At first, i came across to this movie because i just finished 'Signal' drama series where Lee Je-hoon were the lead actors. Without seing any synopsis about this movie, i keep on guessing why the grandma really wants to learned English. And the plot develop really good, and i even cry for last 20 minute. Good movie and recommended!
21 Reviews
Important Story
AJ_McAninch16 June 2021
Wonderful movie
sathyaaero26 July 2020
The acting of the granny was really excellent and she was one who completely takes us throughout the film. Basically the films with true events was really tough to reach audience because it's reality but this film they takes the viewers with curiosity about why she wants to learn English and what's her back history. It doesn't looks like a true story, there's the film won. The concept of the film was so strong and all should know about our history about how womens treated. Interesting and must watch movie.
History Kept Alive
dcarroll7413 June 2020
What a terrible, beautiful movie this is. As an Irishman, I was not aware of the Japanese in South Korea, nevermind North Korea. I know a lot about the Asia Pacific conflict during WWII but, this is someting I never came across until now. What an eye opener.
I feel so sorry for those who have "reviewed" this movie and cannot or, maybe don't want to, understand the meaning of this movie. Aren't they lucky they didn't live in the time depicted, nor were subjected to the atrocities inflicted on these children, for that is what they were, children. I shall endeavour to learn more of this period.
I would suspect that is the raison d'etre of this movie. Cudos to the two main leads, Na Moon-hee and Lee Ja-hoon, and to the writer (s) and the director Kim Hyun-seok. My eyes have been opened, they shall remain so.
I feel so sorry for those who have "reviewed" this movie and cannot or, maybe don't want to, understand the meaning of this movie. Aren't they lucky they didn't live in the time depicted, nor were subjected to the atrocities inflicted on these children, for that is what they were, children. I shall endeavour to learn more of this period.
I would suspect that is the raison d'etre of this movie. Cudos to the two main leads, Na Moon-hee and Lee Ja-hoon, and to the writer (s) and the director Kim Hyun-seok. My eyes have been opened, they shall remain so.
A well made movie.
afshan-9990212 June 2019
This is probably the best movie of its kind. I was skeptical if i would like this movie, but i was wrong(this is the highest rating i have ever given yet).
The film was well written and shot, ALL the actors did an excellent job potraying their respective characters. The movie neither felt dragged nor rushed, it went on the perfect pace and the transition between scenes were smooth too.
This movie was emotional but was well balanced with the right amount of humour.
I guessed about her past before it was revealed in the movie. This indicates the resemblance of the movie to similar incidents starting from the very get up of the old lady.
A+ Movie, get the tissues ready... you will cry..
mg2314 May 2018
What starts as a surface level comedy genre movie about a Grandmother, quickly develops and turns out in fact to be a deep
and historical drama about WW2 war crimes.
The film does an excellent job of weaving together many strong themes about courage, determination, language barrier, and optimistically reminding us that its never to late in life to learn, and we should always fight for whats what, and speak up.
Its a very powerful movie, that will move even the coldest of hearts to tears. Stellar performances by both leads. A+ movie all around.
The film does an excellent job of weaving together many strong themes about courage, determination, language barrier, and optimistically reminding us that its never to late in life to learn, and we should always fight for whats what, and speak up.
Its a very powerful movie, that will move even the coldest of hearts to tears. Stellar performances by both leads. A+ movie all around.
The movie is really good, can't believe i was welling up by the end.
Aktham_Tashtush9 April 2018
The story of the movie is based on a true story talking about the comfort girls back in WWII.
The movie presented the plot perfectly and didn't show their cards up until the end where you can realize "Oh that what was these two old ladies talking about" :D
The comedy is fresh, quick and clever ,,, not the type where you fall on your back laughing but it is really sweet,, and what even made me write his is the ending , i suddenly found myself welling up by the heartwarming ending and how the story unraveled itself.
As for the cast, bravo,, both of the leads, the Old lady and the young man who teaches her english were amazing and well invested in their roles,, and sure the whole cast were good too.
Final thought ,, It is highly recommended , watch it now.
The movie presented the plot perfectly and didn't show their cards up until the end where you can realize "Oh that what was these two old ladies talking about" :D
The comedy is fresh, quick and clever ,,, not the type where you fall on your back laughing but it is really sweet,, and what even made me write his is the ending , i suddenly found myself welling up by the heartwarming ending and how the story unraveled itself.
As for the cast, bravo,, both of the leads, the Old lady and the young man who teaches her english were amazing and well invested in their roles,, and sure the whole cast were good too.
Final thought ,, It is highly recommended , watch it now.
