First binge-watch of the year!
First binge watch of the year. Char! More like first one I didn’t drop until I finished them all. Cried at almost every episode. Made me rethink the way I see adults in their golden years. I hope my Mom and Grandmom had these kind of friends they can lean on and enjoy their life with. At first, I started watching it because Jo Insung and Lee Kwangsoo mentioned about this in Unexpected Business 2. This was a star-studded cast that no kdrama fan should ignore. I totally relate to Choongnam imo even though I’m 30 years younger.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
i watch this without really know the plot, like i'm not even watch the trailer or synopsis. this is really a nice drama. i'm not really expecting anything when i watch this drama. but i didn't regret watching this.
i cry my eyes out watching this, because a story about elder people always makes me sad.
when all of them take a picture (i don't know what is called, but its a picture to put in their funeral room), and they try to look happy. man thats sad.
there's this elderly couple , they are not a lovey dovey couple. things happen, and they are mad at each other.
there's also a woman and her boyfriend. who live in switzerland (if i'm not mistaken)
there's a mother who had an alzhermeir and her son.
all of them got their stories on it.
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Good
I found that Park Wan and the triangle involving her was unfitting and problematic to the drama. I understand that they wanted to draw some parallels with the old ladies but it could have been done in another way. There were plenty of other possibilities to make her intertwine with others. I would rather have that time reallocated to the elders. Anyway, it's good.Was this review helpful to you?
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Beautiful story
This is my first review. I happened upon this drama on Netflix and binge watched all weekend. A story rich in the complexities of long time friendships among women. I looked forward eagerly for Wan’s love to be fulfilled in the last episode and I wasn’t disappointed!As an American woman I cannot fathom the interference of Korean mothers in the love life of their children, nor can I understand the obedience of children to their mothers wishes. I know it’s a cultural thing but that kind of influence bothers me.
I loved this drama and will watch it again. The acting was stellar and the script so beautifully written and poignant.
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Too beautiful, touching and painful.
I heard about this drama before its release in 2016 and was looking forward to it because it is centered on senior characters but I did not get a chance to watch it. I recently finished the drama and it surely is one of the best dramas to reflect about life, friendship, family and love. I shed a lot of tears for this drama, but they were pretty healthy feelings to absorb, especially because most of the new dramas I encountered before were either too cliche, childish, and political, which lack the ability to give out emotions.First of all, the cinematography is just so good for its time. It brings the mood and the feelings into you.
The music, “don’t go” and “want to be free”, they are incredibly effective in bringing out the tears whenever they get played.
The story was quite complicated in the first episode because you will be overwhelmed with a lot of different characters, I was glad i continue through episode 2. Each episode has a different focus but the story provides a good amount of fun, laughter, excitement and happiness. Yes you may cry for some, but it won’t feel heavy, it would feel lighter to release the emotions you absorb throughout the drama.
Love all the characters. The cast are on point. Na Moon Hee is just the best actress for the role. Jo in sung and Go hyun jung were the only couple in a drama that I actually cried for. Go hyun jung should have definitely been one of the top paid leading roles in her prime but I was surprised that she was not. All characters are significant and their stories play a huge role in forming the bigger picture. Each of them would most likely be somewhat your future, and it was refreshing to see a variety of characters to go along together.
I would definitely watch this drama again. It was one of the best I’ve watched so far, and I have watched a lot. If you want a touching, beautiful and refreshing drama to get rid of your hidden emotions within, try this drama, you won’t regret it.
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This drama is a masterpiece. The story is wonderfully written and the casts can play it wonderfully as well. I can't remember how many I cry while watching this drama. So relatable, heartwarming, touching, and can always mixed up my feelings.Wan's relationship with her mom reminds me of my mother, really I can see our picture in that story, why I say this story is quite relatable to me.
Despite the many problems and cases faced by each elder, I am envy of the love and caring between them. And I hope I can enjoy my old age happily with the people I love.
Wan (Go Hyun Jung), without a doubt, her acting is stunning. Her character is also very touching. It's so broken hearted when she had to choose her happiness or her mother's happiness, I didn't stop crying watching it.
What a warming drama.
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Beautiful
What a story! There isn’t much happening except for it being real - these are real people with real problems, history and emotions and each of their relationships was so beautifully portrayed. It wasn’t all happiness but raw emotions - family doesn’t mean being happy all the time, it means fighting and hurting each other too even if you don’t intend to. Dear My Friends showed these aspects of toxic relationships that exist between a husband and wife or parents and their children, it showcased misogyny so brilliantly . Another reason I loved this show is because it didn’t take sides, it showed us these flawed characters and gave them whole-ness and asked us to decide what to make of them. It was such an enriching experience to empathise with each of them at various points in the story. Surprisingly, it does get very emotionally wrecking too. Dear My Friends is exactly the book that Wan wanted to write, tell us a story of these not always the best people and still leave us inspired. Such a refreshing watch over the other dramas and what a beautiful take of the slice of life genre. This is one of things I’ve watched in a long time. DMF is like a comforting hug telling you it knows, it’ll be okay.Was this review helpful to you?
