JazBrown

I quite enjoyed this film -- even though with Korean dialog, without subtitles, and with my inability to understand Korean -- I couldn't understand what was said or the details of the plot. But I was pleasantly surprised by the style of film, conveying to me an emotionally attuned perspective to the events of the primary characters (something of an "European style" film, in my perspective. This is not a film full of action scenes and special effects; I enjoyed its focus on the lives of the primary character (the teacher) and his five students.

A wonderful performance by a boy actor. The boy, Philip, is trust into a nightmare situation, but draws upon sufficient strength to keep on going. Butch, a fugitive criminal, behaves erratically; at times with great sensitivity towards Philip and other children, and at other times with complete disregard for the emotional effect of his terrifying actions. This film is otherwise a fairly plain, but not too stereotyped, Hollywood fantasy story of a fugitive on the run.

This is an emotionally powerful (and sad) film about a boy coming to terms with the fact that his mother, who he loves dearly, is dying. It is also about being a child in a world where everyone older than you treats you with great condescension. Adults make decisions affecting his life without so much as asking for his opinion. No one talks about death, but it is in the back of his mind at all times. Everyone tries to hide what is really going on, as if "what you don't know won't hurt you", but the boy is hurting badly.

There are no car chases, shoot-outs, or space aliens in this film. This film is about real life, about growing up, and about children's sexuality. It is told wonderfully well, from a child's perspective.

A magnificent film.