There's an outstanding outward composure pervading this movie, to the point that it seems impossible not to feel in the end a sense of calm, although the cruelty of some situations. This is probably a typical feature of all oriental pictures and culture as well, but here it is most evident, almost therapeutic. The protagonist is a small, meek, cheerfully dressed, sixty-something woman, in the early stages of Alzheimer's, who has to look after her troublesome grandson, dramatically connected with a shocking event in the small Korean city where they live. It's a slow movie, which leaves ample scope to the unsaid and the unwritten, but dripping with strong and deep humanity. Mija reveals such determination in her simple and peaceful going on, holding on, she proves the real strength of real strong people, that strength that does not need any evident outward demonstrations, but only the inner will of a meek nature who continues to see the beauty of a flower or the perfection of an apple, and the beauty of poetry, of course, against the ugliness of men (and here the ugliness of a male chauvinist society is to be underlined). The movie reveals such delicacy, such subtlety and tact while approaching the most disturbing topics, that we as viewers can manage everything, feeling a kind of respect towards us, and feeling also grateful for that. Great work by the director Lee Chang-dong then, and standing ovation for Yun Jung-hee for her intense, poignant, stunning interpretation of Mija. The last shots on her finally achieved poem are petrifying and soothing at the same time, showing an incredible emotional intensity. These are movies that should reach the big screen more often and more widely.
31 Reviews
Looking for the poetry in life
punyaketu30 August 2011
What a wonderful film! To give my personal answer to one interviewer's question "Do you regard cinema, too, to be a dying form?" to the director Lee Chang-Dong. I believe (and deeply hope) that as long as films like Poetry are being made cinema will continue to flourish because it is important. It will continue to exist as long as humans exist because they are about being human. I was struck by how masterfully two sides of our humanness were presented in the film. On the one hand, it is about our search for beauty, as beauty can only be experienced if something of our own potential beauty responds to the beauty around us. There is something spiritual in this as Beauty and Truth are essentially one. On the other hand, there is the human predicament. That includes the pro and cons of the fact that we always have the choice to decide if we act ethically or not. That means if we actually say Yes to what is intrinsically our positive potential, or we say No and harm others, our environment and as a kind of end result, ourselves. What for me links the two is impermanence. Old age, illness and suicide as it is shown in the film. "Everything that is born will have to die" goes a very old Buddhist saying, and that happens no matter if we like it or not. At the same time, would we experience beauty if everything was to exist forever? Is it not because a beautiful flower grows out of a very simple looking seed in spring and then withers away after some weeks that it can become so precious to us? Without impermanence there is, one could say, by definition no beauty. Both are somehow the two sides of the same metaphorical coin. The same is true about this film. It still lingers on in my heart and mind weeks after I saw it. Very much like a true and wonderful poem, for example Rainer Maria Rilke's First Duino Elegy. It is is just about that, the wonder and horror of beauty.
Poetic to the Last Frame
christian946 May 2013
The theme of old age and illness find a new positive essence in poetry. A device to have even the elderly explore life in new and interesting ways. The excellent screenplay and brilliant directing from Chang-Dong Lee combined with an engaged ensemble cast and revealing cinematography, give place for an intimate interaction. The poets and aspiring poets fit well in this story of inner discovery. The inspiration is difficult to come by and external events will accentuate the duality of seeing life as an observer while also being an essential actor.
The multi-layered story has poetry, dialogue, imagery and much time for reflection. The film builds up to the last poem "Agnes' Song" by Mija Yang (the protagonist) which is powerful and perfect. Accentuated by it's accompanying images, it brings out life, beauty, sadness, acceptance, connection and so much more. The editing is especially effective here, but is extraordinary throughout. The ending confirms that the collections of individually intense and intelligent scenes witnessed transcends by transposing and transforming Mija and ultimately the viewer.
Hopefully this will inspire a perhaps much needed poetic view of this hypermodern world which can barely watch deliberate thoughtful meaningful measured movies like this, much less find and read a poem. Maybe this artistic beckon will even encourage someone to write one.
