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an amazing but disturbing movie that will bring you to tears
I picked up this movie knowing that it was going to completely destroy me. I'd heard about it, but I had no idea it was based on true events. So I looked up the real case that took place in Gwangju Inhwa School, back in the 2000s. Aka the case that this movie dealt with. I must admit that, me searching and learning about it, contributed even more to how much impact it had over me.In a general way, the aesthetics of the film, the music, the production were all on point. The acting too, I mean, all of them, including the children did an amazing job. I highly believe they did justice to the delicacy of the film. It was a "quiet" movie in the sense that every scene is handled with the utmost care (as it should be), yet it's not boring at all, nor is it slow. The movie practically rushes by, in a great way.
As for the story, it was incredible and very well executed. It's a story that touches us and is unfortunately very true, not just because it was a specific case, but because sexual abuse and child abuse is a huge problem that, however much we want to solve it, is often not solved as it should be. For that same reason, I think the ending of the movie was a good choice because the intention of it, I believe, was to convey a message, where not everything can be the fiction we would like. Of course, from a viewer's point of view, I would have loved a fair ending, where the perpetrators were punished as they deserved. But as I said, reality isn't always fair, and this movie, in my opinion, wasn't about entertainment. That's why it's such a real and heavy piece of cinema.
Rewatch Value: I put it at 1.0, but I can't really change the overall, as it would be unfair. It's a 10 regardless, great movie, but would I watch it again? Definitely not. I was already expecting it to be heavy, but when the first scene of abuse came along, I was really shaken. I could never bring myself to watch something like that again, so it's lower than the rest of the categories. Just thinking that there are lots of children around the world who are going through that or have gone through it made my stomach turn. It's really not an easy movie to swallow for anyone, especially if they're sensitive.
However, it's a movie I highly recommend. It deals with very real issues that need to be given more attention.
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Injustice et long combat
Le film nous montre le long combat d'un prof d'art plastique contre les abus du directeur et des enseignant d'un collège, envers des enfants sourds. Ce film est dur, poignant, émouvant. On comprend que c'est toujours une histoire d'argent et de pouvoir car pour lutter contre des abus sexuels de la part de ces personnes, qui sont respectées dans la ville, ça n'est pas évident. Ils usent de leur pouvoir pour racheter les familles et même ce professeur en question. Heureusement qu'il refuse et qu'il fait tout pour aller jusqu'au bout.Cette histoire est malheureusement arrivée dans la vraie vie. Les acteurs ont tous bien joué, mais je me mets leur place, ça peut être traumatisant... Le film est long mais prenant, et ne laisse pas indifférent à ce fléau.
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In my feels
Yet another film Gong Yoo sucks me into! If you're looking for something with a happy ending you couldn't be in a worse place. Being based on a true story hit me in my feels harder than any other "True Story" movie has. It was over all amazing and the cast nailed their roles perfectly. This movie will send you through the ultimate rollercoaster ride, you're going to be sad and you're going to be angry without a doubt . It gives you a very vivid clue of how corrupt officials are and just how much power the money sign has on everyone. I'm pretty much never in the mood to cry so that's why I personally wouldn't watch it again but being a Gong Yoo fan I HAD to have this under my belt. Even if it wasn't based on a true story I admit I still wouldn't watch it again. As a parent it hits different because even children without disabilities have a hard time proving things especially of such importance like what this film covers. They tend to be accused of being dramatic, liars or attention seekers and this movie will show the dark side of it all...Esta resenha foi útil para você?
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this movie is not for everyone one!
it was recommended by my friend and i don't watch this kind of movie but when I watched it. it was a good movie with good story, the story was based on true story. but it has child graphic violence that can make some people trigger and if you get triggered easily by this kind of movies, my advice is don't watch who can't handle the graphic scenes. and back to the point the end was also not bad but not good. but this shows the reality of the world.
My Rating: 7.7
BTW eng is not my 1st language.
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"THE REASON WHY WE ARE FIGHTING THE WORLD SO HARD IS NOT TO CHANGE IT, BUT TO NOT LET IT CHANGE US"
That unforgettable dialogue really made me speechless. Adapted from a novel by Jee-young Cong (published in 2009) which based on a real story that occurred in a special school for deaf and mute children at Mujin in 2005. Silenced is not kind of an entertaining film because it’s made not to entertain I guess but to tell reality to the public, an ugly reality. It’s dark, melancholy, beautiful, and sad.Anyways, I'm not gonna discuss the plot so go for it when you are up for it mentally and moreover, shout-out to the creative team and the cast for executing it up to the mark.
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If a Country Won't Save The Children, Then Who Will?
What is the price of a child? As depicted in this film, it’s either a job promotion or money. I would never have believed that anyone—a parent, grandparent, teacher, prosecutor, or judge--could put a price on a child's well-being. And perhaps that is the most disturbing aspect of this story.Anyone who abuses a child is not fit to even call themselves “human.” These are the vilest and most depraved cowards of any human society.
It has always been extremely difficult to watch any film regarding child abuse. I’m a TEFL teacher, and to even fathom anyone hurting or abusing any of my students literally makes my stomach ache and my anger rise.
I’ve since watched three films that are difficult to watch, and this one was no different. In fact, I had to watch this movie over two-nights because I had to stop it halfway through because I was becoming so outraged. “Sophie’s Choice” is an extraordinary film, and it’s also one that I can never watch again. I can still hear the little girl’s screams as she’s being taken away. “Hope” is another one about a Korean girl who was raped in the most horrifying way imaginable. It’s also another film I can never watch again. “Silenced” is now the third. And as good as it was, I already know that I can never watch this movie again.
Based on a true story, “Silenced” is about the teaching staff at a prestigious school in the town of Mujin. A school for the deaf. A new teacher shows up, and he’s excited about embarking upon his new career until he uncovers a terrible truth: the children are being sexually and physically abused. An especially disturbing scene shows a staff member mercilessly beating a young boy, and yet the new teacher—Kang In Ho—simply stands there and does nothing.
The headmaster and his twin brother are well-known throughout the town for their philanthropy. And in a world where money talks, they are more than capable of buying the silence and lies of the staff, prosecutor, defending attorney, judge, and anyone else who dares to stand in their way.
Despite the evidence and unequivocal records of abuse, family members settle on behalf of their children for money. Such people can never be called “parents” or anything of the sort. They simply see their children as a means to acquire money and nothing more. And as a result, the judge gives out sentences that are so laughable, that if it weren’t so tragic, one just might utter a chuckle in response.
The film is as dark as the fog-bound town of Mujin itself, with few likable characters. Kang In Ho’s own cowardly mother tells him to just let it go because there is no point in doing what’s right. It’s easy to say that until you meet the children face-to-face and gain some empathy and perspective about what THEY have had to endure.
This movie brought a real problem to light in Korea. It forced people to ask what the price of a child is, and what happens when corruption and greed are more powerful than justice itself.
Children are not property! They are not there for you to use at your whim! They are not there for you to live vicariously through, nor are they there to be responsible for your own problems. Anyone who uses children in any such manner are child abusers. You do not own your children. And Korea—as well as much of the world—needs to understand just how far and extensive their child abuse runs. This movie brought to light an extreme case, and still, Korea has failed to listen. Why? Because of the indifference of its people. They simply do not care enough.
I was a bit disappointed by Gong Yoo’s performance. I’m not sure how anyone can simply stand there without any expression of outrage or even concern. Yes, he finally bashes the teacher over the head with a plant, but for the most part, Gong Yoo looks lost with almost placid and indifferent expressions. His own mother berates him for standing firm, and all he can say to her is, “I’m sorry.” Amazing that there is no effort to explain the situation and why it’s of the utmost importance.
This isn’t an easy movie to watch, but it’s a necessary one as it puts a spotlight on a horrendous and truly terrifying problem. People often wonder if there are monsters in this world. Just look at the members of the school staff, their families, the prosecutor, and defending attorney, and the judge to realize the truth—yes, there are, indeed, monsters in this world. And they all need to be fought and defeated. If not, then who will save the children?
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A comparison: 'Silenced' vs 'The Silent Forest'
Note: This review isn't a true review, I'm just discussing about 2 movies and expressing my views because I wanted to let this out of my brain before it haunts me forever in the back of my mind :")Originally I didn't want to write a review about this movie because I really just didn't know how to even start to pen down my thoughts. Watched this movie some years ago and I was so distraught after watching because I was so full of anger, pain and helplessness watching these characters fighting for the justice that they'd deserved, but end up being shortchanged.
What influenced me to write this review was that a few days ago, I watched a Taiwanese movie called 'The Silent Forest', or 《无声》, and I remember walking out of the cinema feeling the same sense of dread and hopelessness, a similar emotional trauma I received when I watched this movie years ago. Both movies are very similar in context, both of them have a theme of sexual abuse, of rape and the setting was also in a secluded school for the hearing impaired. Most importantly, both movies are inspired by real-life events that has happened before.
So naturally, I couldn't help but draw parallels between these 2 movies.
[Storyline and Perspectives: The Effects on the Audience]
'Silenced' is a movie that is really really good in its dramatization and storytelling. Props to the actors involved in this movie with such wonderful performances, really. 'Silenced' focused a lot on the experiences of our main character, In Ho (Gong Yoo). Here, we are viewing the story in In Ho's perspective. Hence, the emotions that we feel when we watch the movie is directly relatable to the experiences that In Ho has: arriving at a new city, a new school to teach, struggling to get closer to the students, finding out about the horrors that is going on in the school, facing a dilemma between securing his place in the school versus protecting the children, choosing to protect and fight for the children, and ultimately getting hit by the harsh reality and injustice that is prevalent in society. Whenever In Ho feels horrified, anguished or broken, we feel those emotions too as an audience. However, pertaining to the main problem in the movie, the sexual abuse, the perspective that In Ho provides the audience is that of a third person POV. As much as the problem is a serious one, In Ho is ultimately just a bystander, and to a certain sense, a witness, to this problem.
In contrast, 'The Silent Forest' is a movie that follows the experiences of a student enrolling into the school. This is where the impact on the audience is intensified, as we are no longer looking through the lens of a bystander, a witness. We are brought directly into the situation itself, as our main character Zhang Cheng (Troy Liu Tzu-chuan) gets entangled in a systemic problem of sexual abuse between the students themselves. This brings much more emotional impact on the audience, as we get to 'experience' first hand the horrors of the sexual abuse that is prevalent within the school. I remember the feeling of helplessness I felt was so immense and I was just gripping fistfuls of my hair because I was just so infuriated but there was nothing I could do about that situation. In 'The Silent Forest', the audience has taken a first person POV in the issue, but is also designated the role of being a witness of this matter as well. Because the movie didn't explore much about Mr Wang (Liu Kuan-ting), this movie's equivalent of In Ho in 'Silenced', we as the audience are forced to take on this position as a witness to the horrors as well. The movie was done really well in this aspect.
[Justice]
'Silenced' was done well in the sense that it really showcased the legal struggle that the children faced against the school principals. The movie made the viewers, especially the Korean public, know more about how the country's laws are set and how such laws can be disadvantageous to a certain disadvantaged group of people who are vulnerable and powerless. This was why after the movie was released, there was a public uproar about the laws involving sexual abuse towards minors, and that subsequently after that, the bill was revised by the South Korean Government. This movie called upon the public to look at the ugly side of society, the flaws in the justice system.
'The Silent Forest' did not showcase anything pertaining to legal affairs related to sexual abuse. There was a mention of media involved in the process, but that wasn't explored much upon, and I could understand that that wasn't the main point of the movie. The main point of the movie wasn't to point out the flaws in society, in the country's legal system. It implored viewers to look at humans' vulnerable and ugly sides which had eventually influenced them to do the horrible things they do.
In both movies, I wouldn't say justice was rightfully served, but there was a sense of reconciliation: reconciliation between one's past and present, and finding peace within oneself. There was a hopeful message of moving on and leaving the dark past behind among the characters in both movies. And I liked it.
[Villains]
In 'Silenced', there was a clear emphasis on who are the villains, the antagonists. There was a clear target that the characters as well as the viewers can direct their anger and resentment towards. There is a conventional 'fight' between the good and the bad. However, when I watched 'The Silent Forest', what I realized about why I felt so helpless and broken after the movie was really because there was no 'true' villain. What happens when bullies become bullies because they were emotionally and physically traumatized as a victim themselves in the past? What happens when we see that the main 'villain' has his vulnerability and redeeming qualities as well? This is where I as a viewer, felt sympathy for the anti-villain in this movie. That left me so torn and broken I don't know what I'll do if I were to be placed in the situation itself...
My conclusion is: both movies are exceptional in their delivery and performances. Rather than deciding which is better than the other, I would like to think that these 2 movies complement each other really well, as they tackle different aspects pertaining to a similar issue, and shows us the different perspectives there is to see to such an issue. Even though these movies are such a heavy watch, as they are really emotionally draining, I can see myself coming back and re-watching these 2 movies again from time to time, as a reality check for myself that sometimes, the world isn't as peaceful as it seems, and sometimes we really have to be more observant about our surroundings.
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Not for the young.
I wouldn't recommend watching the movie if you are a child. There are very disturbing scenes (The assults)assaults.All the actors did a wonderful job, especially the children. The facial expressions, emotions, and the sign language were so real it makes you want to cry.
This story is realistic, even though some details were left out and it was less intense than the actual thing. The ending made me mad and sad at the same time, they had video proof but the lawyer was bought off. It's sad that the boy died in the end trying to get revenge.
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This movie has a lot of darkness. It goes places I didn't even know child actors could go.
I am a person that can watch horror movies without even flinching- I mostly laugh during them. This is one of the very first times I actually felt scared to my core. I was mad and terrified for the children. The movie has had a positive impact on South-Korea and I'm glad it did. It addresses something that has occurred a lot of times.
Due to the fact that this movie was so strong, I'm giving it a low rewatch value, I couldn't do it again.
Watch it, it has a very strong lesson that you want to have learned in your life.
Watch out, if you're not 18+ you might want to wait. I'm not talking about the sexual content, I'm talking about having a strong mentality. The things that are going to be thrown at you, are very heavy, so make sure you can carry them.
Good luck!
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