Praise of Death (2018)

Just poured my thoughts

"Hymn of Death" is a drama including 06 episodes. Within 06 episodes, they have tried their best to portray the political issues, freedom, family issues, marriage vs love, responsibilities, rich vs poor, a woman vs rumours, the art of literature, a difference of living vs dying, choices etc... Most of these issues are not revealed throughout the story and sometimes they tried to reveal such issues only through one line without dragging just to run the plot. I have no degree to evaluate the acting skills but there were some incidents where I felt that the male lead should have tried more. When he argued with his father about his freedom, I felt so. Again I thought maybe he tried to exhibit that calmness within his character. Even when his books are burning in front of him, the way he silently followed his father proved that fact cause a book lover's worst nightmare is that. And also it may indirectly show that he had already given up hopes about his future and his life. If not maybe the respect he had towards his father may have controlled him. Even when their first kiss is about to happen, then also he stepped back. Even when his father told that the woman will leave when he becomes poor, he said that if she leaves, then it'll be his fate too not the cheesy line that no she won't do that. Again this may indirectly indicate that he has no desire to live more and fight for his dreams. If I have to talk about the female lead, I can write even a book. Even though her family situation is on the ground level, I didn't feel like I want to focus more on that situation while showing my deepest sympathy towards her cause the aura she gives is strong and unbreakable while handling family issues. I'm not saying it's a fault it's just given me a different vibe than the other typical dramas. Even when her siblings didn't trust her, the way she acted is speechless. This drama highlights the theme; a woman vs rumours smoothly and perfectly. She acted her character with dignity in her mind, body movements, facial expressions and also in her tone of voice. Both leads are struggling with their problems no matter whether one is born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Then at the end of the day, they both find solace by thinking about each other. This drama painfully showed me that if you have to live with the ones whom you don't like or love, that means you feel like dying but when you open your eyes you are still living. So for them, death is the only answer to finding their peace. Yes, suicide is a really sensitive topic and we shouldn't encourage people to suicide but if we look at this from another angle, this drama gives answers to those people who keep asking "why does he have to go that much far?”," why they run away from problems and why can't they face them together?” etc... With the problems, these two characters have faced so far, they might have gone insane but thanks to the way both of them took a stand for each other, they survived and this drama purely shows how a person can express his thoughts in words and make a beautiful context to control their inner balance. If others try to ban even that thing from their lives, what can they do? This drama made my eyes fill with a lot of tears. When I felt that warmth of teardrops in my cheeks, it felt this is so real and then it reminded me that this is based on a real story. At the end of the drama, they both completed a poem, it made me so emotional and OST blended well with the situations and mood. I think OST had a great impact to melt our hearts.
Modern-day people should watch this not to get the idea of just cheating is good and suicide is acceptable but to gain the idea that how they directly take decisions without beating around the bush and how they are 100% certain about their feelings and the way how they stayed in their relationship and also how they remember little details and the way they both act responsibly to the extent as much as they can etc... There are a lot of sub-issues rather than cheating and suicide. I hope people will discuss them too.

Leer más

" Pela primeira vez é última vez na minha vida, eu quero viver minha vida do jeito que sou, mesmo que essa vida, signifique a morte, assim você também poderá descansar em paz...ao meu lado"

Como podemos observar pela sinopse do drama, ele se passa na época em que Joseon estava sob o domínio do Japão, mais precisamente entre 1921 a 1926 ou seja já podemos imaginar um clima pesado, a juventude lutando pela liberdade e cenas de tirania. Em meio à todo este caos, conhecemos a história de Kim Woo-jin, ele sendo estudante de literatura com o seu sonho de liberdade fadado antes mesmo de começar, pois após os estudos será obrigado a trabalhar na empresa da família. O drama nos apresentar também Yun Sim-deok, com o sonho de ser cantora lírica, porém a sua realidade financeira e sua vida lhe deixou presa à um escândalo, o que acabou com sua precoce careira na Coréia.

Resumidamente os dois se apaixonam no Japão enquanto estão estudando, porém o fato de Kim Woo-jin ser de uma família rica e já ser um casado, fora ele ter sido obrigado a se casar por imposição de seu pai. Conseguir estudar no Japão literatura que era o que mais amava na vida, foi um pequeno suspiro para a sua alma, principalmente depois de ter se apaixonado deixando tudo mais bonito e complicado ao mesmo tempo. Yun Sim-deok, de uma família pobre, nunca ter se apaixonado até conhecê-lo, com todos os esforços conseguiu ser a primeira soprano de Joseon, sendo também uma das pioneiras na música pop.

