Thanks for the review, this looks like an interesting movie to watch, even if it just tells some parts of the history! There would be other movies which tell the other side of history as well!

Thank you @laica <3.

I remember crying buckets of tears during this film. A Korean film that I was able to watch with my whole family.
Hwang Jung-min is one incredible actor. He is believable at any age and had wonderful chemistry with Oh and his leading lady.

This is our 2nd review of OTMF here. Thank you both!
http://www.dramabeans.com/2015/01/movie-review-ode-to-my-father-2014/

I also cried a lot of tears while watching this movie, and I loved it. It was sort of the essence of why I watch Korean content, because it makes me feel so much.

this is a pretty common problem with media. and the more that i watch of korean media, the more it can be recognized. while i'm empathetic to the story, i'm not sure if 'despite' is, imo, something that would hinder it from capturing pain. it would capture the life, and it's hard to swallow and watch, but there's also a responsibility to understand the context and not have this happen again. i find it extra jarring that the director would say that it's apolitical when it's literally a political backdrop.

but i object to the notion that it would be apolitical in any sense, particularly with this subject matter. it's probably something he is thinking of after the fact given the criticism. as an artist, a filmmaker, it's damn near impossible, and we all know it deep down, to make something removed from 'politics.' but the political is personal and history is politics and therefore personal.

i try to remove my thoughts of US intervention to other countries while stripping their agency but the reliance and leeway countries have given to us (via force or otherwise) is disheartening as an american. as well, taking and skewing what happened in vietnam because of the [perceived] perception of the US.

i think we're reticent to place movies as conservative or right-leaning. this film came out in 2014, think about the criticisms from then to now. i never got a chance to finish it, and i'm older and much different than i was but this is a pattern that's very much a turn-off to me in cinema. it's esp glaring when there's such a painful backdrop (occupation) that turns things into nationalist propaganda (the occupation leading to over-the-top platitudes about a nation.)

for me, now, this is such a roadblock in films. and it's ahistorical and i think irresponsible. very interesting review, thank you for sharing! also read the other review linked her which linked to more reviews that i read. