Heaven's Garden (Cheonsangui hwawon)

 Korean tv series have become very addictive with me. "Heaven's Garden"  was slightly different in that it was released in 2011, meaning it is not quite as slick as more recent series.  Still this one proved to be not only very enjoyable, but mind opening.

 Like all the others seen it has a very complicated plot with many minor characters developed over the course of 30 episodes.  Although many are not likable at first they gradually become more understandable and even likeable towards the end.

The basic plot starts with an estranged father and daughter with a step daughter thrown in.  As the series progresses we can add in a husband and ex wife.  Neighbors with their own relations are added in.  A theme picked up early is children not living with their birth mother.  In the first instance the estranged daughter, distraught with marital concerns finds her father upset that she would bring a step daughter.  She is made to feel unwanted, but in the end she is the key to the whole series.  She loves her step mother who cannot imagine living without her.  She would be about 13 at the beginning and comes right out and asks what she has to do for acceptance.  The first character transformation is with her grandfather who in facts does accept her and we learn he is a very strong character who is conscious of mistakes made earlier in his life.

There are loads of complications and misunderstandings.  And it should be mentioned loads of transformations.  At the end there are still a few loose ends, but that just reflects reality.  Most of the characters are better off.

What makes it meaningful for me is what might be a tree analogy somewhat explained by the grandfather to his step-granddaughter.  He is a farmer who seems to have a good understanding how things grow.  When asked about why one tree looks a little different he explains about grafting a branch from one tree to another creates something better.  Over a number of episodes the mother and her step daughter become comfortable with the concept that she is really "special."  We encounter some other special children with their parents and appreciate that they (both parent and step child) are better off.  

The writer used an interesting tool to finish the series.  The one step daughter has been asked to do a last will as a school project.  Most of the other students procrastinate, but Eun-soon thinks it would be "fun."  She puts it that she likes to think about what she would leave behind.  She explains to her grandfather that she wants to be a teacher and specialize in "special' children, but also including their parents (birth and otherwise).  Her vision is that they would all live together and learn from each other.  She wanted to leave behind her a school for all of them.  A day or so later her grandfather offers to the whole family with his own will that includes organ donations, but is highlighted with his idea of a special scholarship to make Eun-soo's school possible.  The series ends with many of the characters writing about what they want to leave behind.  Knowing the characters, some of the messages are stirring.

Obviously films like this do not just happen.  Although it is not as slick as more recent series, the script, direction, acting and the many actions of the full crew blended to make it very memorable.  

The script writer is the most critical key.  Not able to learn much about Eun-nim Ko, except she is female and she has been active at least within the past two years.  The plot contains lots of complications that viewers love, but it has an underlying theme that sneak up over many episodes.

The director Jong-han Lee is only credited with one other film which was earlier.  No listings for producers, music, cinematography or any other crew functions.  Many details fall into place for the overall strong impression.  One aspect that impressed me was the landscape which was rural over the whole year with interludes with natural scenes involving birds and running water.

The key roles were very well done and conveyed the difficult range of emotions.

Ho-jeong Yu plays Jae-in, the estranged daughter which is really who we follow and she is very likeable.  Will she win over her father, will she get back with her somewhat shady husband loved by her two children or with her confidence shattered accept the advances of a very likeable man, will she be able to reconcile other relationships.  She is excellent and apparently has an active career.

Bool-am Choi plays the estranged father/grandfather.  We do not like him right away, but soon he melts a little and over time we learn a little of history which does include awareness of many mistakes.  He is also accepting of other people who have made mistakes.  His relationship with his step grand daughter and his daughter is enjoyable to watch.  His career goes back to 1968 and extended a bit beyond this film.

Sae-ron Kim plays the step daughter and appears mostly always cheery, although she also conveys someone with deeper thoughts.  The year before this series she had a role in "The Man From Nowhere" (2010).  She has gone onto more films and has won a few awards.

Seo-hyun Ahn plays the natural daughter of Jae-in and at times appears very spoiled and also jealous.  She had appeared in "The Housemaid" (2010) and reached a much bigger role with "Okja" (2017) an American/Korean project directed and co-written by Bong Joon Ho.

The many supporting characters were very well done.  A few seemed stiff, but as the series progressed a change was evident that reflected acting skills.

It is my hope that more people will catch it on Netflix or some other source.  It's message deserves a wider audience.

Another favorite series:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html

The one that really got me started:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html 

Song Kang Ho

My son spent about 18 months in Korea which encouraged me to explore some of their culture.  Enjoyed watching a number of Korean movies, but seldom was able to identify any "stars" that normally help drive some of my interest in movie choices.  With "Parasite" one of the characters  was familiar and had been seen numerous times.  Although he didn't have much glamour he did have real character and had added to my enjoyment.

