Student Film Reviews

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1. giuliana giardino 03.05.17 / 4pm

   I think I would enjoy this movie because it’s about finding yourself.Younghee seems like she wants to be accepted by friends and family. The mise-en-scene seems to be very important in this movie. I just learned about that, so it’s interesting to be more knowledgeable about it. Younghee seems ashamed of who she is and I believe that you should do whatever you want that makes you happy. Everyone deserves to be happy. She finds happiness with nature. I would like this because she finds what makes her happy and she finds who she is.
2. SarahDolan 03.10.17 / 12pm

   I’m a sucker for foreign films with a female lead. This movie in exploring Korean stereotypes and taboo leads me to believe this film would be incredibly enjoyable to watch. I have never experienced the natural assets of Korea and the mise en scene seems to brag its natural beauty. I love how the main character is multifaceted in a love story that is typically male lead. I also love how within Younghee’s deep complexities are character traits (such as sexual desire) which is very much not talked about in korean culture. The alcohol subplot is a bit odd though.
3. Madison McCoy 03.10.17 / 1pm

   The movie title On the Beach at Night Alone has a catchy title, it grabbed my attention. This movie seems to be entertaining and fascinating. Younghee searches for happiness and tries to find who she is. Nothing is better than finding pure happiness and the adventures that come with it. I think I would enjoy this film and it seems beautiful.
4. JinghangShu 03.10.17 / 3pm

   On the Beach at Night Alone is an interesting film about a Korean woman solving her issues of love and many desires of her life. It’s a realistic film with many beautiful scenes. This film shows many parts of modern Korean life: Korean traditional culture, Women’s love and demands and people’s struggle and finding value of themselves. This is a very complicated and also straightforward film.
5. Grace Perry 03.10.17 / 5pm

   The idea of the title of the film On the Beach at Night Alone to me suggest a film in which the thematics explore loneliness, darkness, and overall a sad girl attempting to find herself in such a big world. I viewed a literal beach a nighttime, dark as can be, and that feeling is what assumed the film would inhabit. However after reading Larry Gleeson’s review it’s very clear my first intuition was very wrong. The film actually explores the unpredictable adventures that await you in trying to find yourself. The main character, Younghee, travels through colorful waters discovering her true feelings and passions. It’s a quite beautiful film by description as it follows traditional plot of love and how it can shape a person.
6. Katelynn Kent 03.13.17 / 1pm

   I think that I would really enjoy this film. The way you explained it, I imagine this film to be elegant and filmed beautifully while tearing into deep psychological/emotional concepts that people have felt or thought about at least once in their lives. I think this film would make me think about my life and whether or not I feel connected and at one with myself. I think this would be a good film to watch when feeling particularly lost because the main character is feeling lost and is trying new things, exploring life and her mind, and figuring out how she can find herself. I often feel more at peace with myself when I am on the beach alone, or in nature alone. Nature has that kind of healing effect and its quietness is a soothing place allowing for deep thought.
7. Lawrence Gleeson 03.14.17 / 8am

   I agree, Katelynn. Your insight on nature is spot on! Another what I feel is an interesting aspect of the film was the director and lead actress had had an affair! Interestingly, Director Hong Sansoo has a penchant for self-reflexive works. However, the director has a much smaller role in the film, while the Kim Minhee character is the film’s focus. Watching the narrative unfold had a feel of a character study. Certainly, Minhee would have some experience to draw from for her role. Seeing the film and knowing the backstory adds another dimension to viewing the film. Thank you for your comment.
8. Ruth Morgan 03.16.17 / 1pm

   From the title alone, I was given the impression that the film would most likely be about solitude and introspection. This review seems to have done an exceptional job tying in the visuals of the film along with the female protagonist’s internal exploration and conflict. From what I have read, scenery seems to play a significant role in symbolically portraying Younghee’s internal conflicts. For instance, the scene that describes her revisiting the town from her past shows how she is attempting to reclaim part of her identity that she thinks still lies in her past. However, as Gleeson states, Younghee really only seems to truly find herself when she goes to the beach in solitude, which highlights how she lost herself when she became too attached with superficial desires, and returning to nature helped her find herself again.
9. Daisy Aguirre 03.16.17 / 8pm

   This movie sounds dramatic and I would want to see this movie thanks to this review. When I was reading through I was thinking about how this sounds like someone’s actual life story, and that this happens to people at certain points of their life. It made it feel more connected because it deals with real issues. Very well written review and liked that you went into detail about certain parts of the movie and still left room to wonder what else happens in the movie. I also like that you broke up the writing into the first half of the film and the second half of the film, because it seems like it is two movies in one that flow together.
10. Lawrence Gleeson 03.20.17 / 6pm

    Thank you, Daisy. Director Hong Sangsoo is known for self-reflective works and On Beach at Night Alone is no different. Apparently, he and starlet Kim Minhee were involved in an affair together. I wasn’t aware of the affair when I saw the film. However, I was aware of Hong Sangsoo’s penchant for self-reflexive works. Nevertheless, in the scene where Minhee’s character discloses the affair she had with the director present during the scene, I began wondering. I agree with your insight on identifying, relating and being able to feel more connected to the characters when the narrative mirrors real life issues. Thank you, again.
11. Tatum Kula 03.22.17 / 1pm

    This seems like an overall very interesting film. This review did an excellent job discussing the success and importance of the mise-en-scene displayed throughout the entire movie. The tile itself also gives off a specific prediction of what the movie might be about. Additionally, this review does a great job giving the reader an idea of what to expect in the film and what types of themes are expressed. This is a great way to inform the reader on whether its a film he or she would be interesting in watching. This film seems to have a plot that is very realistic and provides scenarios that many people can relate too. After reading this review, this is a movie I could definitely be interested in to watch.
12. Lawrence Gleeson 03.24.17 / 7pm

