Still Human. Still Dreaming.
Still Human is the kind of heartwarming, healing film that is like catnip to me. I’ve seen this paradigm before of the Filipina maid changing hearts and breaking down barriers, but Anthony Wong and Crisel Consunji put their own stamp on it.Cheong Wing has been confined to a wheelchair ever since a construction accident. His wife divorced him and is now remarried. His son is in the States studying to be a doctor leaving Cheong Wing alone in his miniscule public assisted housing. With his closed off persona believing himself to be “rubbish” and having special needs he hasn’t been able to keep a maid. In walks Evelyn Santos from the Philippines. She speaks no Cantonese and he only speaks a little English, at first glance it does not seem like a match made in heaven as he confiscates her passport. Other Filipinas in Hong Kong tell her to play dumb and never let him know if she learns Cantonese or else her workload will be greater. As Evelyn and Cheong Wing come to know each other and see the other as human, healing and growth occur.
This film highlighted the marginalized people in the community. Evelyn and the other maids were on duty 24/6, with only Sundays off. She suffered derogatory comments and treatment almost everywhere. Cheong Wing struggled to keep his head up as he felt like a burden on his family and friends. Director/writer Oliver Chan hammered home the message that despite a person’s circumstances, as long as they were breathing, a person could have dreams. Everyone needs a purpose, a dream, something for them to reach for in life to give their experience meaning. It didn't matter if the person was old, handicapped, poor, or an other. The two characters broke down those barriers to otherness with respect and compassion.
Oliver Chan made this charming film for around 3.25 HKD/415,000USD. Anthony Wong was said to have forgone a salary. With or without pay he gave a complex performance of a man, father, friend without a reason to live only to be given another chance at meaning in his life. For the most part, Crisel Consunji held her own with Wong as the goodhearted Evelyn with a delightfully wicked sense of humor. “Sir, you even learn Japanese” as Cheong Wing attempted to hide his Japanese porn.
Still Human. Still Dreaming. If you are in need of an uplifting film to remind you that we are all neighbors, all family on this beautiful blue marble, that no one is less than, Still Human is just the ticket.
31 July 2024
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Invitation or Cancellation?
While researching films directed by women, I found this appealing short film by Jang Yi Je. I tried to discover more about the people involved with the making of this film, but this obscure short was lost in the vast space of Pluto titled films and shows. I suppose the numerous Pluto named entertainments could offer solace to the poor bullied planet that was kicked off the starting team of planets in our solar system. #justiceforpluto! But I digress…Yeon Woo is getting married soon, but has one person she needs to see first. She visits the best friend of her childhood, the person she can’t forget. Se Jeong has a pottery studio and is less than thrilled when the familiar face drops by after too many years apart.
Pluto teased a more complex story of familial and societal expectations and judgements. As happens so often in these stories, one person gracefully accepted who she was and the other bowed to the pressure to fit in and be “normal.” How far was Yeon Woo willing to go to please others? Small hints piqued my curiosity. Based on one comment I wondered how controlling was Yeon’s boyfriend. Se Jeong had hated the pottery studio as a child and now creates works of art. I would like to have known her backstory as well. My biggest complaint other than the blown-out photography was because it was a pottery studio, the film succumbed to the overly used Ghost trope.
These short films can be maddening when they seem to have enough material for a full-length film. In a mere twenty minutes, I began to feel invested in these two women and their stories. Was their love deep enough to forgive the past and courageous enough to walk hand-in-hand into the future?
1 August 2024
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A beautiful concept
Wonderland,I found the concept intriguing, but the execution left much to be desired. The film would have benefitted from more backstory on the main characters. For instance, with Jung In, it was hard to empathize with her when Tae Ju wakes up and acts differently because we have no context for what he was like before. It felt like we skipped the entire first half of the story and jumped straight into the second. Additionally, the film hinted at Tae Ju being insane and potentially dangerous, but it never clarified who started the fire, leaving important plot points unexplained. Overall, the movie had potential, but it needed more development and clarity to fully engage the audience.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
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Kanta Sato's acting was spot on!
Although the narrative was very simple and not much happens between Yu and Fumika when it comes to the romance side, I still appreciated the authenticity shown by the Kanta Sato when he portrayed a blind masseuse. The way he navigated the subway and streets with his white cane and even moving his face and hands similarly to a blind man was so accurate. There were moments of prejudice towards Yu's blindness, and an uncomfortable but confusing moment where Jerry, Yu's friend seemed to be jealously annoyed that Yu was on a date and came home late. Overall, I still give it a rewatch value of 10 because the blindness was perfectly and authentically represented here.Blindness is not a burden or a jarring situation in a relationship. There's always somebody for everyone.
(I'm also married to a blind man.)
