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I am aware it’s only been last month since I watched these films yet I had forgotten the fresh feeling it has brought me so much of these reviews are just recollections of whatever pieces I had remembered. Also, most of these are from South Korean cinema so in a way this is Hunyo: SK cinema.
I still have a lot to explore from Korea’s cinema but most of these releases are from women or modern women centered films from coveted directors such as Kim Bora and Yoon Gaeun.
1. House of Hummingbird (2018) dir. Kim Bora
Such a heavy watch but it’s really really good. I don’t remember much but it left a deep impression on me and at that moment touched me immensely to the point that I was crying till the credit rolled out to blackness.
What is the right way to live? Some days I feel like I know, but I really don’t know for sure. I just know that when bad things happen, good things happen too.
When you are tired and sad try to looking at your fingers , then one by one move them around , it will feel very mysterious , you will feel like you can’t do anything but you can move your fingers.
I’ve read how the character of Youngji was offered multiple times to Kim Minhee, with the director addressing letters to her on how she would fit the role but it’s still given justice by Kim Saebuk. I recently found an interview from the director of this film, Kim Bora and it’s quite an interesting short read!
2. Sepet (2005) dir. Yasmin Ahmad
Oh wow. Another gem of a film from the great Malaysian director Yasmin Ahmad! This is the second part of her trilogy about Orked’s life, now as a teenager. It tells a romantic tale between a Chinese and Malaysian couple showing the nuances between the two nations. If you’re familiar with the American series Gilmore Girls, this reminded me of that in ways that Rory and Orked are similar in their stance on politics, literature and references to certain popular media. It’s also a family oriented film showing the closeness of Orked with her family, in parallel with Rory’s tight knit relationship with her mother and the people in her small town.
Everything about this film is right out for my palette and I can’t wait to discover more of the late Yasmin Ahmad’s works!
3. Days of Being Wild (1990) dir. Wong Kar Wai
My [counts fingers] sixth WKW film! I cannot believe this had a whole Philippine sub-story, my home country! I watched this from a bootleg website and most of the subtitles are missing and the Filipino subtitles were just wrong haha. Luckily I understand Tagalog as this also features Filipino actors such as Tita Muñoz. Naturally I wondered if they really filmed in PH and found another read!
Leslie Cheung is absolutely magnetic and phenomenal as well as Maggie Cheung. This entire film felt like ice on my skin, so uncomfortable yet gripping and absolutely addictive. I loved it!! From what I’ve read, this is the first instalment of Wong Kar Wai’s Love series, along with In The Mood For Love and 2046. You can see how his technique is still developing but are set in strong already. I think WKW is working on a drama continuation called Blossom’s Shanghai with Hu Ge! I’m excited!!
“There was a bird which lied and flied until it died. It never goes anywhere. Because it died from the start. I’ve said that I never know which woman is my true love. I wonder what she is doing now. (Groans) Dawn breaks. It looks fine today. How about sunset?”
4. The World of Us (2016) dir. Yoon Gaeun
This one hit it too close to home. Not in its entirety but the bits and pieces of friendship between Sun and Jia reminded me of my own. A coming of age story that tackles bullying, relationships and more that will honestly tug you at the heart because most of us have been through this. Or have experiences reflected by the young talented casts. It absolutely left me sobbing and in awe of such wonders Yoon Gaeun creates. Definitely will be keeping tabs for her next works!
5. Moon Young (2015) dir. Kim Soyeon
A short film starred by Kim Taeri. Initially, I’ve read how this was made into a short but then added to make a feature film of an hour. A story revolving around Moonyoung, played by Kim Taeri, a mute girl that traverses life in companion with her camrecorder and the encounter with one of the girls captured on it.
It’s a silent film with Kim Taeri not having any dialogue but still delivering a gripping performance as her debut film, only acting with her eyes and less with word delivery. Absolutely adored it… I love films like this.
6. Moonlit Winter (2019) dir. Lim Daehyung
So cold yet so warm. An all around great performance from the cast, Kim Minhee and Yuko Nakamura! It felt like a warm hug in the winter, a hot cup of chocolate between your fingers and I’m just overall thankful that such narrative like this exists between the seams. I don’t want to spoil much beyond that but if you’re into slow films this is definitely a treat! I loved it dearly!!
7. 1987: When the Day Comes
I rented this film to finally finish watching all of Kim Taeri’s filmography and although she doesn’t appear until one hour in the film, I did enjoyed it. It reminded me of another historical activist SK film A Taxi Driver (2017) dir. Jang Hoon. It has that energy I’m grateful to have experienced wherein the crowd, a country’s people fights for their nation and you can feel that synergy and determination they have. It’s nice to feel it. Gang Dongwoon is so so fine.
I also watched quite a few short films mainly Korean ones, as the rest of this month has went. They were all so remarkably great!
1. The Recorder Exam (2011) dir. Kim Bora
Another gem from Kim Bora! Who hurt her!?! Just kidding, haha! There’s always something heavy in Kim Bora’s film. Perhaps it’s the sincerity of her filmmaking and the way she treats the coming of age genre with such honesty and kindness that makes you reflect on your own coming of age or childhood. It’s absolutely captivating though the way she films and I love how her works are always women-centric. I can’t wait for her SF movie in the making… love how she’s joining the SF trend South Korea got going on at the moment.
2. Sprout (2013) dir. Yoon Gaeun
Perhaps my favourite Yoon Gaeun film as it was experimental and fun yet still keeping it in the lens of childhood innocence. The way we saw the journey of Bory, on her process of buying bean sprouts from the town’s grocery store. It was fun and I enjoyed it here!
3. Everyday Sins (2014) dir. Kim Yewon
She is literally me… I am literally her… I loved the quirkiness and the whole animation and clearly, how relatable it all is. Man…. she is just like me…
kariktan 