A surprising movie that is well done
I vaguely read the summary, I just knew it had Song Joongki so I wasn’t expecting the plot of the movie. At the beginning the movie seems more realistic fiction and the later goes into a more wild experience but is still realistic fiction. And it’s also more of a romance then I expected which I loved. This movie is so well done and as expected Joongki is such a brilliant actor. It’s so sad yet beautiful and inspiring. It gives me a mix of The Good Lie and kind of Flower of Evil. Absolutely loved watching this and will recommend plus rewatch!Was this review helpful to you?
what should have been a great one , with lackluster screenplay end up an average watch.
Rated it 7/10.I feel disappointed.
"I’m not an SJK fan but I’m not a hater either. I'm neutral."
" The story was flowing along intrestingly and pretty good showing the male lead's hardships. I was hoping it would continue that way. His struggles for work and warmth and a roof over his head were authentic. "
"The movie seemed to have spent more time on the “love” story and Marie’s drama than on what should’ve been the focus of the story, Loh’s journey to freedom. "
The Fl sounded like a spoiled brat. I didn't like her character. plus, Their love plot sounded illogical.
The gangster scenes was just laughable and the European gangsters very stereotyped.
song jong ki's facial expressions were almost the same. He could have done better.
The Fl's acting was okay. I think she deserves more recognition.
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I would totally recommend it !
I loved it so much ! It was an emotional and super realistic movie about the struggle of refugiees.Kiwan’s lore is so rough and hard yet he overcame it and found happiness. His mother and his uncle were such good characters and litteraly built what he is now.
I felt so bad for him when the money he got from the sold of jis mom’s body was stolen away from him but gladly he took it back and even met fantastic people afterwards.
I love his colleague (the woman with a sick child) eventhough she betrayed him at some point, she explained why and did everything she could to help him because she felt guilty and because she cared for him. Maybe she doesn’t deserve forgiveness but at least she was sincere asking for it and regretting her actions !
Shoutout to Marie and her parents ! They have so much background : she lost her mother and was consistently having troubles with her father but eventually they reconciled ! I’m also glad that Marie succeeded (with kiwan’s help) to get out of this dark world of the shooting competitions and that one man manipulating her !
Once again, I loved how realistic the movie was depicting drug addictions, depression after losing someone important, how hard it is to be a refugee (proving your origin, earning the right to stay in the other country etc…), escaping a mental and physical abuse etc…
One thing that I did liked a little less was the romantic relationship they developed (Marie and Kiwan) because it felt so unnatural and also like most Kdramas, kinda forced. By forced I mean that Kdrama writers ALWAYS feel like we need to see some romance ugh. But at least they found happiness in each other.
I didn’t liked it especially since we had no real grounds to it, it also occurred right after him waking up from an overdose he did because she said in a way ´get lost’. We basically got a few flashbacks of them hanging out on a market, then them litteraly having sex 💀and that was all to establish the relationship for the writers ig 😭.
I LOVED the ending. This project of song joon ki was so good and at the level of his other projects not like ´reborn rich’.
The cast and the acting were ON TOP ! No actual OST though.
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Great Acting and Story about the Struggles of Refugees
I really like this movie. I think this is the best movie of Song Joong Ki since 2012's Werewolf Boy. He always acts well, but I really appreciated his acting here among his recent works. Choi Sung Eun is also really excellent. she has matured in her acting since I saw her in Sound of Magic way back 2022. Seo Hyun Woo, Kim Sung Ryung, and Jo Han Chul are also memorable. It's a good movie that shows the struggles of refugees trying to survive in a foreign country. I said earlier that SJK is really excellent, that's because he acted really well how a person in really bad conditions should act even though he himself has been always comfortable in life.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Disapointing…
I didn’t expected a lot from this movie but I thought with a story like this it’d be better.Characters, directing, romance, gangsters, refugees people/judges… so cliché and/or unrealistic.
And Brussels but not Brussels…
For me only casting and acting (FL, ML, FL’s father, ML’s mother, lawyer) were good.
No rewatch value.
