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40
15
This review may contain spoilers
Magnificent family epic set against the stirring backdrop of the last 6 decades of SK history
(Updated)
Exceptional. I'm completely thrilled …and after 16 episodes it is hard to say goodbye.
"When Life Gives You Tangerines" is…
...an outstanding enrichment in the KDrama orbit.
...a magnificent family epic set against the stirring backdrop of the last six decades of South Korean history.
...an impressive monument to the almost hopeless, desperate struggle of Korean women for a dignified, joyful, and somewhat self-confident life aside from their gender role - exemplified by fictional Oh Ae-sun from Jeju Island.
...a touching love story that - despite the adverse winds of nasty social, economical and family structures – somehow succeeds to keep love alive.
...a grand masterpiece, brilliantly cast in all instances.
(In my eyes anyway.)
What a wonderful story.
What a fantastically lyric look at life (especially the past six decades on Jeju Island).
What outstanding relationship and gender role models (female and male model alike).
What a remarkable love story.
What a sensitive family herstory/history with all its ups and downs.
What a heartfelt tribute to the past 2-3 SK generations and their tenacious perseverance in defying life's challenges.
"When Life Gives You Tangerines" offers visually powerful, and amidst bitter winds of fate, yet also heartwarming and at the same time realistic, lifelike high-end KDrama. Aesthetically finely composed from A to Z. Complex narrative. Great fitting music. With a generous budget, that obviously was not only used for the illustrious cast.
---------------------------------------- SIDE NOTE -------------------------------------------
The story spans three generations on Jeju island. One might think that the very traditional gender role of women in South Korea should have changed during the last 60 years. However, the extent of this change, socially speaking, is shockingly minimal. Especially concerning the widespread disregard and exploitation of women (even among women themselves), who are condemned to function unconditionally as diligent daughters, even more diligent daughters-in-law, (ideally sons) birthing wives, and self-sacrificing mothers. Above all, the eldest daughter traditionally has the hardest fate.
Among South Korean women, seemingly the women on Jeju Island are the most likely to experience female role models who live with respect as human beings and self-confidence as individuals - as Jejudo´s see diving Haenyeos have always earned a comparatively respectable income through their tireless diving for abalone and other valuable seafood. They substantially contribute to the family's prosperity and can thus experience themselves outside their traditional female gender role among colleagues and even as reliable heads of the family. This may contribute to some slight aura of emancipated self-confidence among women, so they might eventually also muster the courage to rebel. Thus, some women on Jeju island may live a somewhat appreciated, valued variation of the female gender role and function as significant, socially influential role models in their social environment. But even in such a potentially rather 'positive' environment, the trap of patriarchy snaps shut and binds women in tight hierarchical structures. Nevertheless, at least Jeju Island offers a cradle for women (as our FL) who might even come up with the idea of daring to break free... And also for exceptional men (as our ML) who grow up in a social environment where they can experience women as valued human beings, too, who are appreciated for more than just their self-sacrifice for home and hearth.
Post-war South Korea was one of the poorest countries of that time. "When Life Gives You Tangerines" with its international title refers to the fact that life may sometimes seem cold and bitter. But like the tangerine from Jeju, the sweetness can be extracted from it and even a warm tea can be conjured up. Strictly speaking, people at that time had no choice but to make the best of it.
The Netflix KDrama takes us through the last 6 decades of South Korean history, with legends eventually providing orientation about historically significant moments. The first four episodes focus on the lives of the protagonists in their youth on Jejudo – at a time when the young republic was initially ruled by the military dictatorship led by Park Chung-hee, who then officially elected himself president in 1963 and subsequently installed a one-man dictatorship until 1979. In the following episodes, we will continue to accompany the two through the dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan, who i.e. with the Olympic Games wanted to present a great South Korea to the rest of the world – no matter what the cost. We will stumble with them into the beginnings of true democracy, which, however, was thwarted by the harsh years of the Asian financial crisis and another wave of poverty. Through the eyes of Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong (who is also portrayed by wonderful IU in a double-role) we will also experience the era of tubo-capitalism and digitalization, which ultimately brought prosperity to Jeju Island, too...
Amid these swaying decades, Ae-sun and her reliable partner Gwang-sik are creating a unique, authentic, remarkably heartwarming and encouraging constant.
