Meu Diário para a Liberdade (2022)

When Springs Come, Will We Be Different?

My Liberation notes is a title that Park Hae Young has blessed us with after the stunning success of My mister. The drama follows the Yeom siblings and a mysterious but charming Mr Gu who all feel trapped in their lives waiting to be freed from the cycle of the mundane.

I think what pulls people into this drama is the audience finding pieces of themselves in the 4 leads. From the lack of courage in Mi Jeong her introverted nature but her desire to stir up the courage to do things she never thought possible, To Chang Hee who feels like the world is always giving him the end of the stick and finding ways to chew our friend's ears off as we rant, to Gi Jeong who I hope I am as honest as not just to others but most importantly to myself and the loving Mr Gu who we want to be as mysterious as, where both of us wait for life to punish us at our highs so we don’t get caught off guard and end up worse than we were.

The drama does not come to deliver character development in the traditional way but to allow us to experience how people learn about themselves, through 4 seasons these characters experienced love, death, and loneliness and they fought battles only they could see. It dives into the value of introspection and hope for change. Even up until the last seconds as their pictures entered the screen, I could see them trying to overcome themselves daily, often failing but never giving up.
The cinematography was one of the most unflawed parts of this drama. Just a single scene with the bus as it came and went spoke volumes. From the farm where they toiled to the bustling streets of Seoul where loneliness was at its highest. Each scene stood out with and without dialogue because the perspective from which we watched it was that of great experience and beauty. The music and lighting added great effect to the storytelling of the drama, from angelic vocals to pure acoustic pieces that brought us close to experiencing what they did.

This is my perfect example of a comfort drama, although not perfect in terms of all terms the cast and crew created something that has taught, entertained, and comforted me even as I face the void that life had put me in. As they wake up, go to work, and come home you can see yourself in their little activities. It's them living their lives like each of us does working hard in jobs we don’t like and even if we do like them sometimes feeling underserved, overworked, underpaid, and just to wake up and do it again, why? Because you have to, you live your life just for the sole purpose of survival. I believe Park Hae Young decided to wake us up through this piece and ask us to pursue liberation, even if it feels like just 5 minutes of tiny little seconds of happiness and freedom, do it.

Did they get liberated? That’s for whoever is reading to find out as you watch this title. As for me, I will start my liberation journey and hopefully, see a change and feel that 5 minutes ever-growing each day.

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What kind of life you have right now?

A journey of self-awareness, reflection, and blissfully liberating yourself to be the better version of yourself.

Each sibling had their own issues, dream, and views in life that we can relate to at least one of them. And for me, I learned something from each one of them . CH reminds me how to have empathy for others, or give your all in everything that you do. Take a leap of fate and enjoy the little things. I love his character so much. For KJ, a struggle for women who wanted to find perfect love, and if that happens, you must give it all. And MJ gives me the strength to be brave and I like her silent approach to the problems. She's not shouting or wrecking things just like in the other dramas, but here, her stare can give you chills or her inner monologue can relate to others, well because we are most like that somehow.

Each character got a very important part in the drama. Our Mr. Gu of course as well as the others like the Yeom parents, siblings friend, their co-workers, everything was memorable. Every line strikes your heart.

It's a drama that you can go back and watch whenever you are feeling empty because it reminds you that it's okay to feel like that. It's a comfort drama. A subtle and relaxed feeling.

Magnificent and Amazing is still an understatement of how to describe this unique and memorable drama.

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Watch for the story, the characters, the direction

I don't think I will be able to say anything others haven't already said about this show. But here goes a few of my thoughts on what makes this drama so excellent.

When I started watching the show, I plunged into it deeply. However, I was surprised to read people on Twitter say that they can see how some viewers might balk at the slow pace of the show which might be boring to them. I found nothing boring or even slow about it. Somehow the pace was perfect for me.

I recognise that the pace is definitely slow but it felts more on the measured side of the scale rather than the boring side. I only harp on this because there are soooo many shots and scenes that bring forth the mundanity of life but does it in such a subtle but also impactful way that one has no option but to take notice of it. I don't know if I have ever seen anything that did this.

I loved the characters. That's all I will say. Please enjoy meeting them and getting to know each one. You are in for a treat!

One thing I wanted to highlight was the actor Lee Min Ki - not because he did better than any other actor but because this role made me see him in a new light. I watched him in Because This is My First Life but I didn't really like him then. Every time I saw that he was in a drama or a show, I would feel mehhh - and I admit I had reservations when I learnt he was cast in this drama. But he was really really good here. This is what happens when the magical formula of story, casting and acting come together!

