ironhorse_iv Review of Poetry

Poetry (2010)

Poetry is poetry in beautiful motion. Very powerful film.

[8/10 · 16 July 2013]

Not a lot of people probably have saw Shi(aka Poetry), due to its limited opening in theaters and the fact that the movie is in Korean. Those who did see the film probably have the same feeling like me: it's a beautiful influential film. I think the movie title can be a bit misleading, just as much as the trailer. While, it's does have an elderly woman name Yang Mija (Yun Jung-hee) struggles with new vocabulary and the challenges of the creative process trying to write one poem while struggling Alzheimer's disease. It's Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival's story is mostly about something else. This South Korean film written and directed by Lee Chang-dong is mostly about the elderly woman having to deal with her grandson's Jong Wook (Da-wit Lee) actions. She discover that her grandson along with his five male friends might have over a period of six months, repeatedly raped a girl, at their school. The victim left a diary at home before committing suicide by tossing herself off a bridge into a river. The movie opens up with the powerful image of children playing near the river, only to find that a lifeless body is floating in the water with little to no soundtrack. The diary is discovered and in order to avert a full police investigation, the parents of the boys offer to pay a settlement to the family affected. The film deals with the fact that Mija must chose to expose the crime or hide it from the public. Only by using poetry, does she find her answer to that question. Lee wrote the lead character specifically for Yoon Jeong-hee, a major star of Korean cinema from the 1960s and 1970s. Yoon Jeong-hee is perfect in the role despite the fact that she hasn't act in a film in 16 years. There was some many sub-plots that it can be overwhelming. Examples are Mija having to deal with the behavior of the elderly stroke victim M. Kang (Hira Kim), for whom she cleans and cares a couple of times a week and her having poverty problems to make the amount for the settlement that her grandson friend's father (Nae-sang Ahn) is asking. At less, in the end, it all connects in a powerful ending with "Agnes' Song" poem by the protagonist. I cried to tears when watched Poetry ant the very end, when the old lady reads her first poem. "An extraordinary vision of human empathy" Indeed, empathy should be the name of this film however I believe the poet must have empathy, sensibility, compassion and understanding about every little think, something most do not have and we need to learn it, like the old lady did. The director leaves a lot of loose ends in the end of the film, letting the viewer form his or her own interpretation of what happened and what it means. The film is beautifully shot, with some great cinematography. The scene with Mija looking at the bridge that the girl jump off is very commanding and get you emotional into the film. The idea for the film had its origin in a true event where a small town schoolgirl had been raped by a gang of teenage boys. Some of the faults of the film might be its slow pace. A little on the long side at 2 hours and 20 minutes. I think if they had cut about 10-15 minutes from this movie, it would have worked much better. There are a lot of scenes with little to no dialogue. It's really does seem like an unrated International Art House film with a lot of poetry reading scenes that has nothing to do with the main plot. I think those scenes were used just to lecture people how poetry should be people's life more. I think humanity would be in such a better place if we, alongside the sciences, also learned poetry as a fundamental part of our education. Not just reading poetry, but writing it, living it, and being completely free in it. Very inspiring part of the film, but not really needed. Overall: Extraordinary film, totally took me by surprise. Sadly it didn't win or wasn't nominated for Best Foreign film for the Academy Award. In my opinion, I think it's the best foreign film of 2010. It really deserves a Oscar win that year. Although not for everyone, those who enjoy cinematic experiences can definitely be taken away by this movie. The acting was beautiful and it was heartbreaking and touching at the same time. One of the best films of the year.