Exceptional. I'm completely thrilled …and after 16 episodes it is hard to say goodbye.
"When Life Gives You Tangerines" is…
...an outstanding enrichment in the KDrama orbit.
...a magnificent family epic set against the stirring backdrop of the last six decades of South Korean history.
...an impressive monument to the almost hopeless, desperate struggle of Korean women for a dignified, joyful, and somewhat self-confident life aside from their gender role - exemplified by fictional Oh Ae-sun from Jeju Island.
...a touching love story that - despite the adverse winds of nasty social, economical and family structures – somehow succeeds to keep love alive.
...a grand masterpiece, brilliantly cast in all instances.
(In my eyes anyway.)
What a wonderful story.
What a fantastically lyric look at life (especially the past six decades on Jeju Island).
What outstanding relationship and gender role models (female and male model alike).
What a remarkable love story.
What a sensitive family herstory/history with all its ups and downs.
What a heartfelt tribute to the past 2-3 SK generations and their tenacious perseverance in defying life's challenges.
"When Life Gives You Tangerines" offers visually powerful, and amidst bitter winds of fate, yet also heartwarming and at the same time realistic, lifelike high-end KDrama. Aesthetically finely composed from A to Z. Complex narrative. Great fitting music. With a generous budget, that obviously was not only used for the illustrious cast.
---------------------------------------- SIDE NOTE -------------------------------------------
The story spans three generations on Jeju island. One might think that the very traditional gender role of women in South Korea should have changed during the last 60 years. However, the extent of this change, socially speaking, is shockingly minimal. Especially concerning the widespread disregard and exploitation of women (even among women themselves), who are condemned to function unconditionally as diligent daughters, even more diligent daughters-in-law, (ideally sons) birthing wives, and self-sacrificing mothers. Above all, the eldest daughter traditionally has the hardest fate.
Among South Korean women, seemingly the women on Jeju Island are the most likely to experience female role models who live with respect as human beings and self-confidence as individuals - as Jejudo´s see diving Haenyeos have always earned a comparatively respectable income through their tireless diving for abalone and other valuable seafood. They substantially contribute to the family's prosperity and can thus experience themselves outside their traditional female gender role among colleagues and even as reliable heads of the family. This may contribute to some slight aura of emancipated self-confidence among women, so they might eventually also muster the courage to rebel. Thus, some women on Jeju island may live a somewhat appreciated, valued variation of the female gender role and function as significant, socially influential role models in their social environment. But even in such a potentially rather 'positive' environment, the trap of patriarchy snaps shut and binds women in tight hierarchical structures. Nevertheless, at least Jeju Island offers a cradle for women (as our FL) who might even come up with the idea of daring to break free... And also for exceptional men (as our ML) who grow up in a social environment where they can experience women as valued human beings, too, who are appreciated for more than just their self-sacrifice for home and hearth.
Post-war South Korea was one of the poorest countries of that time. "When Life Gives You Tangerines" with its international title refers to the fact that life may sometimes seem cold and bitter. But like the tangerine from Jeju, the sweetness can be extracted from it and even a warm tea can be conjured up. Strictly speaking, people at that time had no choice but to make the best of it.
The Netflix KDrama takes us through the last 6 decades of South Korean history, with legends eventually providing orientation about historically significant moments. The first four episodes focus on the lives of the protagonists in their youth on Jejudo – at a time when the young republic was initially ruled by the military dictatorship led by Park Chung-hee, who then officially elected himself president in 1963 and subsequently installed a one-man dictatorship until 1979. In the following episodes, we will continue to accompany the two through the dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan, who i.e. with the Olympic Games wanted to present a great South Korea to the rest of the world – no matter what the cost. We will stumble with them into the beginnings of true democracy, which, however, was thwarted by the harsh years of the Asian financial crisis and another wave of poverty. Through the eyes of Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong (who is also portrayed by wonderful IU in a double-role) we will also experience the era of tubo-capitalism and digitalization, which ultimately brought prosperity to Jeju Island, too...
Amid these swaying decades, Ae-sun and her reliable partner Gwang-sik are creating a unique, authentic, remarkably heartwarming and encouraging constant.
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