Unframed (2021)

interesting stories had great potential whipped with great acting

1. Bandi - 8.5/10
the collection of Unframed movies, begins with director Choi Moon’s soft and surreal storyline of the titular character Bandi, a teen girl who lives with her mother. mother and daughter visit the grandmother. The three of them are emotionally grieving due to Bandi's father's death. The grandmother keeps seeing her son in the house, while So Yeong (wife)doesn't talk about him, Bandi had a stammering problem for which she is also bullied.
Bandi however feels solace in her father's room and tries to talk to her mother. They both visit a forest to see fireflies(Bandi) where the mother and deceased father had promised to come. This shows they had a communication gap which is minimized when they keep on talking. While returning Bandi asks for her grandmother's number to stay in touch. The end is surreal as it ends at the same place where it started with a stronger bond between So Yeong and bandi as they talk about her father.
The character Bandi also emphasizes the title Bandi (Firefly). Just like a firefly flickers, Bandi stammers in spite of that they both bring smiles.
The scenes of the forest and park give a natural feel, whereas the restaurant gives an emotional touch. it is visually emphasizing that the movie ends where it began.

2.ReRun - 7/10
It takes us on a brief journey of a failed actor with his aunt by Son Sukku.
Soo In visits his aunt to send her off to a wedding ceremony but her health deteriorates on the way. while she gets an IV, she glimpses of her daughter. Soo In gets an urgent gig but gets uncertain. When they both reach the venue late, only a few close families are there. While he is looked down on because of having no proper success, he also feels out of place. He remains calm, fills up a food plate, and presents it to his aunt, showing his care until the end When all the others were just trying to talk.
The movie shows how an unsuccessful person is looked down. While he is the most genuine person who cares for his aunt with small gestures and doesn't really talk back. Soo-In's kind personality is all we all need to see his amazing acting skills.

3. Vote for INNO - 10/10
Park Jung Min brings the third piece which is a darker tale behind the faces of innocence. It focuses on a rigged class president election in a junior high school, where a bully manipulates an unnoticed student to win against a rich kid who uses the money to lure voters.
the intense music favors the visuals that how it was rigged and who actually won the elections. It gives a highlight of the adult political world in the form of class president election, where kids do campaigns, give speeches and bully the ones below them.
I was shocked to see the environment in class. Yes, students should have competition but here it is so unhealthy focusing on the present adult political world. All the kids gave a phenomenal performance. The music and editing are equally amazing to give an uncanny joy to watch “Vote for, I don’t Know”

4. Blue Happiness - 7/10
A clear critique of the oppressive nature of youths in present-day, Lee Je Hoons gives a bitter-sweet modern couple in “Blue Happiness”. Chan Yeong is a young man who is job hunting meanwhile working as a chauffeur and is in a live-in relationship with his girlfriend. He coincidently meets his former classmate who convinces him to do stock trading. While in the beginning, he manages to make money he falls into the loop of the stock market and incurs losses both in money and relationship.
This highlights the modern youth problem of job hunting who sometimes knowingly or unknowingly fall into these gambling games. They ruin themselves while losing money, relationships, and sometimes life too. the struggles of Chan Yeong played by Jung Hae In are the only good thing about this story. He simply connects the audience with his emotions. Story TBH is nothing special.

OVERALL
It is a good watch, by the actors, turned directors it is a good effort with liking possibly two or more short of the films. The messages within were very deep and complicated.
The performances were excellent in all.
The cinematography was amazing in all of them.
I wish to see Park Jeong Min more work as a director.

REWATCH
I wouldn't rewatch it, but I'd say if you're a commuter, you just found yourself two days' worth of entertainment

Lees verder