Je m'appelle Loh Kiwan

A film about illegal immigration, seeking refuge, and the right to live, 'My Name is Loh Kiwan' aims at showing us the grim reality of immigration and life as a nomad. Loh Kiwan, played by Song Joong-ki, is a young North Korean defector who is forced to enter Belgium in a desperate attempt to survive. Enduring harsh conditions as the Belgian government determines his fate, he meets Marie, a drug addict seeking refuge from her troubled reality. Their survival amid the odds serves as the basic premise of the film.

The film masterfully juxtaposes the main plotline with a secondary narrative involving Marie's entanglement with nefarious elements. While this subplot adds depth to her character, it occasionally falters in its execution, with certain aspects feeling less compelling than others. While grappling with technical shortcomings, the film's central message of hope and resilience shines through, leaving viewers with a profound sense of reflection and empathy for the struggles of refugees. My Name is Loh Kiwan stands as a testament to the power of love to transcend barriers and illuminate the darkest corners of the human experience.

My Rating : 7.5/10.

... And that's NOT meant to be a good thing.

LLV is close to 30 years old now, and it spawned (or popularized) the whole depressive, bleak, love story genre. Unfortunately, for many of us (me included), we don't want to waste 2+ hours of our lives watching a slog fest of one bad event, one poor choice, one chance encounter after another. The world has changed. A lot of folks are stuck in situations similar to this. We don't need movies to show us. We could watch the news. We watch movies to escape reality, not be subjected to a fictionalized version of day-to-day news reals.

This genre is (or should be) dead. You'll feel no better, informed, entertained, etc. After sitting through it.

Other gripes: The typical "leg-up" events that occur during the story that are needed to keep you watching. They make no sense and are out of place. This culminates in a "happy ending" which is so obviously Scotch-taped, tacked-on at the end, that you feel you got from Point A to Point Z without ever travelling through B thru Y.

Additionally, the lead love interest is so un-fleshed out, you have a hard time believing she goes from self-destructive druggie to reliable upstart, friend, and lover. Just another example of the jarring transitions in character, setting, situation, all of which aren't developed...they just...happen, and make this hard to watch with any interest.

To the folks that profess this is a "character development study". What character development are you speaking of? The random changes in mood, motivation, and behaviors? That ISN'T character development. That's lazy writing.

I feel disappointed.

" The story was flowing along intrestingly and pretty good showing the male lead's hardships. I was hoping it would continue that way. His struggles for work and warmth and a roof over his head were authentic. " "The movie seemed to have spent more time on the "love" story and Marie's drama than on what should've been the focus of the story, Loh's journey to freedom. "

The Fl sounded like a spoiled brat. I didn't like her character. Plus, Their love plot sounded illogical.

The gangster scenes was just laughable and the European gangsters very stereotyped.

Song jong ki's facial expressions were almost the same. He could have done better.

The Fl's acting was okay. I think she deserves more recognition.

The story behind this movie has so much potential- it's already a set of heartbreaking circumstances. Yet, it feels like the sentimentality is forced, especially in the last section of the movie.

The acting performances are quite good, though the dialogue is many times lackluster. Especially the scenes where Marie says goodbye to her father and Kiwan the dialogues are on the extra level of lackluster. These scenes are supposed to make you cry- but they don't. The actors do what they can when they can, but they shine in scenes where they don't speak much.

Some parts of the story are told through the dialogue as well, but the way they are told is just really flat. I cannot help but believe the scenario writing could have been so much better.

This movie in its entirety, based off of story alone, is supposed to make you sob- but it doesn't. Still, the story itself and the acting performances save the movie, so it's watchable and decent.

This tale will tear at your heart but also soar you to heights of happiness. This movie captivates, draws you in and enable you to feel the pains, hardships and joy that Lo Kiwon faces.

A must see. It takes us through a journey forged in pain and desperation and ends with love and hope.

There is no added fluff. This is a gritty tale that is probably all too real.a tale that comfortable people may find very uncomftable to learn.

Sitting in a warm spacious room in Maryland USA, it's hard to imagine what emigrants face. This movie is a first person rendition of the terrible plight of the immigrant, even in enlightened countries.

Don't we all deserve the freedom to live a full life?

The characters were very real, from his mom, friends and relatives, to the people who harbored him, fed him, worked with him, to the woman who entered his life as a villain and became a love.

Please watch this movie. It's making me be more proactive and human.