Meu Nome é Loh Kiwan (2024)

One of my favourites

Okay, so this movie is pretty fucking good. The concept in itself is really interesting. And how they showed how hard it is for a person who has nowhere to stay, really made me feel bad for him. The backstory with his mother was very emotional and you can understand why he is like he is.

The introduction of the female cast really made me angry, when she randomly appears and steals his wallet. The wallet with a picture of his mom in, the only one he has left of her. But after we got to know her situation, I kind of had an understanding for why she did it. After she heard about his wallet and the importance attached to it she understood how important that wallet is to him.

She promises to get it back to him, which she does and it showed that even though on the outside she looked like an asshole at first. She wasn't a bad person.

This show taught me that you can never know what someone is going through. Neither he or she knew what the other one had gone through.

Kiwan truly showed us how a person truly can fight inconveniences to survive. Many people maybe looked at refugees and didn't think any deeper than. "They fled their country and came here" most of us never consider the hardships they've gone through.

I think this movie helped me realise that. I think that I've never been this emotional towards any movie ever.

The romance between the two is adorable, but it felt kind of like it came out of nowhere. I mean, she saved him from an overdose and then he said something like "If you do drugs, I'll do drugs. if you hurt yourself, I'll save you." type shi.

And they just got together. Other than that I kind of feel bad for the Chinese woman. Because she wanted to be able to earn money and she lied about Kiwan to then just get sent back anyway. She ruined her "friendship" with Kiwan and tried to repair it bit never really got the chance. Until she sent that newspaper in the end.

The antagonist who got shot in the end, didn't rat them out and that was honorable.

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A must-watch film, and a compelling narrative, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

My Name is Loh Ki Wan" is a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly blends drama, romance, and the complexities of identity. The film's portrayal of Loh Ki Wan's journey as a North Korean defector seeking refuge in Belgium is both poignant and riveting. The unexpected romance that unfolds with Marie adds a beautiful layer of emotion, making it a story that resonates deeply.

The performances are outstanding, with the cast delivering nuanced portrayals that breathe life into the characters. Song Joong-ki (SJK) delivers a compelling performance in "My Name is Loh Ki Wan," portraying the North Korean defector with depth and authenticity. His nuanced acting captures the emotional complexities of the character, adding a powerful layer to the film.


The cinematography captures the essence of both North Korea and Belgium, creating a visually captivating experience. The pacing keeps the audience engaged, and the screenplay skillfully balances moments of tension with heartwarming scenes.

At its core, "My Name is Loh Ki Wan" is a celebration of resilience, love, and the pursuit of a new beginning. It leaves a lasting impact, prompting reflection on the universal themes of human connection and the quest for belonging. This film is a must-watch, offering a rich tapestry of emotions that lingers in the viewer's mind long after the credits roll.

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I would totally recommend it !

I loved it so much ! It was an emotional and super realistic movie about the struggle of refugiees.
Kiwan’s lore is so rough and hard yet he overcame it and found happiness. His mother and his uncle were such good characters and litteraly built what he is now.
I felt so bad for him when the money he got from the sold of jis mom’s body was stolen away from him but gladly he took it back and even met fantastic people afterwards.
I love his colleague (the woman with a sick child) eventhough she betrayed him at some point, she explained why and did everything she could to help him because she felt guilty and because she cared for him. Maybe she doesn’t deserve forgiveness but at least she was sincere asking for it and regretting her actions !
Shoutout to Marie and her parents ! They have so much background : she lost her mother and was consistently having troubles with her father but eventually they reconciled ! I’m also glad that Marie succeeded (with kiwan’s help) to get out of this dark world of the shooting competitions and that one man manipulating her !

Once again, I loved how realistic the movie was depicting drug addictions, depression after losing someone important, how hard it is to be a refugee (proving your origin, earning the right to stay in the other country etc…), escaping a mental and physical abuse etc…

One thing that I did liked a little less was the romantic relationship they developed (Marie and Kiwan) because it felt so unnatural and also like most Kdramas, kinda forced. By forced I mean that Kdrama writers ALWAYS feel like we need to see some romance ugh. But at least they found happiness in each other.
I didn’t liked it especially since we had no real grounds to it, it also occurred right after him waking up from an overdose he did because she said in a way ´get lost’. We basically got a few flashbacks of them hanging out on a market, then them litteraly having sex 💀and that was all to establish the relationship for the writers ig 😭.

