a sad masterpiece
This was a very good kdrama. Although I thought it would be a ktrauma, it didn’t really make me sob. This is a kind of a romance movie that would make you a good kind of sad, definitely worth one’s time.There is something beautiful and heartbreaking about a love story where one forgets all the memories every morning when they wake up. The way it started as an unusual friendship which then blossomed into a love story was so awesome.
I loved how it handled the memory lost aspect, with Jae-Won re-introducing himself each day, that carried genuine weight, the way he found ways to make her happy, even though he was struggling himself was so touching.
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"A mother has to be strong"
Naruse Mikio created a compelling film about the Fukuhara family anchored by a loving and tenacious Mother. Dealing with the aftermath financially and emotionally following WWII, friends and family made the most of their lives and meager incomes.Fukuhara Toshiko introduces her family-Masako, her mother whom she adores, her father Ryosuke aka Papa Popeye, her little sister Chako, her brother Susumu, and her young cousin Tetsu. Susumu is chronically ill after breathing in dangerous materials at work and is bed bound. Her beloved father is planning to open a laundry service. Her mother sells items out of cart and has taken in her sister’s little boy. The two youngest squabble and play like siblings. And Toshiko helps with a snack shop where the local baker often stops by for food and to share his latest book. Money is tight but everyone finds joy as they face each day and each crisis head on.
Once again, Tanaka Tatsuyo was the center of a film. Masako’s family orbited around her and depended on her strength and insight. Death visited their doorstep not once, but twice and still Masako straightened her spine and carried on. Masako wasn’t maudlin nor the film depressing. She shed her tears and then summoned her smile for her children. The synopsis says that Toshiko was a rebellious teenager. She was far from that. Kagawa Kyoko gave Toshiko a ray of sunshine smile regardless of the never-ending work the teenager faced. Gradually falling in love couldn’t keep Toshiko from helping her family. She had only one stumbling block that was understandable after a loss. Even the younger daughter understood the sacrifice that was required when the dwindling family’s back was up against the wall. What I liked about this film is that the family dealt with loss and sacrifice in a pragmatic and loving way. They did what needed to be done without much complaining.
Mother gave a small view into women’s lives after the war. Unlike Ozu’s middle-class families, these were people on the lower end of the economic scale. Nearly everyone had been touched by the loss of a husband or son. Life went on and each person had to find a way to survive. While the survivors lived with their grief and financial insecurity, they still discovered ways to be content and laughter was always close by. Friends and family rallied to bolster those who were suffering or in need. Mother was not a profound film but I found myself deeply invested in these loyal and likeable people’s struggle to keep moving forward and maintain their love for each other.
3 February 2026
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Beautiful, bittersweet, and strangely comforting
I really liked the way the main leads’ friendship/love story started — it was quite funny and sweet :) They quickly grew from strangers into two people who, despite barely knowing anything about each other, genuinely enjoyed each other’s company and it all felt very natural! That said, I especially loved the pace of their bond and how it developed. You’d think the amnesia aspect would slow things down, but it doesn’t. Both leads make it work perfectly. From the very beginning, you can tell they share an instant, natural connection, and I could really sense how much it all meant to them both, but especially to the male lead (such a green flag character, by the way).I also found many of the filming locations and background shots very beautiful, especially the sunset scene. :)
The ending was to be expected, I actually like how they handled it. The last scene and, specifically, the last words said in the scene left me with a bittersweet smile. :)
Overall, it’s a movie that tells a sad story in a beautiful way. The moments the characters share feel precious, comforting, even. It leaves you with an ache, but not complete devastation.