Porém devido à toda a pressão da época, imposições sociais e o fato de nunca poderem viver o amor que queriam, os dois terminam se jogando de um navio juntos.

O drama tem uma delicadeza e sutileza com sua história e seus personagens (os principais), ambos são profundos de um forma boa, claro que por ser um drama curto ele não trabalhou nas peças de teatro, na carreira da Sim-deok e nem nós demais personagens de modo profundo, o que eu achei uma pena, porém aceitável.

A trilha sonora é muito boa, porém meu destaque vai pra fotografia, que é espetacular.

Bem o que não me faz da uma nota maior no drama, foi que faltou mais profundidade e até mesmo peso e carga dramática nos personagens, apesar da atuação okay, não conseguir sentir o peso que eles carregavam.

Baseado na história real de Kim Woo Jin e Yun Shim Deok.

Leer más

It was beautiful but short, and we had not enough time to get acquainted with the characters.
It's natural, however, because it's based on reality and how sad it was …
I would tell if a story was unreal, that the characters would not commit suicide because they could overcome difficulties with love.
But since this story is real and has happened in the past, it has changed the truth.
The lesson we can learn is that if we let others determine who we should be, our lives will be destroyed, and this could lead to loss of our opportunities to go to our dreams or even love someone.
Anyway, I liked the show, though it was sad, but it was a good drama.

Leer más

O melhor drama histórico, trágico, fatal e apaixonante que existe.

"Passionately, I listened to the curses put on my fate
She was the only safe heaven in my life besieged by the devil" — Entry of Kim Woo-Jin's journal "Trace of Heart", November 26, 1921.

De longe, o meu drama favorito de todos os tempos. A sensibilidade e a história que traz consigo foi de tamanha importância para mim que não pude evitar de captar cada emoção em cada cena, cada detalhe desse baseado em fatos reais que posteriormente iria pesquisar sobre, até hoje me impressiono o quão significativo e reconfortante esse dorama se tornou para mim.
Confesso que a protagonização do Lee Jong-Suk chamou a minha atenção, mas ao ver a história não pude evitar de me apegar também à Shin Hye-Sun.
O amor de Woo-Jin e Shim-deok tem o plot perfeito para conquistar alguém como eu e claro que repeti umas três vezes esses meros três episódios, além também das inúmeras vezes que reassisti minhas cenas favoritas e as OST's lembrando de como foi gostoso assisti-lo pela primeira vez.
Sempre terá um espaço especial em minha memória e o apego que sinto realmente é único.

Leer más

Something about it stays with you

This 3-episode series is wonderfully shot, the storyline is captivating, and the acting is great. I loved so many things about it and it's definitely worth watching. There's just something about their love that failed to capture my heart and immerse me in the feeling that their love had to trump all else. I think I'd have liked to see more pivotal moments where their love grew, and them really fighting against the odds for each other - so that the ending would have had its full impact. Still, like I said, I loved so many things about it - the poetry; the letters; the feeling of needing to fight for something when the battle is much bigger than one can truly win; and the struggle between what one desires for oneself and external expectations. It's the kind of drama that would mean different things to different people, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Leer más

THIS IS BEYOND LIFE OR DEATH...

HOW IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?
I must admit that I initially came to the drama because of the actors and also because I heard it was inspired by a real-life story, but this feeling as if my heart is burning...I don't remember ever experiencing it before.
My first thought when seeing how short it was was that it would probably have less impact than a classical 12/16-episode drama would have, however, I couldn't have been more wrong.
I am writing this review as soon as I have finished it because of the strong impact it had and because I feel I can only do it justice if writing form the heart. The depth I saw here was far from what I could have imagined. While the real-life story and the production altogether gives realism to the series, the acting is on a different level. The reason I say this is because it is not a basic love story with predictable twists and conflicts. While all the romantic dramas out there try to portray true love, I believe this does it more than any drama I have seen so far.

BEYOND APPEARANCE
Not only is the love story on a different level, but the other themes are beautifully portrayed as well: self-discipline, personal responsibility, familial duty, self-denial, suffering, self-discovery and the role of art - it simply feels like a page of history realistically and artistically presented.
Art is particularly prominent. Each of the characters has contact with art and their reactions differ - while some find life, joy and relief in their artistic endeavors, others are greatly pained by the seemingly shameless irresponsibility art encourages. Either way, the drama is a story of how art shaped people and gives them what the world around them failed to offer: comfort and freedom of expression.

