So-won

First of all, KUDOS to the director for keeping it gore-free. And thanks to him for such a DECENT, SENSITIVE and yet POWERFUL portrayal of a real-life incident without all the unnecessary elements. OMG! the way he handled a delicate topic very effectively and efficiently!! Any other (insensitive) director would have butchered the script and screenplay. WOW! Take a (lots of) bow, the ENTIRE CREW. EXTREMELY emotional. NEVER once did the director steer away from the subject. This EASILY TOPS as the BEST movie to WATCH in the history of world cinema. I'm already using this movie as benchmark and bashing other movies that they are not up to this movie's mark! Such is the impact of this movie on me.

There is no 100/10 on IMDb. Otherwise, my rating for this movie is exactly that and may be even more because 10/10 seems to be blase after watching this movie.

Even the little boy who cries towards the end for not accompanying the girl on that day, was so powerful histrionics-wise, that I'm BOWLED over by all the performances!! SPELL-BOUND! All the 3 lead actors DESERVED an Oscar each. I will give away one to each of them, really. The music was sensitive and seamless too, without jarring your ears. And coming back to the story, I cannot believe this was an actual incident that happened.

The scene between the father and the daughter at the hospital when he tries to shift her to another room is very touching! The emotions choke you because truth is always bitter. How the community chips in to help in every which way they could, is a revelation!

And WHAT the heck do you say about the JUDGE for going "easy" on the pervert bastard?! HE should have been the first one to be beaten to death. Does not he even have the basic IQ to analyze that the pervert criminal had all the time and "sanity" of the brain to plan this and leave her to death? No matter where you are, women and children have to be careful, they cannot rest on the immoral judges or ridiculous judiciary system or the spineless police force. I could not digest the sentence or the judge's words. And what a BRAVE girl is she! HOPE she is safe, sound and happy, even after the pervert is released.

So Won (aka Hope also aka Wish) is a movie about a terrible event (the rape by a drunkard of a 9 yo girl) that shatters a family. It unravels slowly showing at first the parents (the father in particular case) who seem somehow too busy to take care of their daughter, then the tragedy happens, this part is not too graphic (thank God) but we are made aware that the poor girl will bear physical consequences for the rest of her life. Then there's the trial, and the need of money, and the shame for being at the center of attention. I was afraid this movie was going to be somehow a classic tearjerker describing the struggle of the family with money, work, slow/inefficient justice and so on. But the second half of the movie was about the father trying to get close to his daughter. And I think it was moving, and delicate at the same time.

The acting is very good. The food mascots costumes cuteness level was really over the top. Overall (as the rating suggests) I liked this movie, it was touching.

The only thing that I want to say is that you should watch this movie. And if you don't watch it, be regret :( I cried a lot, the acting was incredible, totally love the girl. In my thoughts, this may be a movie about father and daughter and I was completely fallen for it! How poor the little girl was, I can't imagine what she had been through! Her acting was very good, I even thought she had really been through that tragedy :'( And her Father was really really a emotional man, not like what I thought he would be at the beginning! He made me think of my Father and I just cried a lot! He won the Blue Dragon Award for The Best Actor! I think he totally deserved it! Btw, the movie got the Award too! SHOULD WATCH!

I cried my eyes out.. It's really a good movie, the actors did really a great job acting i was so into it, it's a soo sad movie but at the same time it's full of positivity I recommend it you have to watch it!

After watching this film for the fourth time, I have decided to write a review. After the first watch, it went straight into my top 10. After multiple viewings, I gained more respect for it. But we must remember a good premise doesn't make a good film.. You still need execution.

And yes.. It was executed well. First off credit to Lee Joon-Ik for taking this film in the right direction, he could of gone into police investigations and court battles.. But instead decided to take this tragic true-story and go down the route of love and support from family, friends and community. The score and cinematography will not blow you away, but it fits the theme and tone perfectly.

Sol Kyung-Gu (Dong-Hoon), Uhm Ji-Won (Mi-Hee) & Lee Re (So-Won/Hope) are all outstanding. Throughout the entirety of the film, they don't miss a beat. Never have actors made me feel for characters they way those three did and continue to. They rest of the supporting cast is also very solid in their performances.

You may think after the first time that the emotional impact would wear off, but Hope has brought tears to my eyes every time (during three different scenes too, but always scenes between Sol Kyung-Gu and Lee Re. The chemistry is real!). Yet it is the only film to make me shed a tear.

I believe this is both the happiest and saddest film I have watched. Tears of happiness, tears of sadness.. and incredible outrage. No film has ever come close to making me feel like this. I don't think another will either. A true masterpiece of a drama.