Reviews

I was really impressed by the plot line of this film. I first wonder why he has to die and why he is so destructive. Then the plot goes reverse into the past while it untangles the mystery why he became that reckless. Chronologically placed scenes are bound together with one key 'peppermint candy'.

Kyung-gu Sol really plays the roll well. He plays it not just as a violent, but solitary and vulnerable man. Through his exquisite acting, we learn his character and even historical background. Without him, this film would be a husk.

Opposing many current animations with much computer graphics, this monumental animation film of Miyazaki shows us the infinite possibility of Japanese animation as the way of embodying imagination. This film seems lifelike without using CG and the elaborate story line makes the film all the more realistic and persuasive.

The story is set in the future where humans are living afraid of the poisonous jungle and monsters. People try to burn out the jungle with using 'Kyoshinhei'(a man-made robot that has mass destructive power). People are fighting each other to get this robot that can be a big help of humans or a destructive weapon at the same time. But in fact, the poisonous jungle is purifying the land which humans have polluted and monsters are guarding the jungle from destruction. Therefore, they cannot survive by burning the poisonous jungle. Nausicaa, as a sacrifice, lets us know that what people are doing is completely wrong and they should not destroy Nature any more.

I guess this is a prediction of our future. If we kept polluting the land, the world would be like this. We cannot recover polluted land by eliminating them. I think some films of Miyazaki are based on this idea that humans are considered as a part of Nature and we are supposed to coexist with Nature. This story casts the doubt that we are killing ourselves now.

I imagine it's extremely difficult to forget the past when something horrible has happened to you. You cannot completely forget it however how hard you try. What you are supposed to do to recover from it is to confront yourself and digest it.

Joe tormented himself with self-hatred. He lost a girl just on whom he was able to rely and he thinks he is responsible for that. Rizzo, in contrast to Joe, is quite positive and optimistic. It's interesting that they get to understand each other, having a same goal to go to Florida. The last seems sad but we know Joe is no more a male prostitute. The film tells us Joe is beginning to forgive himself though it is extremely difficult for Joe to do it. Rizzo is a sort of person who tells Joe that nothing is altered by just tormenting himself. So this film is not sad but releasing.

From the very beginning, this film reminds me of a Japanese filmmaker Ozu. Well, there are few lines for characters and little music, they exchange their feeling by their facial expression. The film has a stereoscope effect owing to describe the vast nature image. It is all the more interesting that the subtle movement of love is contrasted with that immense spring nature.

I guess the impression of this film is dependent on each person because the film leaves room for thinking more deeply about their relationship and their character. Superficially, Eun-su looks a little wicked since she leaves him suddenly, but I think there is something about her. She was divorced once and she may need someone to rely on. Also, Sang-woo lost his mother and is seeking for maternity in Eun-su. Both want someone to depend on but what they want in their partner is different. So they keep passing each other.

Like August in Christmas(the previous film of Jin-ho Hur), their love is one way. Namely, an young pure innocent person loves an elder person. And the elder one leaves him or her at the end. The film makes me wonder how and what the young learn through love. Do you think he can recover from the loss?

There are billions of couples and billions of marital relationships, but I cannot think of anyone more dedicated to one's partner than Jong-Yeon is. Though they always seem to have a quarrel (East-Asian often do opposite of their feelings because of shyness), we know that they love and trust each other deeply. They make us wonder how far we can trust our partner.

Also, It is interesting that this film harmonizes the antithetical contents:comedy and death. Frankly, it would be too sad if whole of the story was about love and death. The comical subplot is progressing parallel to the main plot, and it gradually untangles their past. Every subplots and flashbacks work very well and remind us that they are indispensable for each other.

Leading actors and music are splendid. I'm sure that this film lets us realize that the idea 'pure love stories are outdated' is completely wrong.