I love how the writer made the characters flawed - not black and white. I think I am at this stage in life where I am very interested in rejections and failures and flaws. It is nice to see nice, good people, of course. But meeting people who harbour grudges, are scared, talk shit about others feels real and comforting sometimes.

I went into My Liberation Notes without research. I didn't know what the show was going to be about. I loved the experience of watching it.

I am not one to rewatch stuff. But I will get to watching this show again.

Thank you to the writer and the director. They have done an extremely amazing job.

To those who will get to watch My Liberation Notes for the first time, I am very jealous of you. :)

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♾️ /10

This drama also makes me uncomfortable to watch it's like I see all of my problems being exposed.
I feel like a new person after watching this drama. I learnt many things through this drama.
I want to be liberated idk when it will happen but i feel motivated.
I just can't believe i cant watch it anymore. Watching this drama was like watching my story. All of the characters were relatable on some ways. I know I can't move on from this drama. There's a very few dramas that make me feel like what this one has did. This is a drama of my life. Mi jeong is very relatable to me. The way she found it hard to communicate with people is what I struggle from everyday. And the other liberation club member said that she just can't make her smile disappear from her face, that hit hard!! Because the way I sometimes pretend to be happy to please people should not be normal because I'm forcing myself for others. I should just be transparent and should accept myself more. I remember hyeon ah while fighting with a woman said in some ep that she is like a dog and she will be loyal to someone till death when they show even a little bit kindness. Thisss!!! This is what i said my mom some days ago, I can't believe how I relate to that line. I literally am like dog because even when someone shows a little bit of kindness I start to feel attached. But in the end my own friend left me. But it's okay I accept it.
This was not my point tho😮‍💨

But I now understand this drama. And I'm glad I watched. I think writer wanted to say life is like a open book. We have many things to learn maybe we can escape from the sadness maybe we can't and have to learn to be liberated.
Idk what I'm saying however this drama is the best!!!

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Not for everyone, but really well made

This type of drama is much more of a trigger to me than Tomorrow. THIS is depression, in its sutil and real way. And it's life, folks. That being said, it’s not my favorite kind of drama. I have to be mentally prepared to watch it. I like dramas to forget about life and have a pleasant time, but nevertheless, watching this is good for self reflection, but I wouldn’t rewatch it :)

I also think they did take alcoholism and depression lightly (the second one being almost a trait of someone's personality).
One really good point is that although the story doesn't have much speed, I ate this up in two days, which means the pace is quite good (great job of writing and directing).

And beware: if you don't like realistic characters, don't watch this.

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I now need liberation from this drama

I started this without any expectations but this slow burn quickly burned its way through my heart. This show is definitely not for everyone but I plead you to give it a try. Some say that it's depressing but I would argue that that would not be an accurate description of this show because it brought me so much laughter and I felt so much hope. The slightest sliver of light, the slightest smile, is more than enough to light up everything and makes things feel like it'll all be okay in the end.

We have 3 siblings living in the outskirts of Seoul, who are living a rather mundane life, tired of their 1.5hr one way commute into Seoul everyday. Just like we all do, they question their life goals, career goals, and love life. I believe everyone will be able to relate to bits and parts of each sibling. Gi Jeong is the eldest daughter, a hopeless romanist that lives with her heart on her sleeve. Chang Hee is the middle child who constantly feels like he is always down on his luck and nothing ever works out to plan. Lastly, our Mi Jeong who is silently but ever so bravely treading through her lukewarm life. In this small town, where people only ever leave, we have Gu, a visitor that mysteriously shows up and is welcomed into their little family and changes their lives forever.

Gu lives next door and is hired by the sibling's father to help out in his cabinetry/sinks factory. He is a man of very little words and literally does not say a single one word in the whole first episode but he is essentially the functioning town drunk, who you can find every night walking back and forth from the convenience store buying 2 bottles of soju at a time. One day, Mi Jeong reaches out to Gu for a favor and this is the start of our unconventional love story, a story so full of love and yet the word love never to be heard. When Mi Jeong tells Gu to worship her, i thought to myself maybe thats a mistranslation, but the more i watched their interactions, I do think worship is what they had. The words like to cherish or revere all seemed not enough anymore.

I feel like I can go on and on about all the good things about this show and my love for all the characters. Every word, every little detail was meticulously thought out yet effortlessly portrayed. I have been watching dramas for 15 years and it is very rare to actually love every single character. Don't get me wrong, every single character has their flaws, in fact, I thought Chang Hee was kinda annoying for the few few episodes, but to take his own words, he is like a drizzle. You think it isn't raining much but before you know it, you are already drenched. Slowly but surely, you start to see Chang Hee in a different light and you are just so proud of how far he has come. I have decided to be like Mi Jeong, to love and to accept everyone, flaws and all.