The multi-layered story has poetry, dialogue, imagery and much time for reflection. The film builds up to the last poem "Agnes' Song" by Mija Yang (the protagonist) which is powerful and perfect. Accentuated by it's accompanying images, it brings out life, beauty, sadness, acceptance, connection and so much more. The editing is especially effective here, but is extraordinary throughout. The ending confirms that the collections of individually intense and intelligent scenes witnessed transcends by transposing and transforming Mija and ultimately the viewer.
Hopefully this will inspire a perhaps much needed poetic view of this hypermodern world which can barely watch deliberate thoughtful meaningful measured movies like this, much less find and read a poem. Maybe this artistic beckon will even encourage someone to write one.
Tears In Heaven
valis19494 April 2012
POETRY (dir. Chang-dong Lee) POETRY is a slow-moving character drama which is disarmingly powerful, yet haunting and meditative. Mija is a sixty-six year old suffering from early onset Alzheimer's disease who lives in a rural Korean town with her indolent teen aged grandson, Jongwook. In an attempt to stimulate her cognitive abilities, she enrolls in a poetry class. Things are looking up until she learns that her grandson was involved in the suicide of one of his classmates. Jongwook and some of his friends had been sexually abusing a classmate, and this drove the young girl to take her life. Soon Mija is contacted by the fathers of the boys and learns that they want to pay the girl's mother a large sum of money to keep her from going to the authorities. In her poetry class at the community center Mija learns that in order to create poetry one must learn, 'to observe', 'to notice', and 'to witness'. The need for a heightened awareness or sensibility becomes the compelling dichotomy of the film. We observe that the fathers only focus on the ramifications of the incident on the lives of their sons, while Mija becomes moved and deeply empathizes with the loss of this innocent young girl to her family and the community. And, in the end Mija forces her grandson to face up to his responsibility, and she also constructs a loving and heartfelt poetic eulogy for the young girl. And, in a remarkable way of relating these two crucial events, the character of Mija is not even present as the actions unfold. Director, Chang-dong Lee, delivers a wonderful film which touches on a wide range of difficult subjects; poetry, dementia, sexual abuse and suicide, and casts an elderly semi-retired Korean actress as the star of the film. However, these kinds of mature topics and deliberate presentation are out of favor in Hollywood and unpopular with contemporary film audiences. I'm afraid that this film will never garner much commercial success, but if you take the time 'to witness', you will enjoy a truly rewarding cinematic experience.
Masterful filmmaking
Red_Identity24 December 2011
Reading Poetry's summary, one sees a sentimental film. I surely wasn't sure if I wanted to see this or not. I am completely happy I did.
What we have here is a slow-paced, delicate film. But it doesn't sway in sentimentality. It's subtle, quiet, and perhaps the most gentle film of the year, but it also wallows in the study of a suburban woman and in many ways feels like a dark portrait of a story. Yoon Jeong-hee is magnificent! She conveys so much emotion, and we realize just how quickly we want to see her journey here. The direction is assured, quitely letting us explore, never calling attention to itself. The screenplay is brilliant, and has the ideal arc needed for a film like this.
There are many amazing moments in this film, moments that really grabbed me and that emotionally shook me. One of the best films of the year in an already amazing year for film.
What we have here is a slow-paced, delicate film. But it doesn't sway in sentimentality. It's subtle, quiet, and perhaps the most gentle film of the year, but it also wallows in the study of a suburban woman and in many ways feels like a dark portrait of a story. Yoon Jeong-hee is magnificent! She conveys so much emotion, and we realize just how quickly we want to see her journey here. The direction is assured, quitely letting us explore, never calling attention to itself. The screenplay is brilliant, and has the ideal arc needed for a film like this.
There are many amazing moments in this film, moments that really grabbed me and that emotionally shook me. One of the best films of the year in an already amazing year for film.
subtle and beautiful
ien-chi9631 May 2010
Lee Chang Dong has always been a favorite Korean director of mine. His films, including "Poetry," have a subtle yet captivating force. "Poetry" is not for the average film viewer, but is for more mature audiences who are not afraid to confront life as it is and the existential aspects of life in general. The film is an exploration of complex human conditions that people can often find boring. But "Poetry" is inarguably meaningful and deep in its own way. It presents life realistically, but also paves way for finding positive little things within the worst conditions. "Poetry" is a film that will make you think in a way that almost no Hollywood movie can. Certainly, it is a powerful film as well. The only problem is that the majority of the population can misunderstand a film such as this one. It is a film that requires effort on the part of the audience to think and interpret the film for what it is. But once the purpose of the film is appreciated, it is a wonderful film for what it's worth. Go and watch it. It's a film that can change the way you look at everyday things.
