...ing

Starring:

Kim Rae Won: Young Jae
Im Soo Jung: Min Ah
Lee Mi Sook: Mi Sook

Intro:

A movie about relationships, and the different types of love that one experiences.

Storyline:

Min Ah, a young teenager with a fatal disease dreams of nothing except of a chance to Europe to watch a ballet with her mother, and of falling in love and experiencing a heart wrenching love story which will last through the ages.

She finds her answer to her love story in the guy, Young Jae, who lives one floor below her and he introduces her to the wonders of being in love whilst falling hopelessly head over heels with her as well. He helps her to realize her dreams, bringing her to a ballet rehearsal while he photographs her and the rest of the ballet class. However, it is here when she is probably her happiest that tragedy strikes. Her body weakens as she collapses on the floor and has to be treated. It is here that she realizes that she does not have much time left and starts to leave traces of her behind, drawing out memories to remain in the hearts of those who love her forever.

Comments:

This is one of the best Korean movies that I have ever seen. Typical as some might say, as the main plot of the movie is rather clichéd ( girl is sick, girl falls in love, girl dies leaving the guy to pine over her death). However, what differentiates this movie from the rest is that there is no surprise discovery about the girl’s death. You learn from the start that she does not lead a normal life, and will most probably face death. However, what I appreciate most about this movie is the way the story doesn’t only revolve around the boy-girl relationship, but it pays attention to the inseparable mother-daughter relationship as well.

Min Ah’s mother does all she can for Min Ah, and becomes more than a mother to her. She becomes her friend. Their relationship is so close that Min Ah calls her mother by her first name, and there is nothing that they do not discuss together, be it movies, vacations and romances. When I see both Min Ah and her mother together, I get this ache inside of me and I hope against hope that Min Ah will get better, just for the sake of her mother. The intense love that her mother feels for Min Ah makes you just want to run home to your own mother and hug her while thanking her for loving you so unconditionally.

Both Kim Rae Won and Im Soo Jung have excellent chemistry together in this movie; his stupid antics contrasted to her seriousness, and his trying to make her laugh resulting in her smiling as though the lights have just been turned on in her life. There really was no better guy than him to introduce her to the joys of being in love. And the photos of her that he took are exquisite. They capture the essence of her life and it just makes you want to cry when you see the pictures as you can feel the love he felt for her as he took every picture of her. The pictures that he took of her are the most memorable parts of the movie; it was what gave me the long lasting impression in my mind, especially the one of her tying her ballet shoes.

In a nutshell:

This whole movie was filmed in a way that touches your heart and soul, and makes you just want to watch it over and over again. You experience a whole myriad of emotions when you watch this movie and will definitely not forget it for a long, long time to come. One word of advice though; make sure that you bring a box of tissues with you and sit in bed, with your covers and a steaming cup of coffee. This is the sort of movie which requires a good comforter and coffee while you have your dosage of crying.