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The directors borrowed from Italian Neorealist cinema to create a classic portrait of political consciousness that’s both rigorous and humane, focused on humble people facing harsh circumstances.
The film is a leisurely, old-fashioned melodrama, handsomely directed by Bille August (‘Pelle the Conqueror’). Yet somehow it never gets beyond the characters’ facades to turn sympathy into empathy.
A feast for the eyes as well as the appetite, the film spotlights so many mouth-watering meals that it wouldn’t be surprising if every viewer goes out for Italian food immediately afterward.
The tender, comfortable chemistry between Clarkson and the actor who plays Lilly’s husband, John Benjamin Hickey, is the most engaging dynamic of the drama.
Favoring aesthetics over storytelling, the film is at times obscure and vague, and it wouldn’t be surprising if those unfamiliar with the tale’s basic outline consider it a frustrating viewing experience.
The film’s plot concerns an act of brutality committed by two cousins, yet director Hur Jin-ho isn’t as interested in them as he is in their parents and how they process their children’s behavior.
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