desshou
Japan
I had the opportunity to do so when the movie was released, or at least featured on Netflix following the recent death of the main lead Kiki Kirin. I've seen her on TV before and it was always mentioned how great of an actress she was, but this was actually the first movie she was in that I ever watched. She was indeed a magnificent actress.
It turned out to be another one of those nice slice of life Japanese movies that gently, with both sad and more uplifting scenes, give you something to think about. Not just about your own life, but also how you view and address other people, out of ignorance or lack of care, may affect their life deeply.
Tokue's circumstances in life were sad, but it was because of these that she became a very introspective special person with a different connection and sensibility towards the things and people that surrounded her. An inspiring old lady increasingly difficult to find in real life.
I couldn't agree more when she says "the soul of the dorayaki is the anko"; a simple but ambiguous message. You can indeed dress the dorayaki in very nicely fried pancakes, but it's the core that matters the most.
Same goes for people.
The others are regular modern life characters, pushing forward everyday and just trying to make a living without much passion or even success.
Sadly, sometimes you seem to not be able to find your way even when you meet such inspiring people, but fortunately this is a movie. If you can't succeed, at least you should enjoy the ride, right?
The young lady is apparently Kiki Kirin's granddaughter. I didn't know that at the time I watched the movie. I remember thinking that, even without much make-up, she's possibly one of the most beautiful Japanese girls I've ever seen. Not just physically; although her role was small, there seems to be a warm soul inside.
She portrayed Wakana, a lonely unhappy school girl who doesn't get along not only with her mom but also with her classmates as well, even though they may go to the same places on an everyday basis. I seem to pass by this kind of young boys and girls very frequently here in Japan.
Despite the serious topics, the movie feels a bit "airy" and light sometimes, leaving a lot to be sub-intended. I suppose that's typically Japanese, addressing the subject but not in a very straightforward manner, almost like not addressing it at all, leaving it to the viewer to decide what to do with that information.
Although the story is a bit predictable and I hoped for a bit more of development in some areas (particularly the finale), I enjoyed watching this slow paced movie while my husband fell asleep besides me, bored to death. Guess it's not everyone's cup of tea.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I remember that the first time I watched this drama a few years ago, when I was also new to kdrama, I thought it was way too long so I skipped many parts just looking for the romance bits. Therefore, I decided to rewatched it again last week, this time properly.Story - I think the concept is quite interesting, the struggles of a young doctor in possibly the most demanding period of her life. However, one thing I didn’t like much, in the beginning Bong Dal Hee is the newest there and of course the most inefficient but, because it fits the plot, she quickly finds herself undertaking procedures and surgeries none of the other interns who have been there for months before her had yet the opportunity to perform. Later on, because of her plead and special place in Ahn Jong Geun’s heart, she even gets to participate in most if not all of his surgeries. Even when she runs away from the hospital without further notice (for the second time!) Ahn Jong Geun is still saving her spot and not letting any other intern join him in the operation room. As a result, after a few months she’s shown as an innate doctor while the skills of the other interns don’t seem to have developed much.
Personality-wise, I think Bong Dal Hee is actually difficult to deal with. She’s generally portrayed as humble and agreeable even when being wronged by other doctors, but she never showed much consideration towards others and would quickly withdraw into her own world when things didn’t go well. I didn’t like her personality in the epilogue either, like a know it all.
The side story with the other couple already begun with a big issue into which we increasingly get more information on throughout the drama. Communication between the couple is scarce and inefficient, so the issue is dragged and only solved practically at the end of the drama. I’m even okay with that, but I ended up disliking the wife doctor who was made too proud, unreasonable and selfish of a person. I mean, this person who loved her husband so much and was raising a child with him couldn’t get over her pride to ask him for forgiveness? Couldn’t reveal the name of the biological father and felt betrayed when he asked?... she embarrassed him in front of his uncle and the whole hospital and the man had to literally be about to die for her to just get out of her pedestal and open up to him. I felt no empathy towards her at all.
It’s no wonder the ex-husband felt drawn to Bong Dal Hee. Inadvertently, she was the only one there for him.
Even Ahn Jong Geun would always hear the female doctor out and not say a word, but kept on pressuring the other doctor to sort things out as if everything were his fault.
The background story of the Ahn Jong Geun was also good.