I am very hopeful that somewhere out there, all our characters are striving to be a happier and better version of themselves, taking one step at a time. In contrast, I will be in a kdrama slump for a while, as I am sad that MLN has come to an end. Time for me to find my own liberation.

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A MASTERPIECE

I started watching this show because I'm a huge fan of Lee Minki and all I can say is... this is a masterpiece.

The writing, directing, acting... everything is precious.

They put all the talent in a project and BAM! My Liberation Notes is created.

All the actors were amazing and all the characters were interesting. Everybody had a story to tell, and I felt confortable watching every single second.

It is beautiful to watch, there are a lot of incredible quotes. You laugh, you cry, you imagine...

I'm really happy to see Minki as Changhee. I think this character was made for him in all aspects because his portrayal is beyond amazing. I'm excited to see his new project.

Congratulations to all the cast and crew! ♥

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Exquisitely written slice of life

It’s been a long long time since i watched a series that moved me so much as this.the writing, the characters with all their oh so human flaws, the brilliance of the actors, the cinematography - everything was just mesmerising. There’s no razzle dazzle , simply a beautifully written and acted piece of work. The emotion this series brought out of me left me feeling drained at the end of every episode, ive Just finished the last one and the only way i can think filling the space each weekend is to watch it all again and thats precisely what i plan to do………

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We grow up when we realize that adults don't know what to do either

As children, we hear our teachers give us instruction with such confidence. “These facts are the things that happened. These numbers add up to this sum. Our governments follow these rules that we call laws.” Outside on the playgrounds, we make up new games and the rules are made up on the spot. But around adults, it appears that there are systems and pieces that fit together and when we grow up, we’ll know the answers to how things work and where we fit.

And then we reach adulthood ourselves and find that adulthood is lot like the playground games where we’re all making it all up as we go as often as not. Some of us excel at it and a lot more of us struggle to figure out who we are and how we find success or even just live in such a world. At the same time, we find moments, ephemeral as they may be, of unexpected grace and beauty and kindness.

“My Liberation Notes” is an exploration of this reality we live in and it is a stunningly beautiful rendition. Few dramas can combine such lush cinematography with immaculate editing, astonishingly original dialogue, a marvelously composed score and backdrops that might be ordinary in purpose, but are stunning with the vividness of their color. Even had it been sixteen episodes without characters or dialogue, there’s a bevy of gorgeous photography and musical accompaniment worthy of viewing pleasure.

As for the narrative, three unhappy siblings that live in the countryside divide their lives between long commutes to unrewarding jobs in Seoul and toiling on the family farm with a taciturn father and persevering mother. As adults, they all find themselves unsure of their place and their purpose. The oldest sibling is Ki Jung who has a talent for loudly saying the worst possible thing in a public place. The only son, Chang Hee, is a grown man that usually behaves like a squirming, uncomfortable child in church that simply wants to leave. The youngest and main character is Mi Jung, a soft-spoken but unbending and fearless woman that’s never found anyone that understands her. Dropped into this mix is a man known only by his last name, Gu, who is incredibly diligent and skilled but also an unapologetic alcoholic.

As for the plot, it’s very strictly and very real slice of life stuff. It’s getting through petty work disagreements. It’s complaining about the heat or suffering from the cold. It’s waxing nostalgic with old friends. It’s yearning for a few minutes of happiness a day or a new relationship. There are few destinations and the journeys rarely follow a particular direction for any length of time. There’s not so much buildups and reveals and cliffhangers. Rather, there’s symbolism and hidden meanings and guarded dialogue. When a shocking event does happen, it’s revealed initially so matter of factly that a viewer not intently watching might even miss how quickly the news had dropped.

The cast performances are outstanding. Lee Min Ki and Lee El, as Chang Hee and Ki Jung, are the extroverts and thrash and churn through their characters’ frustrations, joys and fears. Several supporting cast members shine too, especially Han Sang Jo as a longtime friend and occasional accomplice to Chang Hee, and Chun Ho Jin, as the siblings’ father. And it cannot be overlooked how much Park Soo Young and Lee Ji Hye shine brightly in very limited supporting roles as members of Mi Jung’s Liberation Club.

