andjel

In my country, there is a custom of giving a baby one of their grandparents’ names as a second name. I think the purpose of this movie is to show how we carry the names and legacies of our ancestors. The film tells a story spanning three different time periods that are connected together. At first, it was confusing and unclear how they were linked, but by the end, everything comes together with a powerful impact — especially in the end credits, which list thousands of names that shouldn't be forgotten.

The main character is an elderly woman named Jeong-sun. At the beginning, the movie focuses more on her son, and I think that was a mistake. The film struggles to find its balance in the first half. It felt like the movie tricks us into investing our emotions in the young students, only to then shift the focus to the mother, who is the true heart of the story. However, the second half is almost perfect, with outstanding acting performances, beautiful cinematography, and strong dramatic moments.

The conflict connecting the two time periods serves as a tragic reminder of how easily friends and neighbors can turn against each other. This movie is a mix of historical, family, and school drama, and I am sure it will be remembered for a long time. It points to the collective memory of many people whose names have been forgotten. By carrying someone’s name, we also carry their story and, hopefully, learn from it. This movie delivers an important message and deserves to be seen by everyone. Perhaps it will even help us rediscover the dignity of our own names.