fukublrblog

[fukublrblog]

Damn! Who would have known BTS would blow their cover 😂😂😂

[fukublrblog]

Analysis of the Ending of Perfect Days

Director: Wim Wenders Germany, Japan / 2023 / 124 min ★★★★☆

Perfect Days is set in Tokyo and follows the quiet, repetitive life of an elderly man named Hirayama, who works as a public toilet cleaner. Every day, he visits different parks across the city, carefully cleaning restrooms. In his leisure time, he enjoys reading novels, listening to cassette tapes, and eating out. It is clear that he wants his lifestyle to be as simple as possible, so he can focus on what he truly enjoys. He tries to avoid household chores by relying on coin laundries and public bathhouses. Moreover, he is reluctant to interact with people around him.

The film is visually stunning. While Tokyo is often portrayed as a chaotic city filled with commercial facilities, neon signs, and advertisements, Wenders highlights its quieter side. Through a palette of blues, greens, and grays, he captures the stillness of the city and the serenity of Hirayama's life.

Up until the final scene, Hirayama appears to be content with his routine. His life seems to consist of “perfect days”. That’s why the final scene is somewhat difficult to fathom. In that scene, he shows mixed emotions while listening to Nina Simone's "Feeling Good.” From my perspective, “Feeling Good” is a kind of song that empowers those who are currently struggling or, at the very least not really feeling good. Does this scene suggest that Hirayama has not entirely found his inner peace, just like many of us?

[fukublrblog]

Perfect Days

[fukublrblog]

Zhang Lu

- Ode to the Goose

2018

[fukublrblog]

Ode to the Goose: Beautifully Structured Movie

Director: Zhang Lü

South Korea / 2018 / 122 min

★★★★☆

If you are someone who has enjoyed many romantic experiences and succeeded in maintaining steady relationships, Zhang Lü’s Ode to the Goose might not resonate with you. To be honest, I am hesitant to admit that it hit home for me. Saying so is almost confessing that I am (or was, hopefully) clumsy and awkward when it comes to romance.

The movie follows a pair who are more than friends, yet not lovers. One is an out-of-work man (played by Park Hae-il) who is not good at handling women. The other is a divorced woman (Moon So-ri) who has experienced the pain of love. The story unfolds out of order; it begins at the height of their relationship, gradually shifting to its end, but midway through, the movie’s title abruptly flashes on screen. From that point, the viewer is taken back to the beginning of their relationship, watching how the two first met and became closer.

At first, this sudden shift almost feels like a mistake, as if the movie is wrongly edited or started from the wrong point. I actually even paused the movie streaming and checked what happened. However, in my opinion, it is an effective structure that reflects the man’s state of mind, emphasizing his sorrow after the breakup. To me, the second half of the movie seems like the man's quiet recollections of better days.

Just like in the movie where it goes back to the past, we sometimes remember the moments we shared with someone special, even if they are no longer by our side. I relate to the man because, during a certain period in my life, I also spent time by myself in that manner.

[fukublrblog]

Memories of Murder: The Line Between Everyman and Psychopath

Director: Bong Joon Ho

South Korea / 2003 / 131 min

★★★☆☆

I'm a sucker for suspense movies, especially those based on real, unsolved crimes, like the Korean movie “Memories of Murder”. Stories like these must be unsettling to people directly affected, as they may relive past trauma, but those stories can sometimes be both gripping and thought-provoking to outsiders.

“Memories of Murder” is based on a series of murders that terrorized the rural area of Hwaseong, South Korea, between 1986 and 1991. Although the killer has since been arrested, the movie focuses on the period when the case remained unsolved, effectively capturing the tense and uncertain mood of the time.

The movie features Song Kang-ho as a local detective leading the investigation. In my opinion, whenever he is in a movie, his presence defines the entire atmosphere. He can bring a wide range of emotions to the screen, which makes me feel that the movie depends heavily on his ability as an actor. In “Memories of Murder”, his performance is remarkable too, but Park Hae-il, who plays one of the suspects, also leaves a strong impression. His character appears to be an innocent and naive man. His soft skin, intellectual attitude, and calm behavior stand out in the rural town where most of the men are wild factory workers and farmers. At first glance, he does not look like a serial killer by any means and that is exactly why there is something creepy about him. Park Hae-il skillfully embodies the both sides of the suspect.

Where on earth is the line between Everyman and a psychopath? The question remains.

[fukublrblog]

Memories Of Murder (2003)

[fukublrblog]

Tár: The Downfall, or a New Beginning?

Director: Todd Field

USA / 2022 / 158 min

★★★☆☆

"Tár" is an American movie about the downfall of Lidia Tár, a lesbian chief conductor of a prestigious philharmonic orchestra.

At first, the movie shows her successful life, where she holds upmost control. For example, she works with a Berlin-based symphony orchestra (presumably the Berlin Philharmonic), teaches at a prestigious music conservatory, and lives with her partner and their adopted child in a luxurious home.

