The Old Garden

Former socialist activist Oh is released from prison and recalls his old love, Han. Han had provided a safe house for Oh while he was on the run several years earlier. Oh is presented is a handsome, amateur poet, but his reason for being a fugitive is not presented well nor his exact role in the leftist protests. He never shows or displays any leadership. Han is happy to provide shelter, and a bed, more as an obligation to school friends. The entire leftist movement is presented with some sarcasm - the group is shown in petty Marxist arguments and victimized by the armed government troops, Han, our eyes in the middle of it all, rolls her eyes and shakes her head. The point of view of the film switches from Oh to Han half way thru and she's the far more interesting character, and then the old terminal disease deal comes up. There's some really nice cinematography in this film which matches the mood as subdued from the start and descending into melancholy. Nice film but a bit of a downer.

I found this movie to be really good but it was kind of slow in some parts fast and others and I'm still not up to date on Korean history back then I'm just learning and sometimes I learned just by watching some of the historical movies like this one but I love the actors and actresses because I've seen them in other things so this is really good for me as an American to learn about Asian culture I could read books which I love reading books but watching movies helps me guide so this is a guide for me I found a lot of the reviews really long on this but that's because they have a better understanding than I do I still liked it I gave it a nine star because some of the slow parts that was the only reason.