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Sadness and brokenness
What should I say? I have a kind of weakness towards films that are based on real events. I will like them anyway. (Please check the historic background of the movie yourself too! You won't understand it otherwise. This movie was the first movie ever made about this event.)I guess this one I found even more beautiful because I've been to Jioufen/Jiufen before (where the movie is set), and to see how beautiful the place looked like in the past, and how similar, makes me feel sentimental. I recognized some streets and the view of the coastline was exactly the same as I have seen.
This amazing cast also makes the movie great. I especially liked how they incorporated the many different languages that were spoken at the time. In one scene, 3 different languages were spoken and 2 people were translating. Another thing I liked was the cinematography. It's a movie where you don't always know what is exactly happening, you have to wait and find out together with the characters. The length of scenes, the point of view of the camera, the way the camera would stay in place and sometimes a character would go just outside of the frame but still the scene continued, and the use of music, especially having no music in the longer scenes where the deaf male lead was communicating through writing, it all elevates the experience of the movie.
The story itself shows many different emotions, but it does indeed end with sadness and brokenness. And knowing the history, it's not just for the city, the story is bigger and continues even after this movie.
Is this the best movie you will ever see, it depends on what you like but probably not. Is this an impressive masterpiece about important history, with a story that is needed to be told. I think it is.
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Finding your own path in life
Later, I Laughed/不讨好的勇气 (2024) is a great drama about finding your own path in life.The story itself is not perfect and has some parts where it felt like it was repeating or didn't truly seem complete. However, overall, it was wonderfully done. It shows the troubles and struggles of life and finding who you are and where to go to. It had everything a modern Slice of Life drama could bring, true friendships, family overcoming their struggles, work life and relationship problems, and some important flashbacks to the past to learn more about different characters. It overcame the seriousness of life by using stand-up comedy.
The theme of using stand-up comedy is unique for a C-drama and reflects the quite recent developments of the rise in popularity of stand-up comedy in China. (Fun fact: some of the side characters who played stand-up comedians are real stand-up comedians in China, you can find them on YouTube on Xiaoguo Comedy)
The acting was great and I loved how many of the side characters had an important role in the story. Most characters were given a chance to show their background and everyone had character development which was great! Even the ex showed that he could change, but that he didn't just do it for her, but more for himself.
It had an open ending (with regards to romance), but it felt like it was done in the right way for this drama, it shows that life and your view on life can indeed always change, which was what the whole story was showing. It also did give a direction to where it probably would go so the open ending didn't feel frustrating.
I would definitely rewatch it, but mostly for the comedy as I really loved that.
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