An Almost Well-Told Story; Quite Poetic in Nature!
akash_sebastian8 August 2013
An almost well-told story; the movie in itself is quite poetic. It engages us in its search for true beauty. It asks, "what pushes us to the verge of giving up?".
The movie is quite poignant and elegant, story-wise and visually. Yun Junghee's acting and Lee's attention to detail about simple things in the movie keeps us engaged from beginning till end.
The discussions in the poetry class, and the happiest memories students share in the class, were the most delightful and moving scenes.
Some people might find some great hidden meaning or something. Personally, I didn't find it quite effective.
The movie is quite poignant and elegant, story-wise and visually. Yun Junghee's acting and Lee's attention to detail about simple things in the movie keeps us engaged from beginning till end.
The discussions in the poetry class, and the happiest memories students share in the class, were the most delightful and moving scenes.
Some people might find some great hidden meaning or something. Personally, I didn't find it quite effective.
Real, revealing, moving, interesting...what else can you ask for?
secondtake15 September 2014
Poetry (2010)
Steady and stealthy, this film proposes to be as lyrical and compact as a poem, but then it keeps going and ends up larger and more impressive than you'd expect. And the acting by leading female actress, the Korean star Jeong-hie Yun, is startling and nuanced, a great performance.
At the heart of the plot are two plots. The first is the title line—elderly Mija has decided to learn how to write poetry, so she attends a class (filled with younger students). The second is about a sex crime—a gang rape it turns out—by her grandson, who she is raising alone. The two are nearly opposites in so many ways we see how life itself balances the beautiful and ugly, and responsibility and indifference. In a larger way, "Poetry" is about contemporary life in Korea, and the interactions of ordinary people in extreme situations will be revealing to many outside of Korea.
It's hard to overstate how well this movie pulls off something socially serious and yet makes it all understated and almost matter of fact. There are these several lines of thought that keep going throughout, and that don't quite converge until the very end, which is both tragic (truly) and a bit mysterious. What exactly is the implication of that last scene on the bridge, and the water that shows nothing? It hearkens to the beginning, of course, but we have our main character at hand.
In that sense, it's a brilliant, almost perfect evocation of contemporary Korea on the most normal, middle class level. Lovely and loving, and cold and brutal. And it shows the glib sexism of the men there, much like everywhere at various times. And how to survive you sometimes have to just proceed. And then, of course, sometimes you do not survive.
Steady and stealthy, this film proposes to be as lyrical and compact as a poem, but then it keeps going and ends up larger and more impressive than you'd expect. And the acting by leading female actress, the Korean star Jeong-hie Yun, is startling and nuanced, a great performance.
At the heart of the plot are two plots. The first is the title line—elderly Mija has decided to learn how to write poetry, so she attends a class (filled with younger students). The second is about a sex crime—a gang rape it turns out—by her grandson, who she is raising alone. The two are nearly opposites in so many ways we see how life itself balances the beautiful and ugly, and responsibility and indifference. In a larger way, "Poetry" is about contemporary life in Korea, and the interactions of ordinary people in extreme situations will be revealing to many outside of Korea.
It's hard to overstate how well this movie pulls off something socially serious and yet makes it all understated and almost matter of fact. There are these several lines of thought that keep going throughout, and that don't quite converge until the very end, which is both tragic (truly) and a bit mysterious. What exactly is the implication of that last scene on the bridge, and the water that shows nothing? It hearkens to the beginning, of course, but we have our main character at hand.
In that sense, it's a brilliant, almost perfect evocation of contemporary Korea on the most normal, middle class level. Lovely and loving, and cold and brutal. And it shows the glib sexism of the men there, much like everywhere at various times. And how to survive you sometimes have to just proceed. And then, of course, sometimes you do not survive.
