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 8.0, 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.

Leia Mais

a failure compared to the first part

Well, I'm not sure where to start. I can start by saying tho, that my rating was strongly influenced by the ending, because honestly, what was that? It was so unnecessary, honestly, and so incomplete... I don't know. But we'll get to it later, I guess...

I really liked the first half. The idea was so good with the same feeling of anxiety you get from zombie dramas, but with completely different creatures. I wouldn't say scary but rather interesting, curious. There was drama, terror, anxiety, funny and cute moments. It had practically everything. There was a whole plot that grabbed me from the very first episode, which made want to continue watching, feeling excited. The sixth and final episode left me with high expectations for the second part, however those expectations were far from achieved. As it only had 4 episodes I was afraid that everything would feel a little rushed and incomplete, which I was right about.

Part 2 wasn't bad but it wasn't good. I thought it started well, seeing the kids with more maturity, more experience after a month has passed since Mr. Lee's death, but it all went downhill from there. 4 episodes where the main focus wasn't the spheres but more “mundane” things, if I can put it that way. The criminals, the deaths motivated by humans, etc. I thought it got away from the main idea, and I don't know if I didn't notice or didn't pay attention, but Wonbin simply evaporated after episode 6, along with those who were rescued. Maybe the latter I didn't notice, but as for Wonbin, there's no sign that he died, so where did he go? This was something that left me confused.

As for the ending, the best way to put it it's that it was one of those endings where you wonder if that's what you've been watching an entire k-drama for. Only 4 people survived, 4 of whom were, let's say, the “driest” characters. Don't get me wrong, because I like Kimchi and Nara, and I don't mind the other two. But they literally killed every single character that was once very important for the story to keep going, in seconds, not having any impact as individual deaths at all in the viewers except for the shock part. It was literally pointless. That's it.

2 years later, Kimchi appears doing the CSAT, explaining that they've supposedly created a tool to solve the problem and blah blah blah. What tool? How did they end the problem? We need more then just knowing that they somehow created something that helped. How did you get out that bloodied classroom? It's all made of loose ends. What were the spheres anyway? Where did they come from? Why did they attack people, because I'm certain that the reason behind that wasn't just like one of the criminals said, to wipe humanity as they are trash. We also can't know that for a fact of course since he only suggests, as a maybe situation. I don't know if it's just my demand or pure curiosity, but I thought it was all very incomplete, and above all, very rushed. It deserved a third part, if it wasn't for that ending. The plot, the characters, everything was so good and it was capable of so much more.

I would like to say that I recommend it, however I would be lying. It's unnecessary to watch 10 episodes that give you expectation after expectation only to end up heartbroken and more confused than you were at the beginning. Sometimes, ignorance is indeed bliss.

Leia Mais