Hopeless (2023) poster
7.5
Your Rating: 0/10
Ratings: 7.5/10 from 376 users
# of Watchers: 3,024
Reviews: 7 users
Ranked #5822
Popularity #4107
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A town with no future and no hope. Seventeen-year-old Yeon Gyu was born in this place and has never been anywhere else. While enduring the repeated violence inflicted by his stepfather, he saves up money in the lone hope of moving to the Netherlands with his mother. Chi Geon, born and raised in this town, is now a mid-level boss in a criminal organization. Having learned early in life that this world is hell, he gets by in his own way. One day Yeon Gyu gets into a fight to protect his stepsister Ha Yan. Unable to raise the settlement money, Yeon Gyu is helped by Chi Geon, and in that way Yeon Gyu comes to start a new life as a member of Chi Geon’s gang. Although scared and awkward, Yeon Gyu gradually adjusts with the help of Chi Ggeon who is like an older brother to him. Having earned Chi Geon’s trust while fighting to survive in the gang, Yeon Gyu begins to fall into more and more dangerous circumstances. In order to escape from hell, they become a part of it. (Source: International Festival de Cannes press kit) Edit Translation

  • English
  • magyar / magyar nyelv
  • עברית / עִבְרִית
  • dansk
  • Country: South Korea
  • Type: Movie
  • Release Date: Oct 11, 2023
  • Duration: 2 hr. 13 min.
  • Score: 7.5 (scored by 376 users)
  • Ranked: #5822
  • Popularity: #4107
  • Content Rating: Not Yet Rated

Cast & Credits

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Hopeless (2023) photo
Hopeless (2023) photo
Hopeless (2023) photo
Hopeless (2023) photo
Hopeless (2023) photo
Hopeless (2023) photo

Reviews

Completed
Shinnosuke_Lee
23 people found this review helpful
Oct 11, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.5

a well made Korean Noir film in current generation... Song Joong-ki's new side ⭐

-- Korean Neo Noir genre is one of the best genre in South Korea, it's proved again --

➠ Reminder :- Hopeless ( Hwaran) does not allow laughter or hope for a single moment. The dark and cruel scenery of the small town shown in " Hopeless" (Hwaran) and the shameful life of the human group make the audience will feel realistic story. Even the small possibility of the ending is good, so it is even more painful and refreshing.

➠ Theme :- Movies are noir in terms of genre, but the framework of the narrative is close to the story of growth.It is through irresponsible adults, young people who have become monsters themselves to escape danger, and the existence of helpers who cannot lead them to the full sun but sympathize with the pain.

➠ Intro :- " Hopeless" (Hwaran), leaves us deep afterimage in the hearts of the audience with its overwhelming immersion and stellar performance by actors, proved once again the intense ensemble of the two actors, Hong Sabin and Song Joong-ki. Hwaran", which proved to be the best movie in 2023, is a deep and intense noir drama that depicts the stories of characters living in a hopeless world in different ways with solid characterizations.

➠ the story analysis :-
" Hopeless " ( Hwaran), is a movie about shadows symbolizing darkness in art.When the light is strong, the shadow becomes longer behind it, so there is hurt in glory, sadness in joy, and pain in growth.It captures portraits of those born under shadows where light cannot be seen from birth, while at the same time implying that those living in the dark will go toward light and find their image.Rather than the grand meaning of salvation, the power of the two men who dream of rescue in a disaster-like reality is impressive...

➠ direction - cast :-
The powerful direction of the new dire"The film emphasizes that affection and loyalty between people can be the last bastion to overcome even the unbearable pain through characters living in a world without hope in different ways." the energy of the new Hong Sa-bin, who expressed it well, and Song Joong-ki's acting transformation come fresh. Attention is focusing on whether the film, which received great attention in Busan, will create a new wave in the theater district.

✰ Will SONG JOONG-KI got sucess with his transition from Protagonist to Antagonist ???
- Yes, Not all actors can effectively make the on-screen transition from hero to antagonist, so when they do,it’s truly a triumph to appreciate. Song Joong-ki who provide an intimidating, menacing, downright horrifying performance helped elevate Hwaran to the next level " Hopeless " (Hwaran)


brought by - Shinnosuk_Lee
( Personal Review )

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Completed
strawyuu
5 people found this review helpful
Nov 24, 2023
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

If you're doomed either way, is it better to have hope or be hopeless?

intro:
The movie's native title, "화란," is an old-fashioned transliteration of the word "Dutch". Yet, in the movie, the Netherlands symbolizes Yeon-gyu's hope for a better life, alongside his mother. At first, it seemed almost paradoxical that the English title of this film should be "Hopeless," when the original title came closer to "Hope". Perhaps this is because Yeon-gyu's utopic version of the Netherlands is in and of itself a form of false hope: the Netherlands is not the idyllic, free of economic inequalities, country Yeon-gyu makes it out to be.

"Hopeless" follows Yeon-gyu, who still has hope, and Chi Geon, who has hope only for Yeon-gyu. It is a story of tragic kinship between a boy and a man who never got to be children.

acting:
The acting from all cast members was stellar. This is especially true for the lead actors, Hong Xa Bin, Song Joong Ki and BIBI. They played their characters so well, their emotions were so raw and genuine, that I couldn't peel my eyes away from the screen. When they cried, I cried. Their performances, both subtle and loud, were award-worthy.

plot:
A story following the descent into darkness and moral corruption of a protagonist has been done a thousand times. Similarly, there are a library's worth of gangster flicks. What makes "Hopeless" different? In terms of plot, nothing really. Instead, what "Hopeless" brings to the table is something intrinsically human. The focus here isn't flashy action but the characters themselves. Perhaps I'm just imagining it, but I found the camera's focus to be more often than not on the characters' faces. With limited dialogue, it is these faces that tell much of the story. And tell a gut-wrenching story they certainly did. "Hopeless" offers a story you've certainly heard before, in a way you'll likely never hear it quite like again.

I'd been looking forward to this movie ever since I learned of its existence, and for the past couple months had been eagerly checking this page in the hopes of news of its release. With the trailer's release, I knew this movie would be amazing. Safe to say, my intuition was correct. In fact, I was so immersed in this movie that I can't even comment on its cinematography. I guess a re-watch is likely in store for me. I highly recommend this movie to any viewer able to withstand graphic violence. Please have a box of tissues at your disposal.

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Details

  • Movie: Hopeless
  • Country: South Korea
  • Release Date: Oct 11, 2023
  • Duration: 2 hr. 13 min.
  • Content Rating: Not Yet Rated

Statistics

  • Score: 7.5 (scored by 376 users)
  • Ranked: #5822
  • Popularity: #4107
  • Watchers: 3,024

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