Contemplation of Life And Death: A Leisurely Mystery
museumofdave18 February 2013
What a contrast to the average Hollywood product which highlights guns afire, frantic car chases and exploding buildings--noise and action aplenty: this subtle and enticing tale of self-realization is the antithesis of the action film, although within the first few minutes of the film, in the midst of children playing near a river, a body floats by and sets an odd tone for the remainder of the film. A grandmother who learns she has an incurable illness and who discovers her grandson is not merely a disaffected teen who cannot clean up after himself--but something worse-- the woman inexplicably enrolls in a poetry class and for the next two hours we are taken along her journey in a most leisurely fashion, a film with powerful cinematography and at last, a puzzling, thoughtful conclusion: if you want easy entertainment with pat answers, this is not your film. If you enjoy an immersion in another culture from another point of view, this might be a great treat for you--it was for me
Intriguing art-house piece
Leofwine_draca13 November 2012
POETRY is, inevitably, a film that strives to be poetic throughout, and yet come the end a few infuriating flaws detract from the experience. The first is the running time, which is way too long for such a slender story. I know this was intended to be a realistic mood piece, dealing with the older generation so that a slow and sedate pace reflects the lives of the characters, but seriously? An hour could easily have been cut out to no ill effect.
Still, there are plenty of flashes of greatness in this production. The leading actress, Jeong-hie Yun, who came out of retirement to star in this film, is very good indeed and never less than authentic. The way the movie explores the relationship with the man she cares for is very intriguing. But, at times, I expected the film to be more harrowing, especially in regard to her character's plight. It's as if the director takes great pride in NOT showing the scenes you expect to see, but the end result is a lack of drama and involvement.
By far the most interesting aspect of the storyline involves the main actress's grandson, but it's more build-up than pay-off and the resolution, when it comes, is presented so insignificantly that you almost miss the significance. Nevertheless, the understated direction and sheer beauty of many of the scenes contribute a lot to the production, and sometimes it's nice to watch a movie that takes a step back or two to reflect on the human condition. I liked it, but didn't love it...
Still, there are plenty of flashes of greatness in this production. The leading actress, Jeong-hie Yun, who came out of retirement to star in this film, is very good indeed and never less than authentic. The way the movie explores the relationship with the man she cares for is very intriguing. But, at times, I expected the film to be more harrowing, especially in regard to her character's plight. It's as if the director takes great pride in NOT showing the scenes you expect to see, but the end result is a lack of drama and involvement.
By far the most interesting aspect of the storyline involves the main actress's grandson, but it's more build-up than pay-off and the resolution, when it comes, is presented so insignificantly that you almost miss the significance. Nevertheless, the understated direction and sheer beauty of many of the scenes contribute a lot to the production, and sometimes it's nice to watch a movie that takes a step back or two to reflect on the human condition. I liked it, but didn't love it...
scenes way too long---Boring Period
filmalamosa28 June 2012
Tried to watch this a couple times and only got as far as an hour into it...It is so boring the scenes need to be pared down.
The daily street life of Korea is great but enough is enough--for instance at the poetry reading one or two at the most poems would have made an impression not half a dozen each more clichéd and badly written than the one before it...about the fourth one you think My God! how long is this going to go on?
There are some great moments captured--especially with the elderly shop owner who has had a stroke. But there are so many boring scenes.
I got the point of male dominated society and feminist message early on...prefer these things be more subtle than a jack hammer. Social message movies like this are not my favorite.
BORING period.
The daily street life of Korea is great but enough is enough--for instance at the poetry reading one or two at the most poems would have made an impression not half a dozen each more clichéd and badly written than the one before it...about the fourth one you think My God! how long is this going to go on?
There are some great moments captured--especially with the elderly shop owner who has had a stroke. But there are so many boring scenes.
I got the point of male dominated society and feminist message early on...prefer these things be more subtle than a jack hammer. Social message movies like this are not my favorite.
BORING period.
A poet and she didn't know it
GyatsoLa13 August 2011
It never ceases to amaze me how Korean film makers seem capable of balancing so much in their films - so many of the best films from Korea seem to defy any genre categorizations. They are often funny when you expect them to be horrifying, thrilling when you expect them to be ethereal, and have a way of turning all audience expectations upside down.
