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merry-stanford
Reviews
Oasiseu (2002)
Inventive, Original, Courageous
I have never seen these two actors, Kyung-gu Sol and So-ri Moon, until this film. I think they were both outstanding! His character was convincingly "off" -- just didn't perceive and behave in the way others expect him to perceive and behave, and so was ridiculed and dismissed because of that. I loved how the film allowed us to get to know him gradually. At the beginning of the film I identified more with the folks on the street whom he embarrassed, but by the end of the film it was clear he was a hero.
So-ri Moon's character, I thought, was very convincingly played as a person with cerebral palsy. She portrayed the intelligence and full range of the character's emotions with striking authenticity. I found myself moving from a point of seeing her as a victim to seeing her as the full person that was her character. In fact, this was one of those rare films when not once did I think, "These are actors, acting." The direction was outstanding. I loved the scenes showing her fantasies as an able-bodied woman. It was a very effective way to help an able-bodied audience identify with her character, and come to understand and empathize with the isolation, belittlement, and objectification that differently-abled people are often subjected to. I especially liked the playful scene on the bus. But my favorite scene of all was the last one, showing her in her apartment, now well lit, clean, with green growing things, with his voice over. Even though the film did not have the expected and wished-for happy ending, the ending was a happy one.
An Angel for May (2002)
Intriguing, Inspiring and Inviting
"An Angel for May" is the kind of film that I'll want to see again and again. One could call it a British "It's a Wonderful Life." The film is intriguing, inspiring, and inviting, a study in contrast and coming of age. It shows a wonderful juxtaposition of the 21st century and the WWII era. The Yorkshire countryside, as portrayed in the film, is lovely, a stark contrast with the effects of the war on England. There are also the contrasts of old vs. young and tough vs. gentle. The acting is quite good: the children playing the lead roles are fabulous, and I'm always a fan of Tom Wilkinson. Some of the special effects are naive -- the WWII planes in flight are not very authentic-looking, for example; and what bombardier in his right mind would bomb an empty moor? But all in all, this is a great "feel good" film, a story that can make you think about the purpose of your life in its time and place.