Hi! It has been ~5 months since I last blogged. I don’t know where time went. I guess I was just waiting for some inspiration. Clearly ‘consistent’ isn’t a word I would use to describe myself. o_0. This post is my response to all the popularity around Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’. I really enjoyed the mini-series! I do think that knowing a little about Korean society and history allows viewers to fully understand the complexity of the story trying to be told. As I was seeing commentary on social media about ‘Squid Game’, I realized that it is really difficult for westerners to not watch movies through a western lens. As someone who has seen close to 100 Korean dramas and movies over the last 3 years, social commentary on the societal problems that continue to exist in South Korea is very common, which is also why it’s so engaging. I can only speak to Korean films and shows, but with the globalization and rising popularity of K-entertainment in recent years, I have seen an increase in access to Korean movies and television through different streaming platforms such as Netflix, Viki, and Tubi. I saw recently that Disney+ and Apple TV are also going to be releasing some K-content in the near future. Even with all this, I still feel like I only have access to about 50% of the content coming out of South Korea. I mostly spend my time watching K-dramas, but I have seen some amazing Korean films as well. They aren’t similar in plot to ‘Squid Game’, but the quality of these films are just as good. Hope you enjoy my recommendations.
Where to watch: Tubi (free)
Debbie’s Thoughts: I am absolutely obsessed with this movie. The cast is led by Kim Tae-Ri (김태리) who is famous for her roles in ‘The Handmaiden ‘ and ‘Mr. Sunshine’. My favorite thing about ‘Little Forest’ is the cinematography and use of natural sounds. Food plays a central role in the film and I gushed over how all of the food shots were so beautifully executed. I learned that the film shot over the course of an entire year to capture each season.
One word to describe the film: healing
Where to watch: Tubi (free), Amazon Prime Video (with subscription)
Debbie’s Thoughts: I watched this film earlier in my K-entertainment journey, but I rewatched this film earlier this year and noticed how stacked this cast is. You got Gong Yoo as the lead, who is ddakji man in ‘Squid Game’ and the lead in Goblin (도깨비). You also got Choi Woo-Sik from ‘Parasite’ and Ma Dong-Seok who kicks ass everywhere he goes. I’m not a huge fan of zombie stories, but ‘Train to Busan’ does it right. This film nicely blends social commentary with a fast-paced, action-driven plot. The characters all do a phenomenal job expressing the raw emotions and motives that drive their decision-making in moments of life or death. I found myself actually crying a couple of times. This is a must watch film and am excited to see renewed interest.
One word to describe the film: thrilling
Memories of Murder (2003)
Where to watch: Hulu (with subscription), Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
Debbie’s Thoughts: Before ‘Parasite’, the only film I saw by Bong Joon Ho was ‘Okja’. Recently I watched, ‘Memories of Murder’. It was inspired by a South Korean serial killer active between 1986-1991 (Hwaseong Murders). He was caught in 2020 which made watching the film even more eerie. The story focuses on 3 officers/detectives who try to find the killer. It’s just a hodgepodge of mishaps coming in from left and right. To gain additional context on the historical backdrop, I did a little research. During this time, police were out suppressing pro-democracy activists and the government was enforcing civil-defense drills (as seen in the film). In 1987 the June Democracy Movement occurred which created the Korean government you see today. It feels really important to know the backdrop of civic unrest that was happening across the country and how the police department depicted in this film, operating under a repressive government, feels like a reflection of the times.
One word to describe the film: gripping
hi, i'm debbie sim 