Poetry is one of the very best Korean films of the last few years. I saw it last week, and still can't get that wonderful old lady out of my head. It is, very briefly, about a proud but desperately poor woman in her mid-60's, who looks after her taciturn teenage grandson, who finds out that he may have been involved in the rape of a girl who later commits suicide. Simultaneously, she is diagnosed with early Alzheimers disease. She is also trying to find an artistic outlet, to make some mark on the world before she loses her grip. All these elements come together in a way with is somethings horrifying, sometimes fascinating, and ultimately very beautiful.
This film is a flat out masterpiece and demands to be seen.
Poetry is one of the very best Korean films of the last few years. I saw it last week, and still can't get that wonderful old lady out of my head. It is, very briefly, about a proud but desperately poor woman in her mid-60's, who looks after her taciturn teenage grandson, who finds out that he may have been involved in the rape of a girl who later commits suicide. Simultaneously, she is diagnosed with early Alzheimers disease. She is also trying to find an artistic outlet, to make some mark on the world before she loses her grip. All these elements come together in a way with is somethings horrifying, sometimes fascinating, and ultimately very beautiful.
This film is a flat out masterpiece and demands to be seen.
"We All Carry Poetry In Our Hearts"
tim-764-29185630 March 2012
As a lover of World Cinema and having had a few poems of my own published here and there, South Korea's 'Poetry' was always going to be a double treat for me.
The film's beauty is that it's not just about poetry but how that it can fit into everyday lives and help folk the see the inner beauty that it brings. Mija (an excellent Jeong-he Yun) a 66 year old woman, suffering the onset of Alzheimers, sees the simple beauty in an apple and of fallen apricots on the ground.
She gets this after starting poetry classes and whilst she fails to get her 'poetic awakening', she sets herself the target of writing just one poem.
Considering that this gentle, graceful lady is bringing up a teenage grandson who has committed a serious crime and as a job cares part-time for an elderly stroke victim these poetical leanings are a soothing diversion for both us - and her. (She's not bad at badminton, either!) It's actually the way the film contrasts several issues, the modern contemporary ones that give the film its backbone, the age difference clashes with the grandson and the lyrical - but unsentimental - softer side and you get a modest and modern masterpiece.
Avoid if only Iron Man 2 can move you. But if you have a heart, one where a soul and emotion can flourish and you enjoy a well acted, straightforward modern film - wherever in the world that it might come from - then 'Poetry' has a wide and worthwhile appeal.
The film's beauty is that it's not just about poetry but how that it can fit into everyday lives and help folk the see the inner beauty that it brings. Mija (an excellent Jeong-he Yun) a 66 year old woman, suffering the onset of Alzheimers, sees the simple beauty in an apple and of fallen apricots on the ground.
She gets this after starting poetry classes and whilst she fails to get her 'poetic awakening', she sets herself the target of writing just one poem.
Considering that this gentle, graceful lady is bringing up a teenage grandson who has committed a serious crime and as a job cares part-time for an elderly stroke victim these poetical leanings are a soothing diversion for both us - and her. (She's not bad at badminton, either!) It's actually the way the film contrasts several issues, the modern contemporary ones that give the film its backbone, the age difference clashes with the grandson and the lyrical - but unsentimental - softer side and you get a modest and modern masterpiece.
Avoid if only Iron Man 2 can move you. But if you have a heart, one where a soul and emotion can flourish and you enjoy a well acted, straightforward modern film - wherever in the world that it might come from - then 'Poetry' has a wide and worthwhile appeal.
Ambitious Yet Subtle
trentreid-131 March 2011
Excellent film that fits in with familiar themes for the director, concerning an individual largely overwhelmed by changing cultural values and socioeconomic demands - yet acting quietly but with clear intent to create a meaningful space. Yun Jeong-hie, emerging from retirement for this role, is stately by means of presenting an understated and seemingly unremarkable facade. Never pandering, and only expressing specific emotions in credible forms for the character.
Poet Kim Yong-taek serves a sort of explicatory role without the usually awful trappings, spurring and drawing out Mi-ja's motivations and internal struggle in a logical context of poetry without pretense or contrivance. Her natural capacity for empathy and the difficulty of maintaining that perspective in a world of deeply cynical pragmatists provides deeply personal conflict, and it is much more meaningful for that ambitious subtlety.
Poet Kim Yong-taek serves a sort of explicatory role without the usually awful trappings, spurring and drawing out Mi-ja's motivations and internal struggle in a logical context of poetry without pretense or contrivance. Her natural capacity for empathy and the difficulty of maintaining that perspective in a world of deeply cynical pragmatists provides deeply personal conflict, and it is much more meaningful for that ambitious subtlety.