TILL DEATH DO US PART AND AFTER...
Their acting made it feel like everything was real. Their devotion, suffering, joy and love felt all too real. Their connection was so strongly presented that I think the most-expected kiss was the least powerful demonstration of their love, whilst in other dramas that is the climax. To have such powerful portrayal of one's love that the most expected act seems rather insignificant, that is something I have never seen before! I remember thinking to myself at some point: "Even if they never kiss, their love was too beautifully displayed to claim there would even be need for that". I am profoundly impressed by the depth of feeling they could deliver. I can only think of two other times when a series has left such an impression on me. It truly is something else! This is something I will never forget...

It is at times like these that I remember why I love acting so much. Thank you!

Leer más

You'll surely love this drama!

This one was a good one. I really liked the story. It's heartbreaking though that it's based on true life events.

Ever since the drama started, I kinda realized what the ending would be. To be honest, it would've been better if that opening scene on the ship is actually removed. Personally, I find things way more enjoyable when they turn out to be what I least expect them to.

I really liked Shin Hye Sun's acting. Such big applause for her. She spoke so loudly to us just through her eyes and body movements. Can't quite speak this highly for Lee Jong Suk though. During many of the critical scenes we see him just standing or barely speaking to Hye Sun. His lips also gave me the feeling he was slightly smiling or trying to look good for the camera most of the time. I think that's just his resting face though. Yet I would've preferred something different, this was not a happy story after all. The moment he got out of the police station he also seemed way better or chilled than what a real person in that situation would be. The fighting scene with his father was very powerful and I think he did so good on that one. Overall I would say; maybe that's the kind of character he had to portray, maybe it was also due to poor acting/directing but we needed a stronger ML.

Back to the story: the whole thing about one's duties towards their families really gets me thinking during every drama . I really admire the respect and massive consideration children are taught to have and express towards their families ever since they're little. It reflects such positive energy to me and makes me feel warmhearted. Yet, this story was terribly sad. Such great talented young people had to suppress their true feelings and selves for their family needs. Even worse, they decided to take their life way while calmly chatting and watching the sunset on a summer afternoon. How heavy could their hearts be at such a young age? Time are different now for sure. Yet I hope we all learn to be more thoughtful towards one's life and freedom.

All in all, I really appreciate this drama. Everything was nicely depicted, especially the fighting and loving spirit of youth during 1890-1926. Despite its tragic ending, their love was beautiful. Only in the end they understood Takeo Arishima's motive of taking his life away. Death can also be a choice, a choice to live.

P.S I pray they found the peace they were yearning for.

Leer más

??

Andai ya, andai, Sim-deok gak jatuh cinta sama U-jin pasti dia bakal mau aja nikah sama bangsawan kaya raya itu. Bangsawan itu kelihatannya beneran baik dan bersedia menopang hidup Sim-deok beserta keluarganya. Kalau dia mau nyoba deket, pasti lama-lama bisa cinta juga. Inget kan di episode 1, Sim-deok awalnya gak mau ambil risiko ikut tampil dan mau cari aman aja karena dia pengen hidup dengan nyaman. Yaa, semua ini menjadi rumit karena Sim-deok sedang cinta-cintanya sama U-jin, tapi gak bisa bersama, plus masalah finansial yg menghimpit karena dia satu-satunya pencari nafkah di keluarganya.

Kalau U-jin itu, di sini diceritain kalau dia menulis dalam rangka memperjuangkan Joseon. Tapi ya, peran dia tuh gak segede itu sebenarnya, alias kalo dia gak melakukan itu ya gak apa-apa. Ya aku ngerti sih, meski hidup dengan nyaman sejak kecil kalau sepanjang hidup menjalani kehidupan yang ditentukan ayahnya dan gak diberi kesempatan untuk menjalankan apa yg dia sukai memang terasa sesak. Tapi lo ya, yg disuruh ayahnya tuh masuk akal dan ayahnya pun gak jahatin siapa-siapa walau dia keras. Gak ada salahnya kalau ingin hidup dengan aman dan nyaman. Selain itu, istrinya juga baik dan bukan tipe istri yang suka nuntut ini itu. I felt sorry to her.

Huft.

Walau gabisa relate, aku bisa ngerti kenapa mereka lelah. Cinta terlarang, masalah finansial, tuntutan keluarga, hanya punya satu sama lain sebagai sumber semangat, tapi susah juga kalau pengen kabur untuk hidup bersama dan mereka gak bisa juga mengabaikan persoalan keluarga.

Pasti rasanya kaya bertemu jalan buntu. Mau kabur gak bisa, mau bertahan udah gak kuat.

Yaa karena ini kisah nyata, maka dramanya juga dibikin begitu adanya.

Rest in peace, Yun Sim-deok dan Kim U-jin.

Btw, aktingnya Shin Hye-sun keren banget.

Leer más

Korea's "Romeo and Juliet!"

As I write this review, I am listening to “Only My Heart Knows” by Sohyang—the greatest female singer on the planet--which is the most eloquent way and expression that I can think of to captivate what I’m feeling after finishing this extraordinary series. Sohyang does for “Hymn of Death” what Celine Dion did for “Titanic.”

Romeo and Juliet is considered one of the best romances ever written. Of course, it was also a work of fiction. Jack and Rose were also considered a great romance, but they were fictional characters in a historical event. Yun Shim-Deok and Kim Woo Jin is about real people back in the mid-1920s whose lives abruptly ended when they committed suicide together by jumping off a passenger ship. Now, to some, this may seem to be a tragic romance. As with so many things in this world, it really does depend upon your perspective.

What happens when oppression and suffering become so great that they make a person feel trapped? Let me point out that those who commit suicide or consider it an option are feeling trapped. They feel that there is no other way out of whatever situation they are in. Whether or not you agree with the act doesn’t matter. It’s what they are feeling. How do I know? Because it was something I attempted once myself.

Yun Shim-Deok was a woman well ahead of her time. She was outspoken and wasn’t afraid of being bold and going against a system she didn’t agree with. For the 1920s, this was more of a rarity than most people realize. Coming from a poor family, she was essentially the family’s sole means of making money. She was also given the responsibility—albeit unfairly—to also make enough money to pay for the education of her siblings. But, at what price?

Kim Woo Jin is a writer from one of the richest families in Korea. His father expects him to forsake the foolishness of being a writer and run the family business while being married to a woman who is more about duty and doing what his father wants than being a supportive, loving wife.

Both show incredible talent in their respective fields. Kim Woo Jin is a gifted writer of poems, plays, and criticism—not to mention his love letters to Yun Shim-Deok. Yun Shim Deok is able to captivate audiences with her beautiful voice. And yet neither is allowed to pursue their passion. Kim Woo Jin’s father won’t allow his son to write, and the Japanese attempt to use Yun Shim Deok for their own, sick and demented reasons, caring nothing for her singing talent.

It's been said by many that there are few things sadder than wasted talent. What does it do to a person to not pursue the life they want? What does it do to twist someone’s talent to the point where it’s no longer what it is supposed to be?

Whether you are simply using your son or daughter to carry on family obligations, such as running a family business and having them marry whom YOU want them to, or using your son or daughter by holding them hostage under the “family obligation,” for financial reasons, the result is the same: you are using your children. You are treating them as property, and children are not property. And if you are unable to support your children in helping them pursue their own passions, then you are not fit to be a parent. No, it’s worse than that. You have no right to even call yourself a parent, any more than the parent who is indifferent and neglects his/her children.

This series is powerful and eloquent in depicting two souls who loved each other so much that they refused to leave each other. Not even in death, as they left this life together. It’s beautifully done with incredible performances by Lee Jong Suk and Shin Hye Sun. They have incredible chemistry, which is obviously necessary in order to make this series work. My only very small complaint is that I wish a singer had helped Shin Hye Sun train as a singer. Even if it wasn’t actually going to be her singing, she doesn’t open and move her mouth as a singer would.

The series is short at only six episodes (three via Netlfix as they combined each episode into pairs), but it’s not a series that is easily forgotten. It stays with you from the opening moment of the first episode when you see the two pairs of shoes on the deck of the ship to the moment when Kim Woo Jin and Yun Shim Deok are dancing and then slowly begin to walk to the deck’s edge. And I can’t help but think that the real Kim Woo Jin and Yun Shim Deok are smiling somewhere together.

Most people look upon death as horrible and tragic. That isn’t always the case. And I can’t feel that way about Kim Woo Jin and Yun Shim Deok. If nothing else, I hope this series makes people stop and think, especially parents and how they treat their children. No one has the right to take away another person’s passion and happiness. Those who do so—those who attempt to live vicariously through their children—are the vilest and most selfish people I can think of. Therefore, love and support your children in whatever endeavors they choose. Just remember, that their lives are not yours. Their lives are theirs! And for better or worse, they have the same right as you do to live it as they see fit. Every human on earth was given the same, greatest gift: the freedom of choice. The very nature of “Hymn of Death” cries for freedom! Freedom to live and to love.

Leer más