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Innocent & Heartwarming Drama
This is a very unique and interesting story. Young Woo is the perfect person for this part. He's had great past performances, and once again, he doesn't disappoint! He and Shi Ah create a perfect blend together with their characters. Along with Ho Eun, a small but equally fitting supporting cast is an all around good fit for a solid story.Without giving anything away, I can say, don't be fooled on how smoothly things are going after the first hour. You kind of expect something to change, because it seemed like one big happy ending on the horizon. I wasn't expecting what eventually turns the entire story upside down and inside out. The circumstances that occur in the last thirty minutes almost made me change my mind on how good this movie was. I was sort of disappointed, not to mention shock by the outcome ... but somehow, the script does the storyline justice, not only making an excellent final few minutes, but probably giving us one of the saddest endings you'll see in a drama this year.
Sang Hyeon says a line toward the end that really hits home with this movie, "As time goes by, everyone's memories start to fade ... but what remains in your heart, that never changes"
Great and enjoyable. Keep the tissues handy!!!
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cute but is not as emotionally hitting
their dating era and everything is so good to watch and brings a smile on my face but i was not emotionally connected to either of the characters.
something that i have noticed in the few korean remakes i have watched is that they mostly shift the female pov to a male one and i think that's the mistake here. i don't remember the japanese version exactly but i think we see the movie mostly through the female lead's eyes and we connect with her a lot more. she was already doing art before the guy suggests it so when she draws him after forgetting him it was more painful. here we don't get to see both of the characters deeply. she is a girl with memory loss and he is just a guy(?)
his death hits very hard in jpn version and we feel the female lead's pain, here all of that happens quite quickly
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tearjerker
this story reminds me of 20th century girl. I knew it would be a sad movie but I still kept on watching. I thought maybe it could have a happy ending but of course that's not the case. it started all happy and sweet but I ended up crying my eyes out. it taught me to appreciate every single moment and that every single memory is precious. we all have an ending to our lives, so let's appreciate every single moment we have left, because who knows, it might be our last.Was this review helpful to you?
A valuable deeper dive into the Nie brothers' relationship
Nie Huaisang is my favorite Mo Dao Zu Shi character, and I love CQL's Nie Mingjue, so I'm very glad I saw this. I wish I'd seen this closer to the time that I'd read the book and watched The Untamed/CQL, because I probably would have appreciated it more with all the details fresh in my mind. So I definitely recommend watching this shortly after you finish CQL.I expected it to just be some sort of adventure thriller, and indeed it has a very spooky horror Raiders feel, and if you ever do an escape room, NHS is definitely who you want with you. But it also delved a lot more into the bond between the brothers, the struggles NMJ was having due to Jin Guangyao's guqin poison and the strain this caused on the brothers' relationship, aside from the strain already there due to their differing priorities/interests. They got pretty emotional. NMJ actually cried a few times (one time, even sobbed because of something he did during a qi deviation).
The special effects were meh and some of the martial arts stuff was over the top, but the story definitely added a lot of depth to the Nie brothers' relationship, and a deeper insight into why NHS was so determined to avenge NMJ. It made me realize that JGY's guqin spell was a symbol for depression... something invisible that takes over your mind and changes you in bad ways.
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I fell in love with the movie and it broke my heart
It was literally the best movie I've ever seen in my life! I knew the ending would be harsh and painful, but I still wanted to see the chemistry between the main leads, and the trailer looked so catchy and fresh for korean cinema. The movie reminded me of "20th century girl," but it's still different from it, with its own unique features. The only similarity is the ending.Starting from bts I could feel the chemistry between Choo Young Woo and Shin Shi Ah! They both did a great job and their acting was captivating. Their eyes spoke volumes.
The cinematography in the drama is excellent, with beautifully shot scenes.
I highly recommend watching it, but if you don't like dramas with sad endings, don't even start!
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apparently i never learnt from my mistake of watching 20th century girl
this somehow managed to break my heart, pierce it back together again, and then absolutely shatter it.i swore to myself after watching 20th century girl that i would NEVER put myself in a place where i'd have to feel that amount of pain again over a movie, and instead what did i do? i dove headfirst into it! this movie genuinely had me fooled, and before i knew it, there i was drowning in my own tears. smh.
this movie was so genuinely a work of art, but with that said, i am absolutely not ever rewatching this ever again.
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Break that promise
The movie follows the saga of a detective Yoon Ji-Wook. His story rips the heart apart. The division of Ji- Wook friends cries for unneeded attention. That unneeded attention is the sister of his male dead lover. The sister would have survive. The real Ji- Wook sacrifice is life of happiness for a girl he did not love.He should have broke his promise of protecting the sister. The sister notice the affection between Ji- Wook and her brother. Her jealousy and need to have what her brother had was sickening.
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Kleenex in hand, take the dive.
What a love, what a friendship, what a story. 🥹🥹Aptly titled, Taste and Tears will burrow into your heart and wound your soul, just to mend it stronger than it was before you began. This story is beautifully wound, the acting is great, and the overall ending is very satisfying. I am very glad I experienced this story, I found it so poetic.
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A Powerful, Emotion‑Packed Film That Never Lets Go
Seeing Park Ji Hoon in the cast, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed by this film, and indeed I wasn't. It's a film full of emotions that doesn't let you catch your breath for a moment, but still keeps you watching without looking away. Please give Park Ji Hoon a happy role! (I know he's great at playing characters with sad stories, but he deserves a bit of happiness in the series too, hahaha.)Was this review helpful to you?
Jeon Do-yeon’s Power, Precision, and Presence
Kill Bok-soon completely blew me away. Stylish, brutal, emotional, and unapologetically sharp, this film delivers on every level — action, character, and atmosphere. It’s intense without being mindless, violent without being empty, and surprisingly emotional beneath all the bloodshed. I was hooked from start to finish.Jeon Do-yeon is the heart and soul of this film. After loving her so much in Crash Course in Romance, seeing her transform so effortlessly into this role was incredible. The contrast alone is stunning — from warmth and everyday vulnerability to icy control and lethal precision. She doesn’t just play an assassin; she becomes her. Every movement, every look, every moment feels deliberate and commanding.
What makes her performance so special is the emotional depth she brings beneath the action. There’s restraint, conflict, and quiet humanity layered into her character, making her feel real rather than exaggerated. She dominates the screen without ever needing to overact, proving once again why she’s one of the finest actresses in Korean cinema.
The supporting cast is excellent as well, adding tension, complexity, and weight to the story. The film’s world feels polished and intentional, and the action choreography is clean, stylish, and impactful rather than chaotic. Every fight feels purposeful, every confrontation charged.
Kill Bok-soon is a thrilling, unforgettable experience, but above all, it’s a showcase of Jeon Do-yeon’s brilliance. Loving her in CCIR and then witnessing this performance only deepened my admiration. She’s phenomenal — and this film is proof of her incredible range.
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Flawed but emotionally powerful
This movie is a very emotional and over the top . The story is simple and full of familiar tropes, especially if you have seen many Bollywood social dramas. The first half feels exaggerated and unrealistic and the system looks cartoonishly cruel.But the ending is where the film truly hits hard. The execution of an innocent man and his name being cleared only after death is heartbreaking. That bitter unfair ending is a bold and effective move.
Flawed but emotionally powerful in the end.
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Paved the way…
I watched this very much knowing I was entering the “kill your gays” era of cinema, it’s been 20 years, so expecting the worst is just something you have to gird your loins against when it comes to watching gay cinema of this time. But what I got instead is a story that LITERALLY tried to bury its gays, only to give them a second chance, and then another fatal blow, but yet another redemption beyond expectation. Why aren’t more people talking about this?! I will admittedly agree that I wish there was just a bit more at the end there that really brought home a happy ending. But I’ve got an imagination and can plot out the rest on my own. I have to give it to movies like this that brought about the realistic expectation that BLs can have a happy ending. Although this may not be noticed by the masses. This is definitely worth the roller coaster ride of a watch and worth your time. Give it a go for sure.Was this review helpful to you?
