A Brand New Life (2009)

One in a Thousands of Stories like Ounie Lecomte

Abandonment ambushes when you least expect it, crushing all hopes and dreams. We encounter thousands of stories resembling Ounie Lecomte abandoned at orphanages everywhere. Ounie Lecomte's auto-biographical story sows within the audience the agonies of great denial and depression but beyond lingers hopes and answers.

Kim Sae Ron's commanding presence deserves recognition for eternity. We see it in her eyes, and her actions distressed and frustrated with the man she called father amidst all that's occurred. The Director's long takes allow the audience to recognize how long the time in the orphanage seemed for Jinhee, the relatively small amounts of dialogs of Kim Sae Ron's character. Cinematography mastery.

Park Do Yeon's portrayal of an 11-year old orphan girl named Sookhee befriends Kim Sae Ron is nothing short of exceptional. She might come across a little untrustworthy at first, but deep down is empathic towards others. The camera shots did not resemble an amateur director's work. The bleak tone setting of the orphanage shows the sadness of this place very understandably. It is a visual account of Lecomte's childhood that she incorporates into this feature film.

How music geniuses compose is incomprehensible because they create beauty with so few instruments. It is astounding. One scene can have such a strong response from me because the music heightens it.

I come to share in the struggles, pain, and a new life that awaits the orphans as the film left a heartrending imprint. I will miss this film, viewing it for a second time, but I will find my way back eventually. If you are on the fence, look on the bright side, it is an hour and thirty minutes long. It may not be for everyone, as the genre might not suit you. There may be an actress or actor you identified in the film that piqued your interest. In the end, it is a film with a strong message overlooked for years.

My Final Rating: 8.78/10
Story: 9.18/10
Acting: 9.64/10
Rewatch Value: 6.5/10
It is a challenging film viewing the horrors of a brutal topic. I may hold off viewing it another eleven years before I watch it again.

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