Lee's third feature solidifies his status as one of the world's finest filmmakers
zetes7 February 2011
Lee's third film is, thankfully, getting a far more quick release than Secret Sunshine. It hasn't opened yet, but it will at some point in 2011 (brought to you by Kino). The film is very reminiscent of his previous, in that it contains some huge moments of tragedy, but prefers to mute them in favor of subtle human drama. This one stars another outstanding actress, Yun Jeong-hie. About 60, she is a grandmother raising her teenage grandson all by herself (his father is long gone, and his mother has left her son for not entirely specified reasons). She isn't really up to it. She has no control over the kid. She's also becoming senile. Yun soon discovers that her lack of control over her grandson has had some extremely grave consequences. He won't acknowledge his crimes, but Grandma has to deal with them herself. Meanwhile, she tries as hard as she can to find solace in the poetry class which she has recently signed up for, though she has huge problems finding beauty in the world at this point. Yun's performance is absolutely masterful - her mind is kind of slipping away, and she's desperately trying to hold onto it in the face of this awful event. Emotions don't come easily, but you can see the weight of the world in that woman's eyes.
'POETRY' You can't stop your tears to roll down!
framesforever24 February 2012
A brilliant film with a deep human story. 'Poetry' even though has a slow start grabs you by the collar and keeps you with it till the end. A film which is so emotional that you could hardly stop not to shed a tear or two. The protagonist has been performed to perfection with a perfect blend of humour throughout the film. I personally felt that the film also addressed the fact that people are so busy to earn their daily bread, they have completely forgotten the art of 'literature' and 'poems'
Every scene in the film has a subtle meaning in the film. The character stays with you even after the credits and that is the powerful performance of the leading role in the film. The last poem summarises the film in a very unique manner which you would never find in today's mainstream films.
The Director has done a splendid job creating such a masterpiece that is so well deserved to watch on any big screens all over the world.
Every scene in the film has a subtle meaning in the film. The character stays with you even after the credits and that is the powerful performance of the leading role in the film. The last poem summarises the film in a very unique manner which you would never find in today's mainstream films.
The Director has done a splendid job creating such a masterpiece that is so well deserved to watch on any big screens all over the world.
Alone woman through hardships of life
amirborgheie1 February 2012
SOUTH Korea WITH THESE MOVIES SHOWS THAT HAS MAGIC ABILITIES TO SHOWS ITS POWERS IN WORLD CINEMA.ALONE WOMAN BETWEEN INTRIGUED PROBLEMS AND NO one to help her. she has an unkind boy and an old paralysis husband that day in -day out face of life too, tease her. she is so patient and she is poet too that inspirates from nature. she needs someone to help her but she does not him/her.she tries to participate in different scientific and poetic parties to content her loneliness.she loves her boy and her husband and in deep heart she does her responsibilities as a mother and wife but she is still young and she has young views in life. overall,director shows devotion of the woman through the movie.i personally, do not like south east cinema but movies like poetry can make me change my mind about south east cinema.
Truly Disappointed!
HassanRahshaanMohamed10 March 2022
Beautiful elegiac tale of an old rose coming to terms with tragedy all around her...
joebloggscity14 June 2015
Korean cinema for whatever reason has been ahead of everyone else for quality and high standards for so long now, that really we should just take it for granted.
Amongst the stable of high quality film making is this gem, an elegiac tale of one old woman who has found out she likely has Alzheimer's disease but hides it from all, not that others seems to care for her. Her life is surrounded by tragedy as the death of a young schoolgirl comes close to home, and everyone she seems to connect to in this family seem almost amoral. Her only escape, is the Poetry class she has signed up to, but she doesn't know what to write.
This film is beautifully shot and wonderfully written, but it's the central performance of Jeong-hie Yun as our lead lady who captures your heart while you watch this. You will little find another character you will empathise with as much as this one who seems to still smile even though you know all the heartache that is happening.
I really recommend this. It all leads up to a mesmerising finale, it's an excellent film I hope that as many can watch it as possible.
