do they not have amber alert and do people not have cellphones in Japan? In America, it would be all over news, phones, highway signs, and cameras would be searching. If the kid was in public like the film, she would been caught immediately.
This film suffers basic rule Show, don't tell. Film is visual media. You are suppose to show scenes not talk about it. This is a serious problem throughout film.
For example, Expositional dialogue - telling your viewers basic information. Nobuyo and Osamu talk about grandma's pension in casual conversation. Osamu asked about how much she makes. This is bad writing because they are suppose to know how much grandma makes. Another example of bad writing, Yuri willingly follows Osamu, an old man. Why would a abused girl follow a random old man in street and trust him so easily, after trying to hid from everyone. After being abused by adults, why would be so trusting??
Also, Yuri talks about her abuse, shows her address, and shows bruises. In what world, does an abused child openly talks about their abuse and trust strangers???? Remember when your a kid and you broke something. Do you tell your parents or lie and hid it? It's the same behavior. She should be ashamed and not talk about it until after years or not at all. More realistic behavior of children that are abuse is Children of Nobody, the Korean drama. The kids on that show don't talk about it, but show signs of abuse like violent bursts, attempting suicide, defensive positions/flinches, etc. Nobody talks about it because of shame and guilt.
Lastly, Shota feeling guiltily from stealing popsicles and shop goes bankrupt. It was most ridiculous scene in film to make moral agenda of him shoplifting. If Shota paid, at best the shopkeeper would make like $5 compared to monthly rent and living costs in thousands. The truth is that these mom and pop stores go bankrupt because they are obsolete. Nobody needs stores anymore.
The top reviewer who rated this film six, doesn't understand intent of films. The point of this film taking place in history times is because of guns make bows and arrows obsolete. It would be ridiculous to have bow and arrow battle in modern times, when there are guns.
This film was clearly an action film and should be criticized for choreography. This it not historical political/ documentaries and should not be compared as such. It is like comparing a steak to a watermelon. You can't expect watermelon to be a steak.
What makes you say that? It felt chillingly real to me. I think while Jong Soo is presented as this pure, quiet…
Is this the conclusion you guys decided about the film? This film is a love triangle murder mystery about social class?
I recently binged some Lee Chang Dong's films and they were mostly simple melodramatic stories, but this film is different entirely. It's filled with symbolism and depth like old Hollywood films.
For example, a big motif of dividing lines in the film like: 1. Trump building a wall on Mexican border 2. Jong-su literally lives on dividing line between South and North Korea 3. the wood between the two glass panes separating Jong-su and Ben 4. the window pane of Jong-su car separated him from Ben 5. the elevator slit splitting Jong-su and Ben as they go up his apartment
I'm guessing there's something political themes between South and North Korea and maybe even more. However, I don't know enough Korean culture or politics to figure out all layers in the film. Also, I didn't understand the collage photo in the art museum looks like the major events in Korea. There probably was wordplay with Korean language that was lost in translation, too. This the real tragedy.
The other reviewer, "For me what Koreeda wanted to achieve was to tackle very important social issues, that foreigners and especially Japanese tend to hide in a corner knowing that they exist and at the same time smiling like nothing is wrong. "
Since when is child abuse and low income families isn't talk about??? There's tons of TV shows and films that deal with this issue all the time and even Koreeda has other films deals same issues.
The most common criticism I see on this site constantly is this film is realistic; therefore, this film or show is best. In what reality, do you live in that several major events happen in 2 hours of your life? Realistically, it would take 100 episodes for 1-2 major events in real life. Completely realistic, shoplifting family takes a child and wasn't caught in public. Do they not have amber alert and do people not have cellphones in Japan? In America, it would be all over news, phones, highway signs, and cameras would be searching. If the kid was in public like the film, she would been caught immediately.
This film suffers basic rule Show, don't tell. Film is visual media. You are suppose to show scenes not talk about it. This is a serious problem throughout film.
For example, Expositional dialogue - telling your viewers basic information. Nobuyo and Osamu talk about grandma's pension in casual conversation. Osamu asked about how much she makes. This is bad writing because they are suppose to know how much grandma makes. Another example of bad writing, Yuri willingly follows Osamu, an old man. Why would a abused girl follow a random old man in street and trust him so easily, after trying to hid from everyone. After being abused by adults, why would be so trusting??
Also, Yuri talks about her abuse, shows her address, and shows bruises. In what world, does an abused child openly talks about their abuse and trust strangers???? Remember when your a kid and you broke something. Do you tell your parents or lie and hid it? It's the same behavior. She should be ashamed and not talk about it until after years or not at all. More realistic behavior of children that are abuse is Children of Nobody, the Korean drama. The kids on that show don't talk about it, but show signs of abuse like violent bursts, attempting suicide, defensive positions/flinches, etc. Nobody talks about it because of shame and guilt.
Lastly, Shota feeling guiltily from stealing popsicles and shop goes bankrupt. It was most ridiculous scene in film to make moral agenda of him shoplifting. If Shota paid, at best the shopkeeper would make like $5 compared to monthly rent and living costs in thousands. The truth is that these mom and pop stores go bankrupt because they are obsolete. Nobody needs stores anymore.
This film was clearly an action film and should be criticized for choreography. This it not historical political/ documentaries and should not be compared as such. It is like comparing a steak to a watermelon. You can't expect watermelon to be a steak.
I recently binged some Lee Chang Dong's films and they were mostly simple melodramatic stories, but this film is different entirely. It's filled with symbolism and depth like old Hollywood films.
For example, a big motif of dividing lines in the film like:
1. Trump building a wall on Mexican border
2. Jong-su literally lives on dividing line between South and North Korea
3. the wood between the two glass panes separating Jong-su and Ben
4. the window pane of Jong-su car separated him from Ben
5. the elevator slit splitting Jong-su and Ben as they go up his apartment
I'm guessing there's something political themes between South and North Korea and maybe even more. However, I don't know enough Korean culture or politics to figure out all layers in the film. Also, I didn't understand the collage photo in the art museum looks like the major events in Korea. There probably was wordplay with Korean language that was lost in translation, too. This the real tragedy.
here is link to photo:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7282468/mediaviewer/rm3229183744