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Little bit suck
EP1 - Actually as everyone saying EP 1 was good but the ending was kinda not giving. ( Maybe you can say it is an opening ending..that's how i changed my mind ). there acting were so good but there are some wrong points..Such as if I am a her then i would quit the Job right away but she just started to prove that she is right to her manager...( That's not right...Your doughter is with a stranger and you are trying to prove you are wright and not trying to get fired) Maybe that's just a mistake of the writers.Ep2 - Everyone saying it's boring but for me it was kinda good...Because I am not into too much blood , disgusting things..and to me this episode kinda funny though...:) If you are not that much like those thriller. genre but want to watch something bizzare then this episode is for you.
Ep3- This Episode is the reason why I am writing this review..because I am so uncomfortable. Start up was so good also the middle parts..but ending part was too much for me actually..Also I was wondering why he didn''t received any help...because his coworker knew that he is going to visit that girl because he is the one who suggested to make him go there again but look how measurable he is at the end...Maybe she took 3 or 5 days to make him that Misérables. Let's say 2 days but don't you think that his coworker should help him by that time?
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tam bir hayal kırıklığı..
Filmin hikayesi ve oyunculuk güzeldi.Aşırı açık +18 sahnelerin fazla olması biraz tiksindirdi beni. Kapıyı açık bırakıp kıskandırma sahneleri ve adamın onların sevişmelerini izlemesi biraz komik geldi.
Yong Joon'un kimi sevdiği belli değil bir onla bir bunla sinirim bozuldu. Üç ana karakter de birbirinden garip.
Sonu çok açık bitti. Sorularım cevapsız kaldı o iki sevgili öldü mü, kuzey koreli adam neden onların evinde kaldı?
Güzel bir hikayesi vardı bence bu şekilde bitmesi hayal kırıklığına uğrattı.
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Un appunto particolare va all'attore che interpreta Yu: Yoshizawa Ryo è stato perfetto in questo ruolo.
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Sicuramente è anche merito dei bravissimi attori che hanno interpretato i protagonisti: Yamazaki Kento aveva già recitato in ruoli simili, quindi non mi ha stupito più di tanto la sua bravura. Molto dolce e tenera è stata l'interpretazione di Kawaguchi Haruna, veramente azzeccata in questo ruolo!
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Oltre alla trama e agli effetti speciali neppure le attrici si salvano secondo me.
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If Cats Disappeared From the World
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Un giorno come un altro, al nostro protagonista viene diagnosticato un tumore al cervello: non ha molto da vivere ormai. La sera stessa gli appare il diavolo davanti, ma non è rosso con le corna e forcone, ma una versione un po' bizzarra di se stesso. Gli propone uno scambio: un giorno di vita in più in cambio di qualcosa da far scomparire. Cominciano così a scomparire i cinema, gli orologi, i telefoni, fino a ché il diavolo non gli propone di far scomparire i gatti...
Ma come sarà il mondo senza questi oggetti? Una bellissima riflessione sulla vita e sull'importanza di cose che sembrano all'apparenza insignificanti...
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I tagli per motivi di tempo forse sono un po' troppi e la trama si incentra particolarmente solo su i due personaggi principali.
Al contrario di molti, non ho amato l'interpretazione di Suzu Hirose: ho trovato questa Kaori un po' irritante, ma visto che sono in minoranza, penso che sia stata un'impressione mia.
Nemmeno Kento Yamazaki ha brillato in questo live-action: nonostante di solito mi piaccia, in questo film, l'ho trovato un po' piatto.
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Riuscire a riassumere una trama così lunga e piena di eventi importanti in un live-action di due ore, è veramente un'impresa quasi impossibile.
Il risultato è un film abbastanza godibile e discreto con attori anche molto bravi, ma ben lontano dall'opera originale del maestro Mitsuru Adachi di cui consiglio vivamente la lettura.
Comunque anche questo film risulta interessante e non mi sento di scoraggiarne la visione.
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Watch the tv show first, then you can enjoy(?) this.
Okay so my personal take (prior to reading the other review, which I also think is relevant), was that I thought it was very much a fun movie. I enjoyed the whole thing, albeit a bit too predictable in places. Plot and writing wise I can’t say it was strong, but it’s a movie based upon a real-time reality tv show. I wasn’t exactly here for plot and writing, but the fun of the premise of the tv show - that being - running away from hunters to win money.Writing wise, to sum up why it seems to have harsh reviews everywhere, is that it feels like it was written for the 6-12 year olds. I’m also 90% sure that wasn’t the audience of the original or the demographic of the fans (of the tv show or the idol groups). So it was an odd choice.
If you’re not into Fantastics, JO1, or the original show (premise), I wouldn’t recommend.
Not really sure what to say beyond that. It’s a fun, easy watch that doesn’t demand thinking and the cast are who they are. For me the highlights were the music and the cast.
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Kiseki: Sobito of That Day
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