A lesson from history bringing light to the dark.
cornishrexrasta31 October 2018
This is the tale of the lonely Granny Nah who has earned the nickname Goblin Granny because she has filed 8000 housing complaints to her district office. An ambitious Civil Servant on his first day is confronted by Nah with more complaints and is forced to deal with her due to the reluctance of shell shocked colleagues. The film then proceeds for an hour as a light hearted comedy in which the Civil Servant tries to appease Nah with English lessons so that she can visit her younger brother in the US.
The final part of the film is a drama where we discover that the loneliness of Nah and the abandonment of her family is due to her being a former enslaved comfort woman. These were women forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during World War II. The sudden change in tone due to the dark and emotive subject will leave many viewers confused but it a history lesson that should be taught and repeated when required.
This is a great movie that brings light to dark and tackles that which should never have happened. I fully recommend the film and commend both Moon-hee Na for her performance as Nah and Lee Je-hoon as the Civil Servant.
The final part of the film is a drama where we discover that the loneliness of Nah and the abandonment of her family is due to her being a former enslaved comfort woman. These were women forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during World War II. The sudden change in tone due to the dark and emotive subject will leave many viewers confused but it a history lesson that should be taught and repeated when required.
This is a great movie that brings light to dark and tackles that which should never have happened. I fully recommend the film and commend both Moon-hee Na for her performance as Nah and Lee Je-hoon as the Civil Servant.
It's a great movie!
hyehyo6 July 2018
This movie is seriously good and I recommend ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY to watch it. It's pretty funny at the beginning and it gets super touching and heart wrenching at the end..
This movie is based on a true story. It shows the life of a Korean comfort woman and her work to fight for reparation on behalf of all the young girls who were victimized by the Japanese Imperial Army. I hope many people watch this movie.
Hope you can take some time to watch it, it truly was eye opening.
forced drama
fluffset11 February 2020
I know the acting of the grandma's character is fantastic but I dont know why everytime she speaks english it will be really awkward. I know its not her native language but she's ok when acting in korean mode but eveytime she speaks english, looks like her acting drop a bit. Then, there is a lot of cliche in this movie if you have watched a lot of korean movie. It become so boring for me.
The most overrated movie of the year
TheBigSick2 January 2018
The screenplay, editing, directing, cinematography, and production design of the movie "I can speak" are all pretty straightforward, and there is really nothing special. It simply does not worth the overwhelming acclaim it receives. I cannot say it's a bad movie, but definitely a boring movie.
A very profound story!
M1racl3sHapp3n20 November 2020
This movie should be watched by people of at least, 14 years of age. Although it starts as a comedy, the film touches a deep scar in the history of Korean women. I found myself laughing at the beginning but then crying in the middle of it. The acting is superb, the way the stories of each individual character get together is also clever and even genial. It's a masterpiece but definitely not for children!
Beautiful...when its original
vickspet25 June 2021
Based on a true story
CosmoCoffee14 April 2021
This is a wonderful film that everyone in the world needs to see. As most people know about the horrendous acts committed by Nazis, more people need to be educated about the Nazi equivalents (some say worse than) in the East- Japan. Unlike Germany, Japan fails to properly repent and denies history therefore, movies like this are essential. I cried in many parts throughout the movie and the acting was superb. This will definitely go on my favorite movies list.
To respect history is to never forget it
g-8787727 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
To respect history is to never forget it.The most rare or based on a true story, grandma in the United States congress testimony scene is not too touching.I laugh in the tears, in the bitter tears as if to see the heavy suffering.
Unexpectable end, emotional, history reminder
aliakbarsar8 April 2022
Firstly, when you are watching this movie, you think that you can guess the end, but it's not. It's one of the best movies which I have been ever watched. Lee Jihoon is a brilliant actor with pleasurable actor abilities. Don't dismiss this movie. Watch it!
Very touching movie about the true story behind a sex slave history
ysukmin26 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I was hesitant to watch this movie even though I heard lots of appraisal about the movie because I knew it would be hard to not cry and I was right. The most touching moment actually wasn't the senate hearing scene, but when the main character and one of her best friends in the market resolve their misunderstanding after her friend finds out that the main character was a sex slave during the pacific war. Of course this isn't a perfect movie, but a great movie to know the history and feel somewhat of a recognition of all the inhuman things Japanese empire have committed in the past. I just don't understand how Japanese people and their government think that they can deceive the world and try to deny what they have done. Just feel sorry for them as much as for all the victims of their past crimes.
The best Korean drama that I have seen so far
roywang-2686910 October 2018
It has everything that make you will remember this movie for the rest of your life.... Everybody played the role so well the timing was excellent and the thrill was Great.....100 percent surprised to see thia movie.... Watched two times and it still good...
took two rabbits of interest and impression
thfgml18 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This movie I Can Speak is very typical Korean movie which is like the first half is cheerful comedy and the latter half part creates anger and impression at the same time. This movie gives moral about the truth of the world and how it is cold-hearted through the content of the comfort women standing alone to testify their pain and ordeal that they suffered. This movie shows Na's future instead of appearing her past life as comfort women, which is to send a message of that she is not a stuffed history anymore, who is our neighbor living the present.
