Sunflower

This one should work for all who are accustomed to Korean crime dramas. They are often considered to be heavy handed , but to be honest that has almost always worked for me somehow , specially because of the genuine performances by the main characters involved.

The story is simple. Its about an ex gangster who is free from prison after serving ten years. All he wants is a second chance in life. A chance for a little bit of happiness and peace for the ones he loves.

But a constant threat always looms over his family and threatens to awaken the demon inside him.

(Decided to write this short review seeing there was just one other seriously misleading review for this genuinely decent movie)

Tae-sik, who cleansed up the neighborhood back alley with his bare knuckle after dropping out of high school, is released on parole.

The once sacrificial sheep of Tae-sik's friend Min-seok has become a detective and Tae-sik's henchmen friends have turned on each other's back.

As if have forgotten the old days he shared with them, Tae-sik only does what he wishes to do, which was written down on his crumpling small scrapbook.

Tae-sik finds a warm shelter in the small neighborhood food joint 'Sunflower'.

Tae-sik tries to live a quiet new life with the lady who runs the restaurant and her daughter, Hee-ju.

from the second half onwards the movie becomes more and more melodramatic and bursts of violence is thrown in every now and then.

A little bit more common sense would have been desirable.

"Haebaragi, Sunflower" can't evoke the tears that it was actually expected to deliver.

This movie is very lackluster compared to the rest of Korean cinema, it is very typical and fits a little too much with a Hollywood title. I'd recommend better movies about gangster's such as New World and Inside Men. I was hoping for more from this movie but it delivered an extremely underwhelming and predictable experience.

Sunflower, a story about a 30-something gangster getting released from prison and trying to avoid sliding back to the thuggish underworld is a bit surprisingly not so much about being a gangster as it is about importance of family and forgiveness.

As Korean cinema generally is, Sunflower is pretty heavy handed and syrupy when it comes to melodrama, though I'm personally one of those who forgive and even enjoy the slightly campy tear jerking occasions. Actors deliver a solid, though not particularly memorable, performances. Cinematography is also fine.

The most obvious weakness in Sunflower is the predictability - you can see the conclusion of the movie coming from miles away and it plays out just as I expected it to play. Either way, a decent, watchable Korean flick to spend two hours with, no disappointments or broken expectations there.

I was completely taken aback after watching this extraordinary film in its genre. Expecting a gritty gangster movie with cold-blooded action sequences, I instead found myself immersed in a deeply emotional and powerful drama.

Sunflower follows the story of Tae-shik, a former gangster released on parole who seeks to live a normal life with a woman he calls the "sunflower lady" and her daughter. However, his journey is far from smooth, as he faces numerous challenges that test his resolve.

The script and screenplay were exceptional, and the execution was top-notch. Though the film moves at a slower pace, it remains deeply engaging, holding the viewer's attention throughout. Sunflower is a compelling mix of emotions, and by the end, it delivers a well-choreographed action sequence that adds to its impact.

Rae-won Kim gives an outstanding performance as Tae-shik, while the mother and daughter deliver equally impressive portrayals. The villain, though not particularly memorable, does a decent job.

An emotional drama with a touch of action.

My rating: 7.9/10.