I went in to this not knowing anything about the movie. In the first 3 minutes I told my wife who was going to live and who was going to die. (I was correct.) By the end of the movie I had so lost myself in the characters that, live or die, I cried for each and every one.
Few movies have such rare emotional impact that days later you find yourself affected still. This movie made me rethink so many things. Life, death, what I do with my time, and do I say "I love you" enough? It's that powerful.
We follow the lives of 9 "Families", or rather 8 families and an orphan. Throughout the course of the movie, their lives intertwine and connect to the point that where one family rejoices.... they all rejoice.
Conversely..... where one family is devistated, they all feel the pain. Such as one husband and wife wherein their childs death (notice, no pronouns, you have to face this on your own) breaks them. Going in to room 816, real late at night, to retrieve their child's possessions, the wife completely breaks down --- waking up all the children and the parents staying there --- and we watch as all of the kids and parents come along side this grieving couple to lift them up. It is both heart-wrenching and touching at the same moment.
The real-life honesty is refreshing. Not every child is saved. Several die. This is how life is. We are not watching a fairytale with nice neat Hollow-wood bows and ribbons. This is visceral to the deepest level. Something the American movie mongols have forgotten.
I don't want to spoil the movie, but I will give you several pointers that will help understand what you are seeing.
1) the cartoon war --- is representative of the children's battle with leukemia or cancer. The big blue giants are actually the disease.
2) The monkey is important. I won't give it away, but it blew my mind when I finally connected the dots.
3) Beatifully done.... The guitar girl alternates between colored wigs.... BUT.... there's a point where that stops and the importance is key.
4) bring a lot of tissues / kleenex. You are going to need them. I didn't and my shirt paid the price. By the end of the movie, my sleeves were damp from my tears.
I have not given very many 10 Star ratings. Honestly, this one earned it. I went in expecting to be entertained. I left feeling that a piece of my very soul had been left behind. You'll do well to find a way to see this masterpiece of cinema.
Few movies have such rare emotional impact that days later you find yourself affected still. This movie made me rethink so many things. Life, death, what I do with my time, and do I say "I love you" enough? It's that powerful.
We follow the lives of 9 "Families", or rather 8 families and an orphan. Throughout the course of the movie, their lives intertwine and connect to the point that where one family rejoices.... they all rejoice.
Conversely..... where one family is devistated, they all feel the pain. Such as one husband and wife wherein their childs death (notice, no pronouns, you have to face this on your own) breaks them. Going in to room 816, real late at night, to retrieve their child's possessions, the wife completely breaks down --- waking up all the children and the parents staying there --- and we watch as all of the kids and parents come along side this grieving couple to lift them up. It is both heart-wrenching and touching at the same moment.
The real-life honesty is refreshing. Not every child is saved. Several die. This is how life is. We are not watching a fairytale with nice neat Hollow-wood bows and ribbons. This is visceral to the deepest level. Something the American movie mongols have forgotten.
I don't want to spoil the movie, but I will give you several pointers that will help understand what you are seeing.
1) the cartoon war --- is representative of the children's battle with leukemia or cancer. The big blue giants are actually the disease.
2) The monkey is important. I won't give it away, but it blew my mind when I finally connected the dots.
3) Beatifully done.... The guitar girl alternates between colored wigs.... BUT.... there's a point where that stops and the importance is key.
4) bring a lot of tissues / kleenex. You are going to need them. I didn't and my shirt paid the price. By the end of the movie, my sleeves were damp from my tears.
I have not given very many 10 Star ratings. Honestly, this one earned it. I went in expecting to be entertained. I left feeling that a piece of my very soul had been left behind. You'll do well to find a way to see this masterpiece of cinema.