Don't Forget Me (2016)

A love story, that is told in a completely unorthodox way. Impressive in a refined manner

Capturing so much feeling quite sensitively and lifelike, “Remember you” is definitely for KMovie connoisseurs - with a memorable story and two wonderful leads deeply touching the audience's soul.

However, the story is not at all concerned with meeting common audience expectations. The KMovie chooses its own pace while poetically linking the loose threads into a three-dimensional pattern – in a stringent but by no means linear manner, purposefully but without any haste.

“Remember you” (or rather “Don’t forget me”, as the original title says) is mostly a love story through and through. However, it is a love story, that is told in a completely unorthodox way.
The past that lies behind – with the memory of it having the potential to ripping emotional abysses with brute force. The future, that lies ahead – with hope dwelling inside. The present – in which the ´now´ can become a safe zone. Within and throughout: the transcendent power of love.

There is something meditative about “Remember You”. We´re stumbling alongside the amnesiac protagonist through his (to him) strange present, with people coming and going. It almost feels like in a dream. He acts on the outside while inwardly commenting and silently asking his questions to an inner authority that should know... But the inner authority is mute.

The memories of the male protagonist, who suffers from amnesia, come back in fragments and immediately collapse again. The soul has found its own ways in dealing in a somewhat more bearable way with an almost unbearable reality. But ultimately, this situation, too, still is not really bearable either. The KMovie portrays a desperate psychological wrestling with reality - of the male lead on the one hand, and the female lead on the other.

Before we notice it, at the latest as soon as the puzzle has been put together, we suddenly find ourselves very close to the no less desperate inner world of the female lead. After being very close to HIM for so long and learning to feel with HIM, we suddenly find ourselves compassionate with HER emotional horror trip...

Impressive in a refined manner!




PS:
The KMovie “Remember You” is based on a short film by the same director. Based on this template, crowdfunding was used to raise funds for an international independent cinema film production. $32,000 was donated for this purpose. When it premiered in South Korea, “Remember You” grossed around $2 million already.

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To be honest, it's difficult to write a review about Don't Forget Me. Given the context of the plot, the film strikes many emotional cords, but to discuss them would give the movie away. Here's my best effort:

Don't Forget Me is a film that tackles heavy and sensitive subject matter. It's a story about dealing with grief and struggling to cope with ones reality, and the frustrated dedication of those that love and support the bereaved. The movie is a slow burner. The story takes its time unfolding — you wonder what the intentions of the characters are, what this is really all leading to. Suddenly, the movie comes into its own, and it's like you've been hit by a truck. You were fine, and then you're in tears. You suddenly realise the depth of the movie, that you really were watch a true romance but you didn't know the extent of it til the moment it hit you. Suddenly you see that every character has a purpose, and every character acted the way they did for a reason.

It's a beautiful film, and for those of you, who like me, have tried to be a pillar of strength for someone, this is definitely one you can relate to.

If you're looking for something bright and light, this isn't it. But I urge you to come back again when it suits your mood.

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