Reviews

A brave person's self-healing

August to students, happy summer break; to me, birthday month with many gatherings and gifts; to Zhang Zhehan, the Chinese actor, well-planned political frame-up followed by massive cyberbullying, destroyed Zhang's acting career.
Zhang, however, in this documentary "August", presents the magnificent landscape of China, illustrate the touching stories of the people he met on the way cycling from Yunnan to Lhasa. From the image to the content, from the lighting to the sound & music, demonstrate the power of nature, the power of life.
I was really touched by the completion of this documentary including the flow of story told and the delivery of core message. It is even impressive especially for this is Zhang's first documentary as a director and story teller at the same time.

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A warm and healing documentary

Zhehan is a very excellent actor,The sudden cyber violence interrupted his acting career. But he was not knocked down. He came out strong. This documentary not only healed himself, but also healed all the people who suffered from cyber violence. The scenery in the documentary is still very beautiful and worth watching. The documentary warms everyone through the story of a person they meet. The characters in the documentary are all small people, but each of their stories is heartwarming. When he finally reached the end, he said that this was his new starting point, and he wanted to continue to live and go on.

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It wan not a movie, it was a whole journey

which is more painful? the agony of a mother who almost lost her son in an accident and now in coma or the agony of the lover who was in the accident but survived . this story drives into many directions and open up new ways of seeing and accepting the reality. the situation they both face might not the same , the pain, the regret and guilt is the same. the mother and the lover both taking care of one person they treasure the most ,only hoping to see him open his eyes and smile again. this journey is not only about the son but also how the mother accept the lover and support them throughout .

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In August, searching for my name, seeking my August

Zhehan knows what he has endured, understands what lies ahead, yet he says, 'Let's set off again.' The method of the wheel seal is to imprint anew, to move forward. On the journey, old scars may not vanish, but they no longer bind hands, feet, or heart; they are just one of countless Augusts.

'The feeling of being trusted by others is truly a blessing.' Only those who have experienced it truly understand the weight of this sentence. The world sees me, I see them; that's the significance.

Only a transparent soul, a clear mind, and a firm determination can shake hearts with the most authentic power of documentary filmmaking. When Zhehan said he found inner peace, miraculously, my heart also calmed down and felt empowered. A great director is a magician of emotions, and his film 'August' is a profoundly empathetic work.

This is a documentary about director Zhang Zhehan, about actor Zhang Zhehan, about singer Zhang Zhehan-it's simply about Zhang Zhehan. 'August' seems to have answers, yet seems to have none. Only by giving it our all and continuing to move forward can we know the result. I also want to know the answer, so I'll accompany him on this journey!

As violin melody of the song 'Lost Glacier' comes to an end, looking at those lines of achievement, it's like seeing glacier melting, a small flower blooming after hibernation, the dignity and courage understood only by those who have seen it.

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"Whatever happens, we'll come back for you"

Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle told the true story of one of the last Japanese holdouts after WWII. Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945. The war ended for Onoda Hiroo 29 years later on March 9, 1974. During his training as an intelligence officer he was told he had to survive at all costs and that "Whatever happens, we'll come back for you.” Onoda learned the hard way that the military was not as loyal to him as he was to the mission.

“We will be back for you. We will be back. Whatever happens---survive!”
Late in WWII, Onoda Hiroo fails pilot school because he has a fear of heights and dying. He’s recruited to train as an intelligence officer and in guerilla warfare in December 1944. Before he leaves, his father (mother IRL) gives him a dagger to kill himself with rather than be captured should the need arise. When he arrives on Lubang Island none of the other officers will help him with his mission which was to disable the airstrip and port. Most of the soldiers are hungry, demoralized, and/or ill. The Americans take the island shortly after his arrival. Soon the only Japanese soldiers not dead or captured are Onoda and the three men he chose to work with him---Kozuka, Shimada, and Akatsu. Believing they must hold their ground until more Japanese forces arrive, they set up camp in the jungle and cause damage to the farmers’ fields in order to keep the locals afraid of them. They subsist on whatever they can find or steal, taking up residence in caves or homemade huts. The small group of holdouts refuse to believe the war is over and patiently wait for reinforcements.

“Try to change the way you see things”
Two different actors played Onoda and his second in command, Kozuka. They all performed admirably as the characters aged and learned to survive in the jungle and rely on each other. The film confined most of the shots to the men and their duties which displayed their arduous methods of staying alive. Bound by their limited outside contact, their lives seemed incredibly sad. They were completely isolated and separated from family and loved ones. As much as the film focused on the holdouts it would have been nice to gain the locals’ perspective of the killers in the hills and the fear they instilled for a time.

“They know that what is complicated and even incomprehensible, sounds true!”
My first thought when Onoda’s father handed him the dagger and told him, “Your body is the Fatherland. Do not let it fall into enemy hands,” was the Spartan mothers’ declaration to their sons, “With your shield or on it.” Ordered not to die and trained to unconditionally obey orders, unwilling to return home defeated, and determined to prove himself, Onoda’s psyche was trapped in a nightmare in the jungle of Lubang. The outside world and even loved ones attempted to convince Onoda that the war was over, but he could only see conspiracy theories everywhere he looked, convinced that Japan was still fighting. Eventually, he had access to newspapers, magazines, and a transistor radio but believed it was all an elaborate ruse to trick them. At some point, Onoda’s rigid obedience and views appeared to come across as an over-inflated sense of self. Why would the enemy go to such extraordinary lengths to trick one man? If he was that important they could have sent in a wave of soldiers to kill him or just bombed the jungle. Onoda had a high level of cognitive dissonance as he clung to his beliefs in the face of harsh opposing facts.

“What if we killed people we’re no longer at war with?”
Onoda and his men were resourceful and resilient. The youngest left after nearly 5 years and another was killed after almost nine. When the second in command was killed after 27 years of holding out, it seemed to chip away at Onoda’s confidence. Despite their incorrect assessments, Onoda and his men were a product of their training and propaganda. They truly believed they were serving the greater good by holding their position on the island. It took as much determination as denial to be separated from family and friends, to live on roots and fruit often with only rudimentary shelter for nearly three decades. In 1974 a Japanese adventurer discovered Onoda and befriended him. The young man caused Onoda an existential crisis as the holdout could no longer deny that Japan and the world had changed. The military bore responsibility as well. The loyal soldiers killed 30 inhabitants over the years. Two of the four died pointlessly and Onoda lost 30 years of his life because no one cleaned up the mess they created. These soldiers were imbedded on islands in the last months of the war when the writing was on the wall. VE Day occurred not long after Onoda was stationed on Lubang and Japan surrendered in August of 1945. All it took was for Onoda’s superior to come back for him. Unfortunately, for Onoda, his men and the people of Lubang, it took nearly 30 years to do so.

30 April 2024

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Marketed as romcom. Directed to be thought-provoking. Tries to be both. Ends up failing to be either

Turns out, if you try to mix a simple love-conquers-all romcom message with a seasoned life-can-be-hard approach, what you get out of the blender is a we-may-do-terrible-things-but-it-works-out-fine kind of outcome.

By the way, just casually walking home in knee-deep water after a downpour... culture shock right there. But moving on.

This movie was sometimes interesting and funny with amusing directing choices, but overall I didn't like the story much, wouldn't watch it again nor recommend it to anyone.

What's the point of this story? A commentary on 'timing' in relationships? It tries to be somewhat realistic and thought-provoking but ultimately fails and winds up shallow and immature.
The two main characters don't really get to grow and change as people and in their relationship with each other. The story basically goes through a lot of twists and turns but doesn't ever get very far.
It borderline romanticizes some toxic choices... and in the end the conclusion seems to be something such as "I just wasn't lucky before but now that might change"... like what?


Okay, real spoilers ahead to go into specifics.


The plot itself seems to be indecisive whether to attribute Guy's and June's apparent bad timing to random bad luck or admit instead that it is, at least in part, consequence of their own making.
Of course some coincidences might be unhelpful in our protagonists' journeys, but isn't that stuff that happens to everyone?

It would make sense for the point of the story to be that they should mature and learn to take matters into their own hands in a responsible manner.
For example, June should stop staying with her boyfriend for her emotional security, get a grip and break up with him in a fair manner so she can try to become her own person first and have a healthy relationship with someone she actually likes later.
And Guy should stop moping and pining aimlessly. For years at that. Instead of drinking excessively, avoiding the matter or presenting it in such a messy way, he should learn to set things straight from the start and have clear conversations.

Guy could just go and say:
"Hey, June. I would like to be honest with you. I like you. We get along so well, and, though I might be mistaken, I thought you'd feel that way too. Now, I don't want to mess up any relationship that you currently have, but I thought I should tell you this. Even if it doesn't sound very good, I can't help but wonder if right now you are with the wrong person for you. This is probably very biased and selfish of me, but still, as you are someone I care about, I thought I'd tell you all this. Please think about it and after some time answer me however you see fit"

There. Then step away and allow June to think things through and give him a clear cut answer.