Many details here and there were left unclear, at least to me (e.g. why exactly was he abandoned after all?) and I thought many scenes could have been better explored (quality over quantity), but overall I still feel the story was okay.
Cast - I’ve read some reviews of people complaining about how old the male lead looks and the age gap between the couple. I actually think they look as what they ought to look - she in her late twenties and he in his late thirties, possibly early forties. I know the drama itself claims Ahn Jong Geun to be like 32 years-old (the other male lead 35 yo) but I find that unacceptable. At least in my country medical school takes many years to finish, they’re too young to be as experienced as they’re and be considered top surgeons in Korea’s biggest hospital. That’s what the story claims, but yeah.
I also think that the drama could have its name changed to Surgeon Ahn Jong Geun, because the man simply stole every single scene he was in (the drama would probably be more interesting from his POV as well. Oops). Even though his lines were usually short, sweet and, at times, sufficiently awkward, the short man with big eyes and small glasses had great charisma and facial expressions. Definitely no lack of emotion there.
The biggest flop in the cast is really the main character... appearance-wise she looks okay. She’s not exactly gorgeous, but it’s not because of her stunning beauty that she finds herself in a love triangle anyway. Even her very unathletic way of running (sorry) could be due to the fact that she could never exercise much even as a child. However, her poker face at most times doesn’t fit the character and doesn’t make her look any smarter. As other people also mentioned, there’s no chemistry between the leads and I think it’s her fault. You don’t really feel she loves him anymore than she did before, or more than she did the other doctor. She’s just there. I can even understand what they were going for - a lot of emotion expressed with very few words - but the matter of fact is that it doesn’t seem to work with this actress, her face isn’t very expressive.
Jeez, also can’t forget how awkward that last peck was... what would otherwise be a warm scene. But that I think it’s the director’s fault.
Music - nothing worth of mentioning.
Rewatch Value - I actually think it’s worth rewatching, if not only for the medical stuff and Surgeon Ahn Jong Geun. The case of the boy with cancer was particularly sad, so I will probably skip that one next time.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I've started watching this drama, but I've decided to drop it after episode 9 because I'm fed up with all the random twists and turns and doesn't feel like it's worth it. My review is based on those 9 episodes.Story - the same old Cinderella story: the male lead pretends to be a commoner in order to be treated normally and falls in love with the righteous hardworking woman who sees beyond his condition in life and loves him for who he is. However, unlike Cinderella who was genuinely kind and considerate of others regardless, here the female lead isn't just clueless, too honest and upfront, she's deliberately rude and confrontational. In fact, she's a shrew borderline sociopath. Every time there's a turn of events, she goes from warm to cold and irrational in 3 seconds with a repetitive pattern of violence towards the male lead (must come from her dad). Yet she's portrayed as the victim, wronged by everyone from her own family to her co-workers, when in reality her behaviour isn't okay at all. I felt no empathy towards her.
The reason the male lead falls for her is that she doesn't hide her true-self and they have something in common. He's obviously not normal either.
I don't get why he and the representative would share a house just so he can play daddy to the kid and make up for the past accident. At first I thought the representative only wanted to destroy him, but guess she fell in love with him over the years? Awkward.
Cast - From what I've seen, the male lead and the representative are the best actors here, spot on. The choice of wardrobe and hairstyles also helped in making both look very stylish, sleek and attractive. I also liked the shrink very much and wondered if he wouldn't end up with the female lead's sister, despite the age gap.
All the others I think are just okay... when the female lead laughs, it looks very unnatural. Her sister's acting skills are more convincible, but her looks or make-up aren't that great and she's quite short for someone wanting to model. The police officers are totally forgettable.
The old guy who always pretends to need something so that the lead spends more time with him is good though.
Music - The OST was actually very good. I particularly liked Taru's "Hope you Can Be" and BEAST's "Dreaming" songs.
Rewatch Value - Well, I dropped the drama, but I still liked parts of it. I liked all the scenes where the shrink was in, just too funny. I liked when the female lead's partner started singing on the car's mic for the owner to hurry up and move the car that was incorrectly parked. The kissing scene in the car shortly after that was good fun. I've seen a similar one in a Taiwanese drama where the guy also said "you think there's nothing between us?? There, can you still say that?". Nothing like a kiss to win an argument, haha.
Was this review helpful to you?
