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Tropey and Unimaginative
A potentially entertaining short series held back by a tropey unimaginative plot centered on school bullying and populated with mostly stereotypical mafia and teen drama archtypes. The few female characters were almost laughably superficial, as were most of the school bullies and adult gangsters. The only character with any real depth was the second male lead, but even in his case there is a noticeable disconect that comes from the fact that many of his actions are only explainable if he's madly in love with the first male lead, only the show keeps trying to insist they are just buddies.Was this review helpful to you?
A Sad Melancholic but Ultimately Uplifting Tale
I happened to come across this film on an airplane halfway across the world from Japan and gave it a try.It's a slow melancholic but ultimately somewhat uplifting tale centered on how parents mourning for their daughter and a woman mourning for her best friend are eventually able to find comfort as they uncover a series of (mostly very positive) surprises about the life of the dead girl, whose example eventually helps encourage them move on with their own lives.
The acting was good, but they could have done more with this plot to make a bit more lively.
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Highly Supenseful
I was a bit unsure how much I was going to like this show at first given that the shocking brutal violence in the initial episodes seemed more graphic than necessary and I worried that it might devolve into a typical weekly plotted all action revenge story. But it proved so much more than that. Above all, this was easily the most suspenseful show I've watched all year. It had me on the edge of my seat for the entire back half of the season with a more complex than expected plot, unpredictable twists that surprised without completely stretching credibility, and a magnificent performance from the cast, particularly the two main female leads, as well as Lee Ho Jung as the antagonist.Was this review helpful to you?
A Pleasant Surprise
I stumbled into this film while on a long trans-Pacific flight. A Cannes Film Festival official selection based on a true legal case. What is surprising about this film is that with the central court case itself largely glossed over within the drama despite the eye-catching title. It turns out to be more of a coming-of-age romantic melodrama with impossibly high stakes at a personal level than a full-throated indictment of the industry. But though it’s tight focus on the lead character perhaps reduces its impact as social commentary, I found it quite engaging in an understated way. This is primarily because Kyoko Saito, a former teen idol herself, really brings her character to life. I only wish the ending had been a little less rushed.Was this review helpful to you?
