This review may contain spoilers
“Friendship or First Love? A Bittersweet Coming-of-Age Tale”
I am heartbroken and slightly traumatized by the ending of the movie. However, I wouldn’t place all the blame on the ending itself, because I had already sensed what was coming through the ongoing struggles in Ann’s life and Jane’s journey of trying to understand her feelings and herself throughout the film.
This movie portrays the coming-of-age theme through the characters of Ann and Jane, who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Through Ann's character, I deeply felt the suffering of an individual growing up in poverty. There was a restlessness and uncertainty in teenage Ann’s eyes that made my heart ache — even in moments when she was simply living in the present. I could feel the weight of her life in every scene, especially the constant anxiety about money and survival. The fear of what might happen if there were no roof over one’s head was ever-present. To make things worse, her mother’s gambling habits added to her misery and made life even more difficult for Ann and her siblings.
Though Jane did not face economic hardship like Ann, she experienced a quiet kind of suffering as she struggled to understand her feelings and identity. She represented a typical, confused teenager—unsure about her sexual identity and the difference between romantic and platonic love. The film doesn’t clearly show, or perhaps I couldn’t fully grasp, whether Jane’s feelings for Ann were romantic or platonic. However, it was clear that Ann loved Jane romantically, especially in the intimate scene where tears streamed down her face after hearing Jane’s confused response. But from some scenes where Jane was deeply admiring Ann's beauty and talent, her face seemed like "she was falling in love like an autumn leaf ". Not only those scenes, but also the ring scene, Jane’s concern for Ann’s future, and her painful longing for Ann revealed that Jane’s caring feelings went beyond friendship.
Overall, I experienced the playful spirit of teenage life — the mischievous moments, the warmth of having like-minded friends, and the escape into fantasy (when Ann and Jane lose themselves watching the luxurious floating restaurant from afar). The film’s gentle slice-of-life storytelling, combined with a bittersweet touch of reality, made my viewing experience truly memorable. THANKS -.-
This movie portrays the coming-of-age theme through the characters of Ann and Jane, who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Through Ann's character, I deeply felt the suffering of an individual growing up in poverty. There was a restlessness and uncertainty in teenage Ann’s eyes that made my heart ache — even in moments when she was simply living in the present. I could feel the weight of her life in every scene, especially the constant anxiety about money and survival. The fear of what might happen if there were no roof over one’s head was ever-present. To make things worse, her mother’s gambling habits added to her misery and made life even more difficult for Ann and her siblings.
Though Jane did not face economic hardship like Ann, she experienced a quiet kind of suffering as she struggled to understand her feelings and identity. She represented a typical, confused teenager—unsure about her sexual identity and the difference between romantic and platonic love. The film doesn’t clearly show, or perhaps I couldn’t fully grasp, whether Jane’s feelings for Ann were romantic or platonic. However, it was clear that Ann loved Jane romantically, especially in the intimate scene where tears streamed down her face after hearing Jane’s confused response. But from some scenes where Jane was deeply admiring Ann's beauty and talent, her face seemed like "she was falling in love like an autumn leaf ". Not only those scenes, but also the ring scene, Jane’s concern for Ann’s future, and her painful longing for Ann revealed that Jane’s caring feelings went beyond friendship.
Overall, I experienced the playful spirit of teenage life — the mischievous moments, the warmth of having like-minded friends, and the escape into fantasy (when Ann and Jane lose themselves watching the luxurious floating restaurant from afar). The film’s gentle slice-of-life storytelling, combined with a bittersweet touch of reality, made my viewing experience truly memorable. THANKS -.-
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