Amongst the stable of high quality film making is this gem, an elegiac tale of one old woman who has found out she likely has Alzheimer's disease but hides it from all, not that others seems to care for her. Her life is surrounded by tragedy as the death of a young schoolgirl comes close to home, and everyone she seems to connect to in this family seem almost amoral. Her only escape, is the Poetry class she has signed up to, but she doesn't know what to write.
This film is beautifully shot and wonderfully written, but it's the central performance of Jeong-hie Yun as our lead lady who captures your heart while you watch this. You will little find another character you will empathise with as much as this one who seems to still smile even though you know all the heartache that is happening.
I really recommend this. It all leads up to a mesmerising finale, it's an excellent film I hope that as many can watch it as possible.
"The poetry within you must be given wings to take flight"
doug_park20019 August 2013
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.
A Beautifully Rendered Character Study
alisonc-121 August 2011
We just came home from seeing the lovely South Korean movie, "Poetry," starring Jeong-hie Yun as Mija, a 66-year-old woman who is raising her grandson Wook (Da-wit Lee) alone in a smallish town while her daughter, Wook's mother, is working in the big city of Busan. As the film opens, we see a beautiful river with some children playing nearby, until one child spots a corpse floating in the river. It turns out to be the body of a 16-year-old girl who has committed suicide. Leaving that scene, we find Mija in a hospital, complaining to the doctor about a sensation in her arm that is bothering her, and oh yes, she's having trouble remembering words too. The doctor tells her to exercise for the arm condition, but he refers her to a larger hospital in Seoul to test her memory. As the story plays out, Mija finds that she must cope with the heinous activities of her grandson, her gradually progressing dementia, her ongoing poverty and the behaviour of the elderly man, apparently a stroke victim, for whom she cleans and cares a couple of times a week. To help settle her mind, she decides to take a poetry class at the local community center, a month-long class in which the teacher proclaims that everybody will be asked to write a poem by the end of the sessions. Mija takes in all the advice about really seeing what is in her environment, and writing down her feelings about the things she is observing, but still, she feels unable to write a poem. She keeps trying, though, through all her trials and tribulations....
I don't want to say much more about this film because I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that it moves in directions I did not expect. It is a long film, almost 2 1/2 hours, and it's got a very languid pace; I almost want to say that not much happens in it, but in fact a lot does happen, it's just that it happens slowly, over time, without any ferocious outburst of action or jump-cutting or all the frenetic film work we're used to seeing in North America. No, this is a quiet film that takes it's time. It's beautifully photographed by Hyun Seok Kim, and the writer/director Chang-dong Lee allows the marvelous actress Jeong-hie Yun to gradually reveal the multiple layers of this richly observed character. I suppose it's mostly a character study, really, and the character of Mija is one we really come to know and respect and even love. It's sad, very sad in parts, but it's just so beautiful and heart-felt that the sadness seems just the way it should be. I know it's been playing in cities throughout North America, a bit at a time, and if it comes to your town, you really should make an effort to see it.
I don't want to say much more about this film because I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that it moves in directions I did not expect. It is a long film, almost 2 1/2 hours, and it's got a very languid pace; I almost want to say that not much happens in it, but in fact a lot does happen, it's just that it happens slowly, over time, without any ferocious outburst of action or jump-cutting or all the frenetic film work we're used to seeing in North America. No, this is a quiet film that takes it's time. It's beautifully photographed by Hyun Seok Kim, and the writer/director Chang-dong Lee allows the marvelous actress Jeong-hie Yun to gradually reveal the multiple layers of this richly observed character. I suppose it's mostly a character study, really, and the character of Mija is one we really come to know and respect and even love. It's sad, very sad in parts, but it's just so beautiful and heart-felt that the sadness seems just the way it should be. I know it's been playing in cities throughout North America, a bit at a time, and if it comes to your town, you really should make an effort to see it.
Difficult reading
pulp_post1 May 2011
Shi is most certainly a good movie, and yet it fails to be a masterpiece, so I am inclined to believe that some viewers might have felt disappointed in case they had such hopes for this film, based on the Cannes award and on the fact that, well, it's a Korean movie.
