POETRY is a beautifully cast tragi-comedy that allows its audience an intriguing view of daily life in Korea. Its 2 hr, 19 min length, with relatively little fast action or hard tension, may prove a hindrance to many audiences. However, the cinematography is ultra-fine with some very lush scenery, and Yun Jung-hee is just superb as Mija, a 66-year-old poet-at-heart who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and is also beset with a troublesome grandson who, along with five of his friends, is part of a serious scandal involving the suicide of a female classmate. This is a truly poignant film that succeeds in being artsy without being the least bit pretentious. Anyone interested in poetry-in-general should like POETRY.
Review of Poetry