Kim Ji Won’s performance as Mi Jung is subdued as the character is extremely guarded and only very slowly reveals herself to Gu. It’s a very good performance and certainly one that should stand out on her resume. But despite having some of the best dialogue of recent memory, Mi Jung never comes across as a relatable human. Whether that’s due to Kim Ji Won’s restrained manner or just that the character’s humanity seems broken or whether this is a production that just isn’t interested in having characters that viewers should root for, that’s the end result - with a central figure that’s emotionally distant.

Meanwhile, Son Seok Koo as Gu is downright brilliant. He barely speaks for several episodes but his smirks and squints and head shakes and intensity belie that this is not simply a normal man with little to say. As his story unfolds and his internal struggles are revealed, it’s a devastating performance. None so far in 2022 can come close to matching it.

Overall, there’s very, very little to find fault with in “My Liberation Notes”. It is exquisitely produced from almost every angle. And it is highly recommended.

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melodramatic view into mind of adult working population

My Liberation Notes - 8.5/10 [above average] - kdrama

I had been postponing watching this drama for a long time, mainly because the description on MDL didn't seem interesting to me.

Now I can finally share my opinion on this drama.

This drama follows the life of a family living on a farm outside Seoul. It explores their problems with work, friendships, human relationships, and their struggles to reconcile their great ambitions and youthful expectations with the mundane realities of daily life.

The whole drama serves as a mirror into the minds of people tired of troubles of daily life.

This drama is often compared to the kdrama My Mister, though I personally think it's a grade lower. Nevertheless, it's still a nice drama to watch.

Plot - The story follows three siblings as the main leads:

One brother who is angry at his poor life situation and aspires to be rich.
An older sister who wants to find a husband before she hits menopause.
A younger sister who is very introverted and feels suppressed at work. She meets a mysterious man who interests her.

Genre - Slice of life, melodrama, romance

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If you keep leaving will you continue living?

You never hated your hometown, but you also never had any special attachment to it. You've always wanted to be somewhere else. You wanted to leave. There's this suffocating feeling with the realization that you will keep growing or existing in the same place where you were born. It's like being seventeen and still wearing the same shoes you were wearing when you were seven.

If you keep leaving will you continue living? As if the only way you can keep surviving is if you keep changing. You kept changing, but you never evolved. The desire for leaving turned into a fascination for death. Suddenly, from being an innocent child drowning in ambitions and hope, you're an angsty, jaded pubescent. You changed your mind a million times each day. You were convinced you stopped growing a long time ago and you're just growing old now. Foolish. You were not precocious, you were just mentally ill.

You were young and your brutal, or perhaps innocent, honesty never concerned itself with the consequences. You grew a little older and you suddenly don't want to talk anymore. You buried your honesty to die. Silent, passive, and stuttering. You felt everything and you felt nothing. Your thoughts ran rapidly, but they never made sense.

Helpless. Incapable. The days are dull and unchanging. You wanted to be liberated from all of these. You wanted death, but you also envy the future. The darkness was exhausting, but it was obscurity that gave you home. Then, it occurred to you once again. You don't need a home. You were not supposed to be attached to places. You have to keep leaving in order to continue living. You realized that you might not have a strong attachment with your hometown, but it is a place that will always bring you comfort. Indeed, it is a comfortable home, but you also have to grow, discover, and learn.

Time has passed. You are uncertain how long has it been, but you are certain how much you wanted to live now. Death is only a reality to you now, not a desire nor a fascination. You no longer envy the future, but you hope and strive for it. The childhood that you have forgotten, you don't try to recall it anymore, but you are living it. Just like the innocent assertiveness of a child, you are convinced that you are capable of being everything. You laugh more these days. You have joy and immeasurable dreams. You have faith in spite of all the uncertainties.

Are you liberated? Perhaps, not completely. Perhaps, you are just Mr. Gu, who has decided today to throw away his bottle of liquor instead of drinking it; who has given himself and others the chance to receive mercy instead of constant rough punishment. You might just be Mi-jeong who has chosen grace instead of hostility, who has finally understood now her own capability. You are Gi-jeong who has more love now than judgement; she never hid her honesty, but she speaks more of life now than mere brutality.

Or you are just Chang-hee. He was not able to acquire the riches and power he wanted, but he was enriched with the wisdom of life. He did not have to climb a thousand won mountain, the mountain he was searching for was inside him already. It was somewhat ridiculous that his life was continuously fulfilled by the deaths that he encountered. Through the leaving of others, he lived a meaningful epiphany.

Trudging on step-by-step; five seconds, seven seconds, until at least, five minutes of joy each day. Liberation is not solely a one process. Though, surely, we will entirely grasp it one day.

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