I LOVED the ending. This project of song joon ki was so good and at the level of his other projects not like ´reborn rich’.
The cast and the acting were ON TOP ! No actual OST though.

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Great Acting and Story about the Struggles of Refugees

I really like this movie. I think this is the best movie of Song Joong Ki since 2012's Werewolf Boy. He always acts well, but I really appreciated his acting here among his recent works. Choi Sung Eun is also really excellent. she has matured in her acting since I saw her in Sound of Magic way back 2022. Seo Hyun Woo, Kim Sung Ryung, and Jo Han Chul are also memorable. It's a good movie that shows the struggles of refugees trying to survive in a foreign country. I said earlier that SJK is really excellent, that's because he acted really well how a person in really bad conditions should act even though he himself has been always comfortable in life.

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A Hopeful Tale of Love and Escape Triumphs Against Insurmountable Odds

This movie offers a compelling narrative that intertwines the destinies of its protagonists amidst the backdrop of adversity and the pursuit of redemption. Through the arduous journey of Loh Ki-wan from North Korea to Belgium, the film explores themes of resilience, love, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure. Despite occasional departures from realism, the emotional resonance of the story remains intact, captivating audiences with its engaging plot and heartfelt performances.

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

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Exciting Film, unfortunately with a lot of stereotypes

The film is exciting and thrilling. Song Joong-ki's acting is really excellent, he's also good in normal K-dramas, but he's even better here. The entire film gets 10 points from me, even if I now criticize it. The film largely takes place in Brussels and I have to say that not a single European is portrayed as nice or sympathetic in the entire film!!! This is very unfair. Europe is groaning under the refugee burden of the last few years. In Brussels there are now two queues in front of the asylum office: families, women and men traveling alone. There are simply no more shelters to house people, so a lot of single men actually end up on the streets. That's terrible, of course, but at the same time it shows that the current system is breaking down because of the sheer weight of it. As already indicated in the film, many people flee for economic reasons and it is very difficult to do justice to people without a passport in individual cases. Here, too, the Belgians are portrayed as almost inhuman, it's so nasty towards the hard-working people in the authorities. Of course there are no "normal" Belgians in the film. Only the blonde woman f****g preferably in a pack is shown, the violent drug lord and criminal ...The most brutal xenophobia is constantly shown. This paints a one-dimensional picture of a complex situation in which there is more humanity and help than shown here.

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Bloody, Lonely, Cold, Foreigner, Sad, Hungry…

For the first hour of the movie, I was completely absorbed, watching Loh Kiwan navigate life as a North Korean immigrant in Belgium. Eyes wide open, I tried to catch any information that would explain why he escaped China. I went in blind, avoiding the synopsis because they tend to spoil my fun or mess with my expectations. All I knew was that Song Joong Ki played the role of a broken man trying to survive—survive his sadness, his loss, and the harshness of life.

Then she appeared—the main lead—a little thief who stole his wallet, the last memento from his mother. The plot was “good,” though sometimes slow. It tackled the significant subject of immigration and the lengths people go to for a better life, as well as the individual stories behind each immigrant.

However, the female lead's story overshadowed this focus. More attention should have been on Loh Kiwan's journey. Their love story felt rushed, as if key moments between them were missing. They couldn’t have fallen in love over just a silent meal.

Song Joong Ki did a fantastic job, portraying every emotion convincingly and being sweetly kind. However, the representation of the locals was poor, possibly to emphasize Loh Kiwan’s suffering, but still lacking.

In conclusion, it could have been much better. The ending is open to discussion, so I’m rating it an 8/10.

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what should have been a great one , with lackluster screenplay end up an average watch.

Rated it 7/10.
I feel disappointed.
"I’m not an SJK fan but I’m not a hater either. I'm neutral."
" 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.

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Kind of complication to be in another country

It is not bad overall the story and they are like illegal immigrants to another country. Many complications no doubt and many of the parts are like shortcuts thus make it confusing. If you watch this movie it is like today's immigrants whp do not have a citizenship have to stay put and make sure there is no problem. In all countries there are many illegal immigrants where these people have nowhere to run to due to many things, they have to run all their lives. This is what this story is about . I am surprised Song Joong Ki was picked to this movie but anyway it is emotional too. Thanks for the movie and the excellent casts chosen

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Porta il tuo nome con orgoglio

Song joong ki qui si é veramente messo alla prova e ha dimostrato di essere un attore versatile e bravo; la sua recitazione é ció che piú fa amare questo film.
Altro punto a favore é il tema centrale della storia: la ricerca di un'identitá, indispensabile per poter essere liberi.
Loh kiwan é un disertore della corea del nord, e per non essere deportato deve nascondere la sua identitá quando arriva in Cina.
Quando fugge in Belgio e richiede asilo si trova ad affrontare indifferenza ma anche odio, razzismo ed emarginazione.
Trova aiuto lá dove non ce lo aspetteremmo, da altri uomini e donne che come lui sono in difficoltá e si adattano ad una vita di soppressione e sfruttamento pur di scappare alla repressione e alla paura.
Ad ostacolarlo maggiormente alla fine é la burocrazia dei nostri paesi che non danno garanzia di inclusione , nonostante si pongano come baluardo dei diritti civili.
Alla fine ció che vuole Loh Kiwan non é la cittadinanza belga, ma che questi diritti gli siano riconosciuti, nonostante sia un immigrato clandestino, nonostante sia un apolide, é prima di tutto un essere umano.
Richiede solamente il privilegio di poter vivere portando con orgoglio il proprio nome, simbolo della propria identitá e del legame con la propria famiglia.
Il tutto racchiuso nel titolo del film: "My name is Loh Kiwan".

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Emotional story

I wasn't going to watch this movie. It looked depressing, there seemed like there was going to be a lot of violence in it, and those aren't the types of shows I like. Well, I'm going to have to modify my first impressions, for sure.

The story itself it heart wrenching. Have you ever known anyone that, no matter what they did or tried, they continue to live under a black cloud of misfortune? That was Kiwan and Marie both. They lived lives that we can't even fathom, the kind of lives we wouldn't wish on anyone. This was a story about going on, about not giving up, and also about the strength we get from others. There is romance, but it isn't about the romance at all. That seemed secondary to me. If this is something that matters to you, it has a good ending.

The acting was amazing. Song Joong Ki was mesmerizing, not only from the fact that he looked completely different than anything else I've seen him in, but his deep quiet voice, his economy of movements and his soulful eyes brought Kiwan to life. I really felt for him and kept wanting things to get better for him.
Choi Sung Eun as Marie. This was a character that we've seen in countless dramas, but she played the part without the extreme hardness that I've seen elsewhere. I was rooting for her almost from the beginning, wishing she could catch some kind of break. The love between Kiwan and Marie actually redeemed both of them.
Jo Han Chul as Marie's father. He's very versatile. If seen him in many things where he's the comic relief, or the bumbling fool. I saw his in something else as a psychopath. In this movie, he was a man living with his grief, trying unsuccessfully to have a relationship with his daughter.

The cinematography was interesting. It was darkly filmed, to go along with the darkness of their lives. Early on, on the few occasions that we it lighter, it was more of an artificial light, the kind that gives skin a yellowish hue and you can't tell what color things are. Counteract that with the ending, out in the sunshine (and freedom), it was very effective.

Though they were supposed to be in Belgium, shooting actually took place in Budapest, which was a treat for me after vacationing in Budapest.

My only complaint was the translation done by Netflix. I don't speak a lot of Korean, but "thank you" is not "I love you". Also, when they were attempting to speak English, by saying "I do not speak English", Netflix translated it as "I don't speak French", and then when they were speaking in Korean, the subtitles said, "Speaking in English".

Don't pass over this just because it's not your usual genre. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

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