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Reviews
Hwa-ryeo-han-hyoo-ga (2007)
A beautiful depiction of a tragic moment in history
Contrary to some other reviewers, I thought this movie was a beautiful touch on the sensitive issue of Kwangju. This tragedy went unacknowledged far too long than it deserved, and this movie helps to show the injustice. Of course, the movie is romanticized in many ways, but it is still a very valuable movie. There are many sides to history, and this is just one portrayal. I admired how the movie was localized to just the citizens of Kwangju who deserve their stories to be told. The massacre was smoothed over by the politics of the time including the foreign powers who tried to justify their inaction.
The casting was really good. (Don't see it if you're just a fan of Lee Jun Ki (I mean, I am), but it's not a sole reason to.) Watch the movie because it shows a part of history that needs to be told. The soundtrack is beautiful. Although the characters are pretty typical, they are memorable. The movie's not up there with Taegukgi, but it definitely is up there. It has a different feel and is a wonderful movie.