This is how the story begins, but in the middle of the movie, there is an ominous feeling in the air when one of her former students commits suicide. She is a promising musician whom Tár once asked for a sexual relationship. As it becomes clear that the student's suicide stemmed from Tár’s harassment, the tension of the drama increases. Her life begins to go down in flames, and eventually the audience is faced with an unbelievable ending.

What do we think about the ending, or what ultimately happened to her? I mentioned at the beginning that the movie is about her “downfall", but I learned from the Internet that some people think otherwise. In any case, I think how you feel in the end really depends on your point of view.

Although "Tár" is not a feel-good movie, Cate Blanchett’s performance is undeniably powerful. She not only embodies Tar’s androgynous beauty but also captures a kind of creepiness, often seen in people in power, who end up being so depraved and weird in their personal lives.

[fukublrblog]

Cate Blanchett, Tár, 2022

[fukublrblog]

Aftersun: A Movie That Evokes Profound Emotion

Director: Charlotte Wells

USA,UK / 2022 / 101 min

★★★★☆

"Aftersun" depicts the summer vacation of an eleven-year-old girl and her father at a seaside resort in Turkey. At first glance, the movie seems to follow their enjoyable vacationーswimming, filming a video, and having dinner together. However, in reality, the movie is about the girl, now an adult, looking back on her fragmented memories of the past to uncover clues about her father’s troubled life.

The movie consists of a complex blend of the two elements. One is the footage that she recorded during her vacation, which she watches as an adultーand this is exactly what the audience sees as well, and the other is the image of her father that exists in her mind. I have slightly spoiled the structure of the movie above, but in my opinion, it is better to be aware of this point before watching. Understanding this will definitely help you to enjoy the movie and to deeply understand what the director intends to express through the movie. As for me, I had to watch the movie twice to fully understand the story because I was unfamiliar with its premise.

In both the video and her recollection, her father appears to be struggling mentally. His left arm is bandaged up to the wrist, and his emotional state fluctuates in front of her. The audience cannot tell why he seems to be having a hard time then and whether he is okay now. In my opinion, he is probably no longer alive, since I felt really sad at the end.

Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio deliver outstanding performances as the father and the girl, respectively. It is a must-see movie.

[fukublrblog]

Aftersun (2022), written and directed by Charlotte Wells.

[fukublrblog]

I've been watching When the Phone Rings lately and I love their tense little phone calls <3

[fukublrblog]

Paik Sa-eon : The Most Attractive Man in the 2024 K-Drama World

★★★★☆

Currently, I am hooked on "When the Phone Rings," an ongoing Korean drama series on Netflix. It is a romantic thriller that appeals to fans of both love stories and suspense.

It is about a married couple: a presidential spokesman, Paik Sa-eon, and Hong Hee-joo, who cannot speak due to childhood trauma. Sa-eon has been distant from his wife since their marriage three years ago, but Hee-joo cannot endure this life because it seems like a prison that confines her. However, a phone call prompts her to uncover why her husband has lived without being able to open up to her.

There are many things I admire about this drama: the opening theme music, the plot and the chemistry between the two leads, but most of all, Yoo Yeon-seok delivers a fantastic performance as Paik Sa-eon. Sa-eon has a complex personality. While he is a handsome spokesman with charisma, he always keeps people at bay since he cannot trust them easily. In fact, he feels relief and comfort only in his wife's presence, but he initially hides it even from her. It is a must to watch how Yoo Yeon-seok gradually reveals Sa-eon's emotions, such as his hatred for his parents, devotion to his wife, and remorse to what he did in his childhood.

[fukublrblog]

𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍, 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜: 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

[fukublrblog]

Flee: The Story of a Man Who Has Survived a Ruthless World

Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Release Date: January 28, 2021

★★★☆☆

"Flee" is an animated film based on the true story of Amin, an Afghan man who fled Afghanistan in the 1990s. The film is a documentary-style animation that consists of his accounts. In the animation, the director interviews him, and he reveals his painful secrets that he has never told anyone.

One of the most memorable scenes is when he was an illegal immigrant in Russia. With the help of a smuggler, he tries to escape from Russia to Sweden in a small boat, but the boat's engine breaks down on the way. When he and other refugees are at a loss, all of a sudden, a large cruise ship from somewhere in the West appears. The refugees ask for help, but the passengers on the cruise ship just stare, taking pictures of them as if they have seen something unusual.

The whole scene struck me because it mirrors the real world. Typical civilians, people who abide by the rules of society, do not always help you when you are in a socially vulnerable position. They offer help when it is legally justified. People on the dark side of the world may help you, but only if you have money. How can we possibly live in such a harsh world if we were in his shoes?

[fukublrblog]

Flee/Flugt | Jonas Poher Rasmussen