While Shi is not designed to be a thriller, I found it rather similar to Madeo, which is a masterpiece by the way, and the things is - as a thriller, Madeo has the exact dimension, feeling and intensity, the right qualities for the genre, and the ones that helped it in its road to perfection. In this sense, Shi is sort of lost, trying to be an artistic and humanistic movie; nonetheless, it still has the duty to be able to tell a story, and to have a coherent plot.
Unfortunately, Shi stops half-way and fails to reach a high artistic level (but it should be noted that it is still good in this sense) and fails completely to tell a coherent story. It is rather too long, and while it didn't help to make better art, it also didn't work in the sense of making it precise and logical enough. Like many, I failed to understand the end in logical terms (it's like part of the story is missing, despite the abundance of scenes), even though I could grasp the ending at some emotional level - which is not enough, though.
Having said that, I want to note that I liked Shi very much, and I think that Lee Chang-dong is a most promising director.
While Shi is not designed to be a thriller, I found it rather similar to Madeo, which is a masterpiece by the way, and the things is - as a thriller, Madeo has the exact dimension, feeling and intensity, the right qualities for the genre, and the ones that helped it in its road to perfection. In this sense, Shi is sort of lost, trying to be an artistic and humanistic movie; nonetheless, it still has the duty to be able to tell a story, and to have a coherent plot.
Unfortunately, Shi stops half-way and fails to reach a high artistic level (but it should be noted that it is still good in this sense) and fails completely to tell a coherent story. It is rather too long, and while it didn't help to make better art, it also didn't work in the sense of making it precise and logical enough. Like many, I failed to understand the end in logical terms (it's like part of the story is missing, despite the abundance of scenes), even though I could grasp the ending at some emotional level - which is not enough, though.
Having said that, I want to note that I liked Shi very much, and I think that Lee Chang-dong is a most promising director.
It's worth watching
laravtavares-4775518 May 2020
This is a good movie. However, it's not an amazing one. The story is touching, you can definitely understand what poetry means to her, and how it helped her escape her unfortunate reality. I think it's nice that the colors are never too bright, for example, she dresses in pastel tones. In a way, it matches her life. It's a sad one, but not too sad because she found poetry, and in the end, I think that's what really saves her. Still, it could have been better. There's something missing, something that will make you feel the whole thing in a more intense way.
Amazing play by lead Jeong-hie Yun
OJT19 July 2013
A lot of good reviews are written here about the film "Poetry" which really is a poetry of a film. I would really recommend it if you can stand a film which isn't fast moving all the time. Maybe it's a little bit too long, but perhaps it has to be to fulfill the meaning of poetry.
The film gives a great look upon the South Korean society in many aspects, which is great in itself.
But I'd like to give my biggest applaud to leading lady Jeong-hie Yun. she plays a 66 year old woman With the early sign of Alzheimer's's disease, discovering that her grandson has been part of a hideous crime of which most try to cover up.
Her play is amazing, and though this film has won prizes a lot of Places, this film would't be half the film if it wasn't for the amazing play of Jeong-hie Yun. She's so wise, yet charming, and reacts so natural to the difficult situations she is facing during this film.
Watching such work on film makes me bow in awe!
The film gives a great look upon the South Korean society in many aspects, which is great in itself.
But I'd like to give my biggest applaud to leading lady Jeong-hie Yun. she plays a 66 year old woman With the early sign of Alzheimer's's disease, discovering that her grandson has been part of a hideous crime of which most try to cover up.
Her play is amazing, and though this film has won prizes a lot of Places, this film would't be half the film if it wasn't for the amazing play of Jeong-hie Yun. She's so wise, yet charming, and reacts so natural to the difficult situations she is facing during this film.
Watching such work on film makes me bow in awe!
I'm trying to think of a heading that isn't obvious...
GiraffeDoor30 January 2020
A unique blend of lyricism and sordid realism. Most movies couldn't pull off the fragmentation of its narrative into these three seemingly discrete elements:
-The struggle into dementia
Done with a graceful restraint, there is a constant sense of unspoken suffering in every scene and the moments of voice over poetry are profoundly poignant as this woman seeks by any way she can to have some sense of voice in the world.
-The struggle into dementia
- The lady attending a poetry class
Done with a graceful restraint, there is a constant sense of unspoken suffering in every scene and the moments of voice over poetry are profoundly poignant as this woman seeks by any way she can to have some sense of voice in the world.
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