Sunday, 30 October 2005

• I wonder if any of you watched the korean movie titled The Way Home fews hours ago on 8tv. I find it to be very touching. But there are parts which were funny, like KFC, haircut and doing business at night. Reminds me so much of Dexter.

  

  Synopsis...

  This subtle and bucolic Korean film is "dedicated to all grandmas" by its director Jeong-hyang Lee. The story concerns bratty, selfish seven-year-old Sang-Woo (Seung-Ho Yoo) who is sent out into the mountains to live with his ancient, mute, partially deaf grandmother (Eul-Boon Kim) while his stressed-out single mom looks for work back in the city. Angry and resentful, the boy is bored with his new life of simple food, sleeping on the floor in a one-room hut, and having nowhere to buy batteries for his dying handheld video game. Eventually Grandma's humble patience and unconditional love get through to him, and there's plenty of space for comic vignettes and moving moments of stillness along the way. The boy's hyper world of candy and toys contrasts with grandma's slow, natural environment and allows for contemplation on our rapidly changing culture. This is the second film from Ms. Lee, whose cast consists largely of inexperienced locals from the village where she shot the film. Eul-Boon Kim is a particularly amazing discovery as the grandmother; she had never even seen a movie before being cast.

  More pictures (+ captions)...

  Part 1 (not in sequence)

  

  Chicken! Yes! Chicken! KFC!

  He was delighted when grandma was going to town to buy him what he wanted. He waved goodbye with a smile.

  Poor grandma went to town, bought a chicken, and steamed it. She brought his dinner to the table.

  

  What is this? I said KFC! Fried! Why do you give me steamed chicken? *cried out loud*

  He woke up in the middle of the night because of hunger. Made his way finishing the chicken even.

  Part 2

  He likes this girl and is going to see her (to play with her) so he walked to the mirror and arranged his hair. Argh, no hair gel. Looks like he'll have to ask for grandma's help again.

  

  Cut this little...

  

  This much? Okay...

  

  Cutting process going on...

  

  What is this!? I didn't ask you to cut till that. Looks so terrible. *cries out loud*

  

  Hrm... how do i cover up this mess? With this cloth maybe?

  Part 3

  Grandma went home late as she had something to do. Sang Woo waited long at the bus stop. Once seeing her, he asked what took her so long. As grandma is deaf-mute, she just gave a sorry sign. It's not like he would understand anyway. Sang Woo helped her carrying her stuff.

  

  I'm giving grandma this chocolate biscuit i planned to keep for tomorrow's snack.

  One day, grandma received a letter from Sang Woo's mum saying she'll be bringing him back to Seoul soon. She showed it to Sang Woo.

  

  Grandma, because you can't use the phone, i'm teaching you to write 2 sentences. "I miss you" and "I am sick". Remember to mail me, so that i can rush to see you while you are sick.

  Can't you write faster? If so, you should just mail me an empty letter. I would know you are sick.

  Part 4

  Sang Woo dare not wish his grandma anything while leaving. He was shy. Before entering the bus, he gave his grandma a picture of his favourite toy.

  

  The bus finally started moving. He went to the back to wave his grandma goodbye. He did the sorry sign. Since then, they both mail letter to one another. Just a big drawn picture and words  saying "I miss you" and when Sang Woo was sick, he mailed to his grandma about it too.

  Reviews...

  These are two i've chosen...

  While trying to find a self-supporting job, a stressed-out single mom leaves her 7yo son with his grandmother, a crippled, horribly bent-over, backwards living, ancient crone who lives in a dilapidated hut in the middle of a mountainous rural area. Not only that: she's mute. The boy arrives with battery-operated video toys, spoiled, demanding, and scornful of his grandmother, her home, his surroundings. She, in turn, is stoic, uncomplaining, forgiving, bestowing unconditional love on the truly unlikeable kid.
  Slowly, as the movie unfolds, the boy learns love and respect.
  An amazing film, made more so by the fact that the old woman essentially plays herself. Not only had she never acted in a film before; she'd never even SEEN one.
  

  This is another great Korean movie. In brief--Sang-Woo is left by his mother at his grandmothers while she looks for a job. Pretty much a spoiled brat his adjustment to the barren lifestyle of his grandmother and her neighbors is difficult to say the least. Somehow, Grandma puts up with the little monster--even when he steals her hairpin to hopefully exchange for batteries for his hand held electronic game--she simply replaces it with a spoon. From his tantrums about the lack of Kentucky fried chicken or the haircut grandma gives him--to his mean jokes about a mad bull--Sang-woo is a pretty bad kid--but in time he learns to appreciate the simple life--perhaps not wholeheartedly, but at least to the point where he realizes he'll miss grandma--even making her promise to send him a blank sheet of paper if she gets sick--so that he'll know--since she can neither speak nor write The performance of Eul-Boon Kim as the deaf grandma is outstanding--but easy to overlook is the great performance by Seung-Ho as Sang-Woo. Supposedly, seven years old--I wouild guess that's about his real age--and he plays his part to perfection!
  I doubt you can find this movie to rent at your local video store--but it's worth buying anyway--so order a copy. If you like movies like "Trip to Bountiful", "Rhapsody in August", "Failan" or "Strangers in Good Company"--you should really enjoy this movie too!
  I have to admit this movie reminded me of my own grandmother who passed away 33 years ago--especially the boiled chicken--what "fond" memories!

  ---

  I was to blog about this, but always forgot. Now that God brought it to mind, i shall blog about it.

  See... boys often choose to buy plush toys for their friends of the opposite sex. Actually, they don't know what to buy them. But they think those are what a girl will usually like.

  Well, of course most girls do. But i think that by now, MOST of them should already have up to 10 plush toys. Don't believe me? Start counting them on your bed.

  So i thought, when a boy enters places like Lovely Lace, Teddy Tales, Cute Living, Living Cabin or places like that, for a birthday gift, they should really start looking for cute bags. Besides, i believe you would love to see them carrying it out, right?

  This is just my few cents of opinion and tips. Tata~!

  PS: All the best to my elder sis and the rest of 2005 SPMers. May God be with you throughout the exam. And not to forget, your self confidence! Just, pray to Him before you start reading your papers. I believe it will be much easier than if you did not pray.

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