freddyfraud

Made-for-TV "weeper of the week" movie, based on the true story of KITAHARA Kazunori who was diagnosed with cancer in high school. The infinitely likable pop idol NINOMIYA Kazunari stars, with competent support from the other actors.

The story follows Kitahara's life from school athlete to his dealing with Ewing's Sarcoma. Strangely, the movie is not about his battle against the disease, but his struggle to fulfill his duty to his parents. He decides his best legacy would be to pass the university entrance exam.

Kitahara kept a journal of his thoughts during this time, which his mother later published as a book, and which served as the basis for this story. Some photos of the real Kitahara appear in the movie.

The power of the story comes from the knowledge that this is a true life tragedy and not from any filmic craft involved. The doleful production is straightforward and surprisingly passionless. The performances are subdued, even eclipsed by the events represented.

A welcome break from the drama-by-numbers direction is when the Kitahara family is out for a walk and begins spontaneously to sing "Ue o muite arukō"("Sukiyaki" to Westerners) which is about being optimistic in the face of life's trials.

All in all, it's a personal story given a respectful but very conventional handling.

I'll guess that actor "Nino" went bald for this role since he was going to need short hair for his excellent role in "Letters from Iwo Jima", released later the same year.

A lightweight romance with some funny moments, centred around three years of a university swim team. Ami is training to be a diver. She loves Hiroki who was her family's benefactor. He's young, rich and a champion swimmer. She hates Keisuke who is descended from a rival family (of bakers!!!). Keisuike resents Ami being standoffish, and he's not sure if he can overtake Hiroki on the podium.

"Rough" refers to a rough sketch, which shows the original intention but is filled in with more detail after time. After some major upheavals, Ami decides who she loves, Hiroki regains champion status and Keisuke makes some commitments. All before the final race....

The movie is well done, altho the goal wasn't very ambitious. For all the young bodies in swimsuits, it wasn't trying to be sexy. The focus was on growing up and opening up and (the big sports theme) TRYING. Some comic potential is ignored so as not to overshadow the romance.

At the time of writing this, the IMDb plot says this is a movie about a teenager's descent into a drug-fuelled hell. That's the wrong movie.

In South Korea, young men have compulsory military service for two years (24 months). This is the story of four separate men who leave their girlfriends behind, and then worry about what will happen to their relationships.

The soldiers return on leaves, and the girls occasionally visit the platoon where they're stationed.

The movie is promoted as a cute comedy, but plays more like an ensemble romantic drama. There are no sexy displays of affection like I've seen in other Korean flicks. Only one of the relationships could be considered comic.

I found the plot confusing because of the quick inter cutting of the different threads, but the acting was realistic enough and the writing was perceptive. There's no hard-hitting message, and overall the movie was an interesting insight into Korean youth culture.

The music was really good too, and at one point you find yourself concerned about whether the fledgling rock band will survive the turmoil.

Here's a scorecard to help you keep track.... In the beginning, these couples are together:

Min-chul (rocker) & Han-na (rock singer)

Eun-suk (college student) & Jin-ah (student & part-time lab tech)

Won-jae (an immature romantic) & Hyo-jung (physiotherapist, six years older!!!)

Hur-wook (certified a--hole) & Bi-ang (house-sitting leech)

also involved are Bo-ram (rock keyboardist) and Ki-sung (one guy's "best friend")