2017's I Can Speak argues that what happened to the comfort women was bad and these women deserve justice. To illustrate this, I will analyze how the film appeals to its audience's sense of compassion by using an unlikeable character -- Ms. Na (played by Na Moon-hee) -- who said history is slowly revealed. The film establishes Ms. Na's credibility by her past, that she was a comfort women for Japanese military. However, it also uses through her civil complaints on district office, which may alienate the audience because she complains for everything even a mere trifle.
My object of study is a movie, called, 'I can speak.' On 2007, United States Congressional Hearing passed Japanese army comfort women apologize as anonymously. Ms. Lee and Kim who were the actual victim of Japanese military sexual slavery, they gave evidence on the hearing. They were asked for the speech from the hearing which was for demand an apology from Japan to the victims including Korea, China, etc. This movie is imaginary story based on this matter. Na is the protagonist of this movie who is Ms. Lee as fond.
Na is called as goblin granma between people in her village because she finds fault with everything one does even a mere trifle. Na always files a civil complaint trivial matters from the village where she lives.The ward officials consider her as unwelcome person. Her neighbors despise her, slander and evade her because they were wondering if she finds out something to complain, but she doesn't care how people treat her.
Even though people dislike her, she was a very enthusiastic on what she wants to do. She had a brother who was adopted to America when he was young, because their mother was anxious about her son's future. She wanted to talk to him even on the phone. The problem was they don't speak same language. So, she studied English by herself. One time, she was trying to call her brother, but when she heard his voice saying 'hello,' she couldn't say anything and just hang up, because she doesn't know what to say in English.
One Day, there was a new ward official at the district office. His name is Mr. Park (Played by Lee Je-hoon) was transferred to general civil service office. Na saw him speaks English very well. She asked him to be her English tutor, but he refused flatly. She didn't give up. She went to the district office everyday with complains to talk to him for help. Park gave up through her persistent. He decide to give her a test with most unuseful and difficult words, and if she passes the test, then he is going to give her English teaching. She tried so hard on memorizing the words to pass the test. Finally on the test, she passes with perfect score. Park was surprised on her her enthusiasm, so he started teaching her English. As they having tutoring they became very closer as best friend. Park was wondering why this old woman try to learn English. Na opened one's heart. She told him about her brother. He felt compassion, so he called her brother, but as soon as her brother pick up the phone, he yelled that he doesn't want to talk and doesn't remember his sister, so he doesn't want to meet his sister. Park was very flattered and couldn't tell Na about this because he worried about her shok. So he just told her that he doesn't have time to teach her anymore.
One day, Jung became as a terminally ill patient, Na's friend Jung who was also comfort woman. Jung was speaking in the world about comfort women and registered for comfort woman on the Minister of Gender Equality and Family. Na didn't do that because she was shame and wanted to hide about what happened to her past. When Jung's health getting worse, she was frustrated, because she was called to the hearing to testify, but she couldn't because of her health. Na decide that she has to bring a matter to light instead of her. Through her decision, Na was reported on the news and she resented her mother about her life.
Park decide to give English tutor again to Na for her speech on the hearing and helped her to be able to speak on the hearing. Finally hold a hearing, after Michelle's speech who was from Netherland and was a also comfort woman, Na stand up as a one of Korean comfort women. When she stands up to speak, she got afraid, because members of the House of Representatives disagreed Na to speak for lack of evidence. Gladly at time, Park came in with evidence which is a picture of comfort women including Na at the time. A chairman accepted it as evidence. As Park came in to the hearing, Na gets courage to speak. A chairman asked her "Can you testify?," and she said "Yes, I can Speak," just like the title of the movie.
Na showed her stomach with lots of scars from Japanese military, and says that Michelle, all the comfort women who are all alive, and herself are the evidence. She spoke in both language in Korean and English. She reveal her true feelings in Korean and read English script that she prepared. Her speech gave a big impress, and made people to give a standing ovation on to her. After the hearing, representatives who were disagree her speech, came to her to apologize and appreciate for her brave. Even this happened, Japanese representatives came to her and asked her that how much money she wants through this, and told her that she is making a big mistake. But, Na told them in Japanese that she doesn't want that dirty money, and they have to acknowledge their faults, and give apology.
Through her effort, her brother decided to meet her, and reunited with her. Then the movie ends with the scene of Na. heading to san francisco to give a speech on the city council. An examiner of immigration asks her if she speaks English, and she says of course. This movie gives audience an interest and creates impression. This is based on the true story even it's added a little of fiction; still ongoing, because Japanese government strongly deny about the happen. The purpose of this movie is for the audience to remember again about the pain and ordeal of comfort women experienced.