    Thank you, Tatum. I felt it was quite interesting. After having seen lead actress, Kim Minhee in The Handmaiden, I anxiously waited for On the Beach at Night Alone to begin. Minhee really delivered an outstanding, deep, introspective performance, in my opinion. I had read Hong Sangsoo often made films that were self-reflexive. I don’t believe I knew he and Minhee were involved in an extramarital affair! The film touches lightly on her past involvement with a director in the film. I’d like to hear your comments after you see the film! Thank you, again.
13. lindseyraymond 03.25.17 / 9am

    This film seems very interesting and has a great storyline. I like how you described it as a “think-piece.” I would probably really enjoy this film because I love dramas and films about one main character struggling to find themselves. It’s funny, because I can sort of relate to the title of this film. Every time I’ve gone to the beach at night I’ve felt at ease, so it makes sense that Younghee finds peace alone at the beach at night. You also said the mise-en-scene was one of the best parts of the film, with colorful scenes in nature. The way you described it sounds beautiful! I’ll have to see this film, it sounds like a great one. Thanks for the review!
14. Lawrence Gleeson 03.25.17 / 10pm

    Thank you, Lindsey. The beach is a wonderful place at night in my experience as well. The mise-en-scene in the nature scenes has a very rich texture. And, yes, the drama! Seeing Younghee longing and then struggling was central to the narrative and Actress Kim Minhee conveys the emotionality with an extraordinary precision. Feel free to ping back after seeing the film. I’d like to hear your comments/review. Thank you, again.
15. Amelia Borrayo 04.03.17 / 6pm

    Based on this review, this film seems filled with desire, love, and acceptance. Desire because of the character, Younghee who is in pursuit to find who she really is after having an affair with a married man. This film also sounds romantic in a sense that she will learn to love and accept herself. This movie sounds a lot different than movies I have seemed in the past. It would be something new for me to watch a film that is created in a totally different part of the world, and this film sounds like a perfect first timer!
16. Lawrence Gleeson 04.16.17 / 12pm

    I agree, Amelia. The film’s director Sang-soo Hong is known for making films that are self-reflexive (based on events from his personal life). Apparently, news tabloids picked up a story that he and lead actress Kim Minhee had engaged in an extramarital affair. In my opinion, this allows Kim to draw upon emotives in delivering her onscreen performance as Younghee. Interestingly, Kim won the Silver Bear Award for Acting at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. And, you make a good point about the love Younghee discovers for herself. Watching it unfold on screen, is a treat. I’d love to hear your thoughts after you see the film. Thank you.
17. Andrew Owyang 04.06.17 / 2pm

    This film seems very interesting. As someone who takes interest in other Asian cultures, I would be able to learn more about Korean culture, a culture that I always wanted to learn more about. The way this review describes the film also makes it seem like the film has beautiful scenery and visuals. This film also seems interesting because it is about finding one’s self, something many young people such as I can relate too. Also, it would be refreshing to watch a film with an Asian lead character. Many of the films I watch do not have an Asian lead character. Watching this film would be something different for me.
18. Lawrence Gleeson 04.16.17 / 1pm

    Thanks, Andrew. On the Beach at Night Alone, is a sharp, well-constructed film about self-discovery. The visuals and scenery add to the tone and feel of the film. But, it is really the acting and unraveling of Younghee’s deep emotions that propel the film. Interestingly, Director Sang-soo Hong, is known for his self-reflexive works (based on his personal life) and On the Beach at Night Alone is no different. Lead actress Kim Minhee (winner of the Silver Bear for Best Performance at this year’s Berlin Film Festival) and Director Hong apparently had an extramarital affair that was picked up by the Korean tabloids. This unfolds on the screen during the film and the deep emotives exhibited by Kim as Younghee are quite exceptional. I’d love to hear your thoughts after you see On the Beach at Night Alone. Thanks, again.
19. sophiekubinyi 04.11.17 / 6pm

    I have never seen or heard of this film but when I was looking at all the film reviews and saw the title of your essay it automatically caught my eye. I watched the trailer and now I am intrigued to watch this movie. It seems to be a very independent type of film. I love when films have beautiful mise-en-scene- so that motivates me even more to watch it. I like how you gave us some background on this film and how you also incorporated your own opinion. This film stars a lead Asian woman and I think that is so great because we need more diverse female leads in films.
20. Lawrence Gleeson 04.16.17 / 12pm

    Thank you, Sophie. Kim Min-hee is an exceptional actress. Another recent film where she and her co-star won accolades is Chan Wook-Park’s The Handmaiden, a beautifully set film with a several plot twists to keep the audience on seat’s edge. In On the Beach at Night Alone, Director Sang-soo Hong, known for his self-reflexive works, delves deep in On the Beach. Tabloids had picked up a story on Kim and Hong having an extramarital affair. I found this particularly interesting as Kim’s role in On the Beach allows Kim to explore and act with a particular set of emotions that might not be available to most actresses. In addition, the role of the beach and nature are backdrops that allow Kim space to process her character’s emotions.
21. Jakob Gonterman 05.25.17 / 9pm

    Sounds like a interesting, self reflective problem and solution type film with the problem of love.. Funny when you say too much of one thing is a good thing, living in a college town is great super great, but too much and you become trapped! I love watching films that expressive their view towards life and this sounds enticing to watch!
22. Bailey Lortscher 06.05.17 / 12am

    I found your review to be very interesting. You made the movie sound very interesting which made me want to see this movie. Along with that, you added that the movie was about self-reflection and solutions I found that to be extremely interesting. You really hit key points and made me more interested in seeing this movie. All in All, I think you did an amazing job writing this review and really grabbed my attention.

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