I don't call myself a film fanatic, but I really do love a good movie. Not a decent or so-so one; I'm talking about a good movie, one that shakes you to the core and touches the deepest parts of your soul. It makes you joyful, furious, depressed and confused within a span of two hours, give or take 30 minutes or so. It leaves a lasting impression, one that you'll remember for years and years to come. I've come across a lot of movies like that, but here are my upmost favorites from the Korean masterminds themselves.
(NOTE: This list is in no particular order.)
1. "My Sassy Girl"
Let's start off with the rom-com of all rom-coms. A no-luck-with-love engineering student happens to meet The Girl (we actually never learn her name throughout the entire story). From there starts a whirlwind of a relationship that's comical in many parts and endearing in others. Things are exaggerated, but the sentiment is that love isn't perfect; it's awkward and clumsy and that's what makes the memories that much more worth it. I'm a little wary about the sequel "My New Sassy Girl" (which is actually in Chinese and stars girl group f(x)'s Victoria Song) releasing later this month, but I'll wait and see before giving my final judgement.
2. "The Man From Nowhere"
No way in hell would I not include this movie in my list. I love horror and thrillers, but this one stood out to me because of its raw nature. There's a ton of gore and shows the nastiest, most unsympathetic villains you could imagine. Not to mention, our protagonist, Cha Tae-Shik, still steals hearts to this day. (That haircut scene, anyone? You know which one.) This really isn't for the faint of heart, so watch with caution.
3. "Miracle in Cell No.7"
I don't want to say much about this movie because I just love it so much to spoil any part of it. But I can give you this: this story perfectly portrays the eternal loving bond between father and daughter, one that even the twisted Korean judicial system can't break. Add in a few warm- and kind-hearted prison inmates and you've got yourself a tearjerker. (Also, Oh Dal-Soo is one of my favorite actors ever.)
4. "Peppermint Candy"
This one is a keeper because of its overall execution and unique spin on an age-old theme: the gradual loss of a person's innocence and zeal for life. We see Young-Ho's utter despair and hopelessness from the opening scene and then trace back to his adolescence, which makes the movie's message more potent and provoking. I love how hard-hitting it is without seeming as such; it makes you think.
5. "I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK"
I don't think I've ever seen this particular title on a "favorite Korean movies" list, but this is, for sure, on mine. Young-Goon, who believes that she is a combat cyborg, is placed in a mental institution and meets some memorable characters, including a man who claims that he can steal people's souls. It toes or blatantly crosses the line between reality and fantasy and it's not for everyone, I'm sure. However, it has a strange, sweet charm and has stuck with me ever since I first watched it.
6. "Ode to My Father"
If I cried for "Miracle in Cell No.7" then you can bet that I downright bawled for this one. The plot continually jumps the timeline from present-day Korea to specific parts of Deok-Soo's life following the Hungnam Evacuation during the Korean war. He goes through many trials and tribulations to support his immediate family, but there are also many highlights that shine. This movie will make you laugh one minute and shed tears in the next while giving some perspective on generational differences in opinion. There are also a few cameos that I didn't know about prior to watching it, so they were nice surprises. (I screamed for one of them. My close friends should know who I'm referring to.) I highly recommend this film and urge you to watch it.