2017's I Can Speak argues that what happened to the comfort women was bad and these women deserve justice. To illustrate this, I will analyze how the film appeals to its audience's sense of compassion by using an unlikeable character -- Ms. Na (played by Na Moon-hee) -- who said history is slowly revealed. The film establishes Ms. Na's credibility by her past, that she was a comfort women for Japanese military. However, it also uses through her civil complaints on district office, which may alienate the audience because she complains for everything even a mere trifle.
My object of study is a movie, called, 'I can speak.' On 2007, United States Congressional Hearing passed Japanese army comfort women apologize as anonymously. Ms. Lee and Kim who were the actual victim of Japanese military sexual slavery, they gave evidence on the hearing. They were asked for the speech from the hearing which was for demand an apology from Japan to the victims including Korea, China, etc. This movie is imaginary story based on this matter. Na is the protagonist of this movie who is Ms. Lee as fond.
Na is called as goblin granma between people in her village because she finds fault with everything one does even a mere trifle. Na always files a civil complaint trivial matters from the village where she lives.The ward officials consider her as unwelcome person. Her neighbors despise her, slander and evade her because they were wondering if she finds out something to complain, but she doesn't care how people treat her.
Even though people dislike her, she was a very enthusiastic on what she wants to do. She had a brother who was adopted to America when he was young, because their mother was anxious about her son's future. She wanted to talk to him even on the phone. The problem was they don't speak same language. So, she studied English by herself. One time, she was trying to call her brother, but when she heard his voice saying 'hello,' she couldn't say anything and just hang up, because she doesn't know what to say in English.
One Day, there was a new ward official at the district office. His name is Mr. Park (Played by Lee Je-hoon) was transferred to general civil service office. Na saw him speaks English very well. She asked him to be her English tutor, but he refused flatly. She didn't give up. She went to the district office everyday with complains to talk to him for help. Park gave up through her persistent. He decide to give her a test with most unuseful and difficult words, and if she passes the test, then he is going to give her English teaching. She tried so hard on memorizing the words to pass the test. Finally on the test, she passes with perfect score. Park was surprised on her her enthusiasm, so he started teaching her English. As they having tutoring they became very closer as best friend. Park was wondering why this old woman try to learn English. Na opened one's heart. She told him about her brother. He felt compassion, so he called her brother, but as soon as her brother pick up the phone, he yelled that he doesn't want to talk and doesn't remember his sister, so he doesn't want to meet his sister. Park was very flattered and couldn't tell Na about this because he worried about her shok. So he just told her that he doesn't have time to teach her anymore.
One day, Jung became as a terminally ill patient, Na's friend Jung who was also comfort woman. Jung was speaking in the world about comfort women and registered for comfort woman on the Minister of Gender Equality and Family. Na didn't do that because she was shame and wanted to hide about what happened to her past. When Jung's health getting worse, she was frustrated, because she was called to the hearing to testify, but she couldn't because of her health. Na decide that she has to bring a matter to light instead of her. Through her decision, Na was reported on the news and she resented her mother about her life.
Park decide to give English tutor again to Na for her speech on the hearing and helped her to be able to speak on the hearing. Finally hold a hearing, after Michelle's speech who was from Netherland and was a also comfort woman, Na stand up as a one of Korean comfort women. When she stands up to speak, she got afraid, because members of the House of Representatives disagreed Na to speak for lack of evidence. Gladly at time, Park came in with evidence which is a picture of comfort women including Na at the time. A chairman accepted it as evidence. As Park came in to the hearing, Na gets courage to speak. A chairman asked her "Can you testify?," and she said "Yes, I can Speak," just like the title of the movie.
Na showed her stomach with lots of scars from Japanese military, and says that Michelle, all the comfort women who are all alive, and herself are the evidence. She spoke in both language in Korean and English. She reveal her true feelings in Korean and read English script that she prepared. Her speech gave a big impress, and made people to give a standing ovation on to her. After the hearing, representatives who were disagree her speech, came to her to apologize and appreciate for her brave. Even this happened, Japanese representatives came to her and asked her that how much money she wants through this, and told her that she is making a big mistake. But, Na told them in Japanese that she doesn't want that dirty money, and they have to acknowledge their faults, and give apology.
Through her effort, her brother decided to meet her, and reunited with her. Then the movie ends with the scene of Na. heading to san francisco to give a speech on the city council. An examiner of immigration asks her if she speaks English, and she says of course. This movie gives audience an interest and creates impression. This is based on the true story even it's added a little of fiction; still ongoing, because Japanese government strongly deny about the happen. The purpose of this movie is for the audience to remember again about the pain and ordeal of comfort women experienced.
See also
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