Do U Cry 4 Me Argentina? (2005) User Reviews

Korean Immigrants in Argentina

[Jamester · 7/10 · 15 September 2005]

Immigrants from everywhere can relate to this story of Korean immigrants who have moved to Argentina and find life challenging.

But what's most interesting about this film is that the topic and treatment transcend country, race and time. The director pulls together a topic and blows open the door through imagination, music and a dramatic plot that opens our minds to a rather ugly side of harsh life. The director has done a great job in getting in depicting some of the anguished and challenging thoughts of his main characters.

The screenplay was strong. From the start, you get a feel for life in Argentina which quickly moves to some interesting plot points that propels the story forward. Music sequences suffuse the film, which in my view, were overly long, but these help to give the film some spunk, and tie the film together with both content and style.

Overall, a very good piece from a first-time writer, director and producer. Congratulations!

Neither Fish Nor Fowl

[dmulv · 8/10 · 9 October 2005]

I just saw this movie at the Pusan International Film Festival. As a non-Korean foreigner, I was disappointed that they showed show little of Argentina.

I saw a German movie at the same festival a few years ago called "Neither Fish Nor Fowl" that was about Koreans living there. That movie's main character was fully assimilated in German culture and the movie was in both languages, so you saw the perspective from both sides.

The title "Do you cry 4 me, Argentina" was a bit bold. The most striking shot of the movie was when the camera was moving across images and the world famous image of Che Guevara, a native Argentinian, was shown. I immediately thought of his mission to bring equality to all men. It clearly brought to mind the irony of this, seeing how heartless the Argentinians were portrayed to be against the Koreans living there.

Another question it brought up for me was "why would Koreans go to a country poorer that their own?" I guess in the 1980s when they immigrated the two countries much have been more equal economically. It shows either how much the Korean economy has grown since those days, or how far the Argentine economy has fallen.

Overall, a thought-provoking, interesting and entertaining film.

Very Good Opera Prima

[guillela · 8/10 · 24 April 2005]

What a pleasant surprise was to see this movie at the April 2005 BAFICI, the Independent Film Festival in Buenos Aires,the first movie of Bae Yung. The life of some transplanted youth from South Korea into Buenos Aires. The racism they endure. The nasty comments about Asian people by native Argentines, who themselves are the children of other immigrants. The robberies and murders, amidst home robberies, by their countrymen. The choices some of them make, to make money, to be happy, are similar to other youth all over the world. The movie has a jumpy, fast-cut style, which could be mistaken to a collection of MTV videos.... but underneath, there is a good story, albeit tragic. Of special interest were the shots of the woman violinist, and of the woman working at his father's clothes sewing sweatshop. Good first try!!!