After tragically losing his sister and father, we follow our hero through the hardships of life. Ironically, it gets very comical during this time. The opening scene was touching, dramatic and heart wrenching, so I expected the film to follow the same pattern. The film felt overlong and even became a bit boring at times, essentially becoming a love story. The film then swiftly turned dramatic and emotional towards the end again, as families became reunited with loved ones, separated by war. Although it won't go down as a favorite, I'm glad I watched it.

The film is the story of a guy born right before Korea war in 1950s and grew up and struggled in the country. The situation around him is harsh and cruel due to the drastically changing world affair. However he lives his life with lots of small but invaluable moments with his beloved family and friends. I was deeply touched by how strongly he is living everyday life. The beauty of connection of family is also impressive and moving.

This film was unexpectedly entertaining, well acted, moves at the right pace, and accurately describes the dynamics of an Asian family. The main character (young and old) is phenomenal! He demonstrates incredible ability to express such affecting sadness but still leave a strong optimistic tone to the movie unlike many Korean films that I find overly depressing. This movie has a lot going for it: good humor, interesting surprise twists, tragedy, and undertones of common themes woven throughout such as the replaying of his early life experiences through experiences as an adult. Spoiler alert!! The snippets of his life are a nice touch and is done tastefully with really nice flow and purpose! Although the story is a well known one amongst Asian families, this film is an excellent portrayal of the patriarchy found in Korean families and the importance of the eldest son. All in all, this is a great film that honours old fashioned family values. It's a good reminder of the sacrifices previous generations endured but often go unnoticed and makes you think twice about that bitter old man down the street and the fact that he might just have an amazing story to tell! Watch this movie!

This is a very touching and heartwarming (but also heart breaking) movie.I watched this with a friend who insisted I check it out. Usually I avoid movies that are foreign which have subtitles because I hate having to try to read to keep up with the dialog and story. Because that always means that I am missing some of the visuals appearing on screen.This movie was pretty slow. I don't want to say too much or spoil it but it's basically about a Korean boy who makes a vow that he will take care of his family which he then has to live up to for the rest of his life.Amazingly acted although I obviously don't recognize anyone in it or any names of the crew or directors. Just a great example of a touching drama with a story that sticks with you long after you leave the theater.