Dear My Friends is a beautiful drama that's also very realistic, telling the stories of old folks
I've put off watching this drama since 2017 because I know I'd be a crying mess watching it and I usually avoid melodramas. But this was about old folks and I really wanted to watch it. I take a long time to recover from tearjerker films so I was waiting until I felt ready to watch Dear My Friends. But just like how is it in life, you are NEVER ready.This drama got me real hard. It broke me more than I expected. It is truly a gem and it's no wonder it won Best Drama and Best Screenplay. Love how the character of Wan narrates the story and watches the old folks as a third person, but also joins them in their fun. She represents the younger audiences watching this.
Definitely a drama worth watching. The script isn't flawless, but it is truly beautiful and indeed a masterpiece. The way it tells the stories of these old people, their struggles, their life, their thoughts, their regrets, their dreams. It makes you smile, breaks your heart, leaves you in tears, reminds you that life can be so cruel and that you should live life to the fullest. The cast delivered flawless acting and I'm surprised none of them won awards for their roles in this drama.
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Prepare to think the world & life
Not easy one to watch, but definitely worth it! This has place in my "hall of fame".Well written. Lots of scenes that doesn't seem to be much but actually they say more than 1000 things.
Like melodramas tend to be, this series is emotional rollercoaster indeed. Lots of difficult big themes that rip your heart open and make you cry your eyes out and also make you want to laugh out loud or punch someone. You may think you cannot watch it any further, but because it's so well made, you can't help it.
Soundtrack, that is also well made, has consolative tone. "Baby Blue" is not happy good-mood song if you only think some more what you've watched/are watching.
Characters are well made, both main and support characters. This includes casting, acting, stylist work. I was touched especially about Jeong Ah/Hee-ja and Hee-ja/Min Ho -bonds. First one could work as plot heart for spin-off drama!
I would've changed/added 2 things, but I'll keep them myself. This drama is good as it is.
Producers, director, screenwriter, all the actors, and other staff - 정말 고마ㅝ씁니다!
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Dramas de femmes, de dames, de vieilles dames qui touche au cœur
c’est la chronique quasi quotidienne d’un groupe de femmes soudées par le fait qu’elles sont camarades d’école primaire , toujours restées très proches malgré les différences de fortune.Honneur aux coréens qui savent donner de grands et beaux rôles et écrire de belles histoires pour des vieilles dames et donner ainsi une visibilité aux vieilles actrices (oui, vieille n’est pas un gros mot !! )
Voilà, leur vie se déroule, chargé d’un déjà long passé, avec des douleurs inoubliables, des anciennes et des nouvelles, et le corps qui lâche, avec l’âge, et le départ des plus vieux, ou des encore jeunes… La difficulté pour une fille à bâtir sa vie en dehors de l’emprise de sa mère en est un aspect important, ainsi que la difficulté pour un homme de considérer sa femme comme son égale, de la respecter, le combat contre les principes, les traditions et le privilège de l’âge brandi incessamment « je suis plus vieilles ! comment tu me parles ! »
Il y a beaucoup d’amour entre elles, même si mal exprimé, même si parfois encombrant.
Alors ça crie pas mal, ça se crêpe le chignon de temps en temps (le chignon masculin, à l’occasion aussi !) mais l’amitié est indéfectible et franchit tous les obstacles, ainsi que l’amour filial ou maternel…
Alors tous les personnages ne sont pas excessifs, seuls certains portent au sommet les défauts de leur genre : le mari macho de Jong Ha, la mère intrusive de Wan m’ont fait plus d’une fois bondir sur mon canapé…
Parenthèse sociologique : Il semble qu’en Corée tout soit bâti sur le sacrifice : les parents font tout pour les enfants, ce qui donne aux parents le droit à vie de régenter et diriger la vie des enfants, ceci étant prêts en retour à tout sacrifier pour prendre soin des parents vieillissants. Cette notion confucianiste niant totalement la liberté individuelle me met assez mal à l’aise je l’avoue !
Mais dans le drama, quand la réalité de la vie l’exige, ils et elles savent avancer, franchir les obstacles de la tradition pour que l’essentiel demeure : le lien entre une fille et sa mère, ou celui, vieux de 40 ans de vie commune, entre un mari et sa femme… C’est Han Nui, la mère possessive de Wan qui va lui ouvrir la porte vers un avenir heureux, mais elle ne le peut que parce que ses amies sont là, solides au poste, permettant à Wan d’avoir sa propre vie, sans pour autant jamais renier ses devoirs filiaux, de même que ce sont les amies de Hui Ja qui permettent à son fils d’être présent pour sa femme et son bébé en le soutenant dans les soins à sa mère malade.
Un mot sur l’interprétation : magnifique !!! vraiment bluffante, on oublie qu’il y a des caméras dans le coin ! Surtout Kim Hye Ja, complètement impressionnante dans le personnage de cette femme perdant peu à peu le sens de la réalité dans un portrait frappant, réaliste et bouleversant.
Mais ils sont tous excellents !!
Une très jolie OST aussi, discrète, très bien faite.