Rather than being a romantic leading man, Song Kang Ho is a character actor who has been upgraded to lead character.  He started with plays in a troupe where he was trained in improvisation.   He took minor roles in films including as an extra. 

He won his first awards for "No 3" (1997), Three different, one for best new actor and two for best supporting actor. He was actually No. 2 in a gang, but was considered to be a scene stealer.  Someone of the movie audience picked him out and imitated some of his mannerisms.  The movie is considered satirical and well written for its genre. 

With "The Foul King" (2000) Song demonstrates an early aptitude for comedy where he plays a shy man who becomes a villain wrestler.  Directed by Jee-woon Kim.

In "Joint Security Area" (2000) he played a North Korean officer who had befriended a South Korean and was later in a dispute  To prepare for this role Song worked with a North Korean defector to get the accent more precise.  This movie became the highest grossing Korean film to date and gave Song a much bigger profile.  His first movie directed by Chan-wook Park

In "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" (2002) he played a wealthy factory owner whose daughter was accidentally killed in a kidnapping attempt.  He was so distraught he took extreme measure to track down the killer even administering torture.  Directed by Chan-wook Park

 In "Memories of Murder" (2003) Song played a bumbling lawyer in a murder case. Considered by some to be an early masterpiece directed by Bong Joon Ho.  Won Korean awards for both Bong Joon Ho and Song Kang-Ho,

In "The President's Barber" (2004),   Song plays an ordinary barber who somehow becomes the barber for dictator Park Chung-hee over a 20 year period.  Political history from a different perspective.

 

 

"The Host" (2006) saw him as a bereaved single parent  Another Bong Joon Ho film in which both won awards in Asia.

"The Good, The Bad, The Weird" (2007)  the weird, comic action western style film with comic action, reflecting spaghetti western. It was a commercial success with a few national nominations for Song, but no awards  Directed by Jee-woon Kim.

For "Secret Sunshine" (2007) he was interviewed for a special feature.  Not the star, but saw himself as balancing the protagonist who was going through a tragedy.  He was a somewhat jovial, somewhat annoying suitor.  He needed to calm the rage felt by the female lead.  This was the closest to a romance I saw him in.  Directed by Chang-dong Lee, another well known Korean director.

"Thirst" (2008)  he plays a priest who through a life saving transfusion becomes a vampire.  Some super powers, but sex crazed.  He is pretty scary.  Directed by Chan-Wook Park.  A full frontal nude scene for Song Kang ho.

 

 

 

 In the "Face Reader" (2013) Song stars as a person who could determine personality from physical features of their face.  Some more awards.

With "Snowpiercer"  (2013) he received  2nd billing, but speaks through a translation procedure.  This represents a movie where Bong Joon Ho makes an English speaking film for the first time. Tilda Swinton after watching a few of Song's movies and working with him described him as "one of the protean greats in cinema." Set in the frozen future when a global science experiment ended disastrously and a select number of people were locked in a perpetual running train.  Class war underlies the plot.

"The Attorney" (2013)  Song received nominations and awards where he plays a tax lawyer who decides to represent a friend in military court. Based on a true story where the lawyer became a prominent  human rights activist.

 

 

He was given a bit part in the American film, "The Interview" (2014).   More about the movie that upset a lot of people: http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/12/north-korea.html

 "The Throne" (2015) saw him playing the king with a son who he felt was not ready to ascend the throne. A lot of family tension.

"The Age of Shadows" (2016) was set in the 1920's when the Japanese controlled and Korean rebels were organizing bombings.  Song Kang Ho was a respected Japanese police officer who had been born in Korea and felt conflicted.  Directed by Jee-woo Kim.

"A Taxi Driver" (2017) showed Song Kang-ho as a taxi driver taking a German journalist played by Thomas Kretschmann to the scene of riots in 1980.   Starts of casually then finds himself caught up with violence.  Some more Asian best actor awards.

 

 In "Parasite" (2019) winner of the best film Oscar he played the father of the family that infiltrated a rich family.   It become another class war underlying themed film. Both director/ writer Bong Joon Ho and Song Kang-Ho were given many awards including Cannes.  Read more:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/09/parasite-breaks-oscar-tradition.html

"The King's Letters" (2019)  has not been seen.  Again Song plays king, this time inventing an alphabet for Korean language to help his subjects

Confession:  The Korean naming patterns have been confusing for me.  I understand that normally the first name is the family name followed by the personal name.  That's fine, but I have seen variations on the same name and thought that some family names have followed western traditions with the family name placed last.  This blog is not intended to offend anyone and I hope that it in some small way promotes Korean culture.

Note:  As usual I have bolded the movies I have seen.  A few that I had no access to, but would like to see are included as illustrations of his versatility.