Little Forest

Finding One's Path

Somehow this movie gives me the feel of "When the Weather is Fine" but on a lighter note.

The different seasons reflect the different thoughts of Hye Won's life.
Winter ... when almost everything is freezing, or hibernating ... and her life seem to be frozen also in time, not knowing what to do but returns to a life she once escaped from.
Spring ... when new sprouts come alive and gives hope ... shaking the blues of winter
Summer ... when planting and reaping is at its peak ... it is also a time of seeing the fruit of her labor ... and what she is trying to understand, her mom, even her future, what she really wants in life becomes clearer.
Fall - when the dried persimmons are ready to be kept for wintertime ... ready to face where she left off ...
She did leave without saying goodbye to her friends ...
Then returned ... now on a happier feeling as someone came back before her.

All along these seasons, she remembers her mom, coupled with what she cooks that suits the season. She learned them from her mom. As she plants, it shows patience and expectation of her harvest. This gives me a deeper appreciation of planting as it cultivates a character of patience, hope, and love. There is so much introspection in this movie. The alone time, the quiet planting and harvesting are times of reflection.

Somehow, the seasons represented also her own season of maturity - of finding clarity, of contentment, and of hope.
I have dreamed of living in a countryside, slower pace of life, with fresh air, no smoke or traffic. Many people think that life is better in the city and the movie tells me, it is a matter of seeing the beauty of where we are planted. It does not matter if it is the city or the country, what matters is - is it home?

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This movie is not for everyone. Nor it's a classic k movie, focusing either on romance or crime. This one is a remake from the Japanese movies with the same name. However, this version, focuses more on the character and on her struggles rather than the nature and the recipies that she makes during the four seasons. Her relationships mostly revolve around her mother who left one day without explenation. After that, we are presented with the girl's friends and possible love interest, although a love story never gets really developed. Also, the heartwarming atmosphere and the love for a simple life near the nature is there, though it's not the focus of this movie.

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