No messiness. No misunderstandings. No temptation to cheat. No betraying the other's trust for your own benefit of wanting to get together with them.
If June realized that she didn't actually like her boyfriend even if he was a good person, then she should break up with him regardless of getting someone else's confession. Then she could choose to accept Guy's feelings or address them in some other way. Personally I think she should get a life first instead of living through someone else like that.

But instead, the two of them make all the mistakes and we don't really see them evolve as people. We get a glimpse that that might happen... maybe. And that could have been it: learn from mistakes, there are consequences, be better, end. But then the movie ends making it seem the only important thing was that they should get together eventually and that the process wasn't all that important besides being painful and that they were just unlucky and such. After all, there were good things too, so it should all be alright, right?

So, pretty flat. Character growth? Practically invisible. Healthy relationship? Not so far, no. Lesson learned? Not at all, it was all on the bad timing.

Then, they can keep being self-centred, irresponsible and communicate badly. That's fine 'cause stuff works out in the end and the person who gets hurt is just a side character.

The potential was there... Pity.

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“August” Journey

I cried after watching August. It is a pity that such a talented and outstanding young man's acting career was suddenly interrupted. The narration in the film is very resonant. He survived after the severe online violence and frame-up in August 2021, and he chose to start again. He emits positive power, and the people, objects, and scenery during the ride give people the power of harmony and tranquility. His tenacity sustained him through the most difficult moments, and I wish him a smooth life in the future, and wish him to get his innocence and return to the stage as soon as possible.

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August: A Journey of Redemption and Resilience

"August" is not only a documentary about cycling in Tibet, but also a testimony to the indomitable human spirit embodied by director Zhang Zhehan. Through Zhang Zhehan's lens, this film not only shows the magnificence of nature, but also interweaves the director's interactions with various people he met on the journey. Director Zhang Zhehan suffered severe cyber violence in August three years ago because of a cherry blossom viewing photo. His career and life were shattered by false information and malicious distortions on the Internet, and his life fell to the bottom. However, he was not defeated. Instead, he picked himself up and stood up tenaciously. In August two years later, he cycled to Tibet again, discovering himself, proving himself, and exploring himself during the ride. "August" is the best testimony to Zhang Zhehan's firm determination to catch up and move forward in the face of adversity.

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This is a heart-warming and healing documentary.

Zhang Zhehan suffered huge rumors and slander online violence in August 2021, which led to the interruption of his acting career and his life has fallen into hell. In August 2022 and 2023, he went cycling to see the world, people, scenery, and all the beautiful things. He was saving himself and people who were also hurt.
Even though he suffered huge online violence, Zhang Zhehan still appreciates the beautiful things in the world with a beautiful eye. In this documentary, he showed his broad-mindedness, strength, optimism, and courage to move forward.
I think people who have also suffered from online violence can find strength from this documentary. This is a heart-warming and healing documentary.

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An eerie relationship between a detective and his murder suspect

A dark romance between a detective and his murder suspect certainly captivates its audience. Me.

The story is about a detective helplessly falling in love with a murder suspect who was the main suspect of her husband's murder. As the movie takes us through the journey of the detective's romantic and emotional roller coaster, the woman was cleared of the murder simply because she had an alibi.

However, the detective discovered another piece of evidence that proved otherwise.

What did he do?

The story began from the moment he decided to deal with the evidence.

The last scene on the beach is cruelly heartbreaking.

Watch this movie.

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what a good surprise

estou levemente impactado com este daqui. não estava esperando metade do que ele foi, fui assitir despretensiosamente e sai surpreso com a qualidade que ele entrega.

eu acho muito interessante acompanhar religião/mitologia ser tratado em filmes pois é sempre 8 ou 80 e aqui é um 80! eu achei de uma certa forma fascinante os elementos que são apresentados aqui, o modo como alguns rituais são feitos, artefatos que são apresentados e toda relação dos personagens com esses elementos. não é o tipo de terror que te assusta mas te faz aproveitar todo o tempo de duração

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I have conflicted feelings about this movie. While I -a fan of the drama- have somewhat enjoyed watching it, it did feel redundant & a bit messy. In all honestly I have extreme doubts that someone who has not seen drama could even understand let alone enjoy this. The plot is about as complicated, if not a bit more so than the original drama's main plot (it's the same with complications basically), but all that is presented in 100 minutes, It's a bit like imagine Back to the Future 1-2-3 as one 100 minute long movie, would we even root for our heroes with that little buildup to the various time travel events that happen there.

Oh well, Wu Bai is still a legend & Last Dance is still one of the best songs I have ever heard!

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