Palwolui Keuriseumaseu

How often do we live our romantic life as on the big screen, with torrid affairs and passionate encounters? Almost never, if what I see as normal life around me is anything to judge by. Romances, as previously stated, are hardly ever earthshaking affairs that leave you at the top of the world or batter and bruised.

Romance, in its every day form, as lived out millions of times over around the world, is a slow, subtle, and quiet affair. Something that grows in you, ever so slowly, probably without you even noticing it slowly taking over your being. No one can tell me when I am in love. For if someone did, I would not believe him anyway, for no one but me would know. And even then, it is just a feeling, a certain knowledge that you are feeling this exalting emotion. That you want nothing but the best for someone, that you would never want to see them suffer a moment of sadness. That you are willing to take a great degree of pain for them. I would not go so far as to say be willing to die for your loved one, for we are all human, and we do not know what we are capable of in the face of death until that moment is upon us.

Is the love between the main characters of the film, ever so subtle and understated, no less noble than that between Romeo and Juliet? The unstated emotions, the unsaid feelings, convey far more than any repeated shouts of "I love you". The restraint shown by the lead actor, displayed ever so poignantly in the scene where he watches his love interest through the cafe window, yet never did he move to make himself known to her, was simply heart-wrenching to watch. Would most of us be selfless enough to remain hidden, knowing that her emotions and feelings could not possibly be reciprocated?

On another note, how will I deal with my own certain death? While I can claim I have been seriously ill, I can not in all honesty say that I have ever come close to death. Will I be so calm, putting all my affairs in order, and leaving instructions for others to take up what I leave behind? I suspect I will be calm, for I will have little choice in the matter. Can I be so selfless? Again, the answer will have to be in the negative. I can empathize with the anguish, knowing that your life is forfeit, that fate has dealt you a fatal blow, and that future events, however little there are of them left, are no longer under your control.

Life is nothing more than a series of small events, the culmination of which may seem great for some in retrospect. But only very rarely.

Hooray for Korean cinema! Last year I saw "Chungyang" and "Nowhere to hide", now I catch up with Hur Jin-ho's directorial debut "Christmas in august". The variety of themes and level of achievement speak highly of a national cinema ripe for discovery. This film's major themes are death and love. The graceful and thoughtful way Jung Won(Han Suk-kyu) copes with his impending death, and the sublimation of his desires toward Darim(Shim Eun-Ha) out of true love for her. I was deeply moved by his careful management of behavior and emotions, shielding Darim from unnecessary pain without rejecting her.

The success of this type of film is predicated on the skill of the actors. Han and Shim excel, being both quite expressive yet naturalistic. A number of secondary characters, Jung Won's relatives, friends, and clients, are quickly delineated to enrich the story without detracting from its main focus. To LIVE is to love, but all things must pass. Pain subsides. Life goes on.

This is a very impressive movie. Actually, it is a heart-breaking romantic story. I feel very sorry about the main actor not confessing his love and affection. Maybe it is out of love, but it is too sad. I also feel sorry for the main actress. She doesn't know what happened and it is unfair to her.

I like the way the director conduct the movie. And if you are not in a hurry, you should watch it. It is memorable.

If you are one of those audience that expect high impact, lots of kisses, and soap opera plots from a love story, this might not be the right movie for you. The movie is quiet and yet its pace and mode really speak for itself. There are sadness to the movie and yet many scenes bring sweetness and tenderness between the main character and the people around him. The scene of Jung-won (the main character) and his sister spitting watermelon seeds; Jung-won writing out instructions of how to use the VCR remote for his father (reminds me of Michael Keaton in "My Life"); the ticketing girl's gesture of love by sitting closer and closer to Jung-won at the park, the old lady coming back to take her very last picture in her life; all these scenes are simple and yet they are so real and really capture audiences' heart. The ticketing girl is weird and cute. Her character definitely contributes a lot to the movie.

If you can sit through the first 15 minutes of the movie, then you are in for a great movie. Very well done.

A quiet young bachelor runs a little photo studio in Seoul. His day to day life consists of opening and closing the store, spending time with his elderly father and the occasional visit to the hospital to receive treatment for a serious illness. The woman he loved since high school has married somebody else and now has a family. They remain acquaintances but the situation is too awkward for them to be close. One day he meets and becomes friends with a young meter maid who regularly visits his studio to develop her photos of illegally parked cars. During the hottest days of summer they allow a bond to form.

This is a truly touching movie that never gets bogged down in sentimentality. The characters are simple, but recognizable and very likable. Although they never openly reveal what is going on in their hearts, the mood and acting in this picture convey it to us perfectly. The story is sad, but never melodramatic. The final sequence, set on a wintry street, is beautiful and moving. This movie deserves to be an international hit.