Un bémol : le rythme manque un peu de vigueur, un ou deux épisodes de moins m’auraient convenu, bien que je ne me sois pas vraiment ennuyée.
En bref, si vous voulez de la romance, du bling bling ou de beaux jeunes gens dorés sur tranche et refaits de partout, passez votre chemin, mais si vous voulez avoir une idée de la famille coréenne et de ses traditions, ou simplement une belle réflexion sur l’âge, la vieillesse, et comment tenir bon jusqu’au bout en se soutenant les uns les autres, alors c’est le drama qu’il vous faut !
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Exatamente por isso que digo que "sinto arrepios só de pensar em assistir um drama familiar". Os longos nem são cogitados, porque me recuso a dedicar meu tempo livre acompanhando um novelão que não acabará tão cedo. Já os de tamanho normal dificilmente chamam a minha atenção ao ponto de querer começar a assistir.
Isso pode soar como loucura aos ouvidos dos amantes do gênero, mas a verdade é que não sou a pessoa certa para assisti-los prefiro que continuem fora do meu radar, a ter que assistir algo que me remeta a um novelão cheio de complicações.
Ainda assim, como verdadeira dorameira de vibes que sou sempre acreditei que até mesmo gêneros que não gosto receberão uma chance quando a ocasião certa surge. E no dia que apertei play em Dear My Friends a ocasião pedia exatamente isso.
SOBRE O DRAMA
Longe de ser um novelão dramático e sem propósito, Dear My Friends é um drama que se propõe a retratar a velhice sem romantizações e faz isso com maestria. É o sal na ferida que geralmente não queremos falar a respeito. É só a vida de pessoas idosas sem floreios, como ela realmente é.
É bem interessante conhecer as histórias de vida de cada personagem. E por mais que tenham vivido experiências diferentes ao longo da vida, a amizade que cultivaram é o melhor trunfo que poderiam ter nessa idade.
Além disso, vale dizer que temas como: violência doméstica, suicídio e alzaimer também são retratados nesse drama.
O drama te dá uma sacudida e te leva a refletir sobre vários aspectos importantes da vida: o que deve ser cultivado? Enquanto vivemos o que deveríamos fazer para evitar os arrependimentos tardios? Por que a sociedade como um todo desvaloriza tanto os idosos? Será que não percebem que um dia também enfrentarão as mesmas dificuldades desses idosos que tanto desprezam?
OS AMIGOS
Enquanto se reúnem para reviver suas memórias e reencontrar novos significados para suas vidas, esse grupo de amigos muitas vezes se sente jogado as traças por sua própria família. Outros olham pra trás e só sentem arrependimentos pelo que nunca se permitiram a fazer enquanto jovens.
Se engana quem pensa que a amizade deles só é feita de beijos e abraços. Esse pessoal vive aprontando junto, é difícil uma reunião que não tenha aquela briguinha básica pelos mais variados motivos, mas de alguma forma eles sempre acabam reconciliando.
Enquanto amores de infância se reencontram, um certo casal chega ao seu limite e se separa, em meio a muitos desentendimentos os dois finalmente percebem que não aguentam mais conviver manias um do outro.
O CASAL JOVEM
Apesar de ser um drama que foca nos idosos e em suas relações interpessoais, temos alguns jovens nessa trama e o quesito romance fica a cargo deles. Park Wan e Seo Yeon Ha talvez seja um dos casais mais complicados e desafortunados que já vi. Tudo parece convergir em seu desfavor. É como se o universo estivesse sempre tramando para separá-los.
Quando pensamos que eles terão uma oportunidade de ficar juntos, a vida se encarrega de pregar mais uma peça nesse malfadado relacionamento.
E já que estamos falando deles, não posso deixar de dizer que por trás da fachada de boa filha, Park Wan guarda muita magoa de sua mãe por causa de certo acontecimento de sua infância. Só consegui entender o relacionamento frio que ela tinha com a mãe quando esse flashback veio.
Por mais que ela tenha sido bem irritante, egoísta e preconceituosa no início da história, dizendo que "não suportava agir como babá desse grupo desocupado de idosos prestes a morrer", foi bem interessante acompanhar seu crescimento ao longo do caminho. Se antes ela tratava as amigas de sua mãe como um mero estorvo que era obrigada a aturar, em algum momento ela acaba percebendo como foi tola em pensar dessa forma.
Quando sua mente finalmente se abre a enxergá-los com outros olhos, ela passa a se interessar cada vez mais em conhecer suas experiências de vida e aprender com elas. E como escritora que é, ela resolve escrever um livro para contar a história desses "queridos amigos" ao mundo.
VERDITO FINAL
Com um elenco repleto de atores muito competentes e experientes, Dear my Friends é um drama que você não dá nada por ele quando começa, mas acaba te surpreendendo muito quando chega ao fim. Com tanta história pra contar, você dificilmente terminará essa jornada sem levar pra casa algumas lições importantes de vida. Vale muito a pena assistir esse drama, vai por mim: duvido muito que você se sentirá cansado no meio do caminho.
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