Live from TIFF: Secret Sunshine
Secret Sunshine **1/2
Directed by Chang-dong Lee
142 Minutes
I think the best part of my 'Secret Sunshine' experience was the introduction by director/writer Chang-dong Lee. He couldn't speak English so he said his piece while his translator wrote it down next to him. And then she said what he said.
"Thank you for coming out tonight. I'm so pleased to see so many people curious about my film. Its a little long, so please have patience. Hopefully you can all find the secret sunshine in your own lives. Thank you."
it was sweet and seemed so genuine and true. Unfortunately the film does not live up to that wonderful information, and I really do have to underline that statement about the film being long. "Secret Sunshine" is a never ending film, and at times I tried to sneak my eyes to the watch of the old man sitting next to me, but his hand was always covering it.
The first act of the film is good. It's rather curious-I knew nothing about the story, as with many of the films in this festival, so I waited while everything unfolded. It starts with Shin-ae, played beautifully by Do-yeon Jeon who actually won, and deserved, the best actress award at Cannes. She moves into the town where her dead husband grew up, with his son Jun. Jun is a young boy that clearly misses his father, but the two of them are all they have. She has a hard time fitting in, and some of the townspeople turn her helpful advice into her just being cruel and mean.
Without giving much away, tradgey eventually finds its way into Shin-ae's life, and the third act of the film is her entire descent and rise after the tragedy strikes. She finds solace in the arms of God, while her friend Jong Chan-played very well by Kang-ho Song in a rare light role after "The Host" and "Memories of Murder-" waits patiently because he secretly loves her. And this is all well acted and has the makings of a very inspirational tale. But the script never finds a believable note in the entire film. The bad things that happen to Shin-ae happen in such an unrealistic and sudden and forced way that I never found myself caring about what was happening. And her rise to getting back to some kind of normal-her attempt to get closer with God-just came out of left field and just didn't seem to work. And the movie is very long, and after a while it just felt like it would never end. The story started to go in circles, really, and after a time I just wanted to go home. Jeon does certainly earn her award and she is making the best of a rather melodramatic and soap opera type script. It's not a bad film, but it doesn't really ever had any moments that are memorable or even slightly original or even well done. It's a disappointment.
New York residents, you could see "Secret Sunshine" at the Lincoln Center New York Film Festival starting September 28th-the opening film this year is the world premiere of "The Darjeeling Limited." For more information on this festival, visit www.filmlinc.com.
Directed by Chang-dong Lee
142 Minutes
I think the best part of my 'Secret Sunshine' experience was the introduction by director/writer Chang-dong Lee. He couldn't speak English so he said his piece while his translator wrote it down next to him. And then she said what he said.
"Thank you for coming out tonight. I'm so pleased to see so many people curious about my film. Its a little long, so please have patience. Hopefully you can all find the secret sunshine in your own lives. Thank you."
it was sweet and seemed so genuine and true. Unfortunately the film does not live up to that wonderful information, and I really do have to underline that statement about the film being long. "Secret Sunshine" is a never ending film, and at times I tried to sneak my eyes to the watch of the old man sitting next to me, but his hand was always covering it.
The first act of the film is good. It's rather curious-I knew nothing about the story, as with many of the films in this festival, so I waited while everything unfolded. It starts with Shin-ae, played beautifully by Do-yeon Jeon who actually won, and deserved, the best actress award at Cannes. She moves into the town where her dead husband grew up, with his son Jun. Jun is a young boy that clearly misses his father, but the two of them are all they have. She has a hard time fitting in, and some of the townspeople turn her helpful advice into her just being cruel and mean.
Without giving much away, tradgey eventually finds its way into Shin-ae's life, and the third act of the film is her entire descent and rise after the tragedy strikes. She finds solace in the arms of God, while her friend Jong Chan-played very well by Kang-ho Song in a rare light role after "The Host" and "Memories of Murder-" waits patiently because he secretly loves her. And this is all well acted and has the makings of a very inspirational tale. But the script never finds a believable note in the entire film. The bad things that happen to Shin-ae happen in such an unrealistic and sudden and forced way that I never found myself caring about what was happening. And her rise to getting back to some kind of normal-her attempt to get closer with God-just came out of left field and just didn't seem to work. And the movie is very long, and after a while it just felt like it would never end. The story started to go in circles, really, and after a time I just wanted to go home. Jeon does certainly earn her award and she is making the best of a rather melodramatic and soap opera type script. It's not a bad film, but it doesn't really ever had any moments that are memorable or even slightly original or even well done. It's a disappointment.
New York residents, you could see "Secret Sunshine" at the Lincoln Center New York Film Festival starting September 28th-the opening film this year is the world premiere of "The Darjeeling Limited." For more information on this festival, visit www.filmlinc.com.
posted by Eric at
1:10 AM
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