(I actually didn’t pay attention to music)
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Kind of complication to be in another country
It is not bad overall the story and they are like illegal immigrants to another country. Many complications no doubt and many of the parts are like shortcuts thus make it confusing. If you watch this movie it is like today's immigrants whp do not have a citizenship have to stay put and make sure there is no problem. In all countries there are many illegal immigrants where these people have nowhere to run to due to many things, they have to run all their lives. This is what this story is about . I am surprised Song Joong Ki was picked to this movie but anyway it is emotional too. Thanks for the movie and the excellent casts chosenWas this review helpful to you?
Simple story executed well
This has shown me what many individuals face everyday folding from war and oppression as they want better opportunities for themselves so they can live comfortably without stress and worryThe ML loh Kiwan story made me cry from the little things in trying to find his place in a foreign land but faced with many barriers such as friends betraying him nowhere to live and get attacked all because he isn't Belgium. The razor story made me cry the most
Marie was someone acting tough but was as broken as loh Kiwan as of her family history and getting pulled into crime to pay her debt and just needed someone to talk to
The love story was well-paced as they healed each other's wounds and found comfort in one another
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Very corny Western cast.
Yesterday, while watching this movie, I made an interesting self-discovery. To be blunt: I prefer Song Joong Ki's acting in movies more than in TV dramas. His acting in TV dramas is below average, and his facial expressions are the same for sadness, anger, happiness or emotion. In the movies, I see it differently; it seems that the director extracts all the artistic quality he has, and I consider that commendable. Anyway, now I have discovered what bothered me about his acting: the pasteurization that Korean TV dramas suffer. Korea is always more concerned with what the public thinks or will think than with the art itself of the product it broadcasts.About the drama, I found the synopsis interesting and the events very well developed and dynamic. However, it is necessary to mention the terrible acting of the Western cast of the film, all acting in a very corny way and causing embarrassment in every speech. I wonder how NETFLIX selected this cast, based on what?
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A tale of resilience and patience
A film about illegal immigration, seeking refuge, and the right to live, ‘My Name is Loh Kiwan’ aims at showing us the grim reality of immigration and life as a nomad. Loh Kiwan, played by Song Joong-ki, is a young North Korean defector who is forced to enter Belgium in a desperate attempt to survive. Enduring harsh conditions as the Belgian government determines his fate, he meets Marie, a drug addict seeking refuge from her troubled reality. Their survival amid the odds serves as the basic premise of the film.The film masterfully juxtaposes the main plotline with a secondary narrative involving Marie’s entanglement with nefarious elements. While this subplot adds depth to her character, it occasionally falters in its execution, with certain aspects feeling less compelling than others. While grappling with technical shortcomings, the film’s central message of hope and resilience shines through, leaving viewers with a profound sense of reflection and empathy for the struggles of refugees. My Name is Loh Kiwan stands as a testament to the power of love to transcend barriers and illuminate the darkest corners of the human experience.
My Rating : 7.5/10
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This review may contain spoilers
Great movie ruined by the romance.
The plot was interesting enough on its own that I didn't know it needed this "action" plot type part.I watched it as soon as it was released because I was waiting for it and SJK captivated me from the first scene. The actress is very talented but the romance plot could have delivered the same plot devices the writer needed without the unnecessary drama that waters down the plot and makes it more unrealistic.
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Boring
Fell asleep multiple times while watching it. It took me 5 days to finish this movie cause its boring af. Most 16 episodes drama only took me 2 days to finish but this 2 hours took me 5 days. ZZZzzzzZZzZZzZZZzZZzzzzZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzWas this review helpful to you?
A Hopeful Tale of Love and Escape Triumphs Against Insurmountable Odds
This movie offers a compelling narrative that intertwines the destinies of its protagonists amidst the backdrop of adversity and the pursuit of redemption. Through the arduous journey of Loh Ki-wan from North Korea to Belgium, the film explores themes of resilience, love, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure. Despite occasional departures from realism, the emotional resonance of the story remains intact, captivating audiences with its engaging plot and heartfelt performances.While grappling with technical shortcomings, the film’s central message of hope and resilience shines through, leaving viewers with a profound sense of reflection and empathy for the struggles of refugees. My Name Is Loh Kiwan stands as a testament to the power of love to transcend barriers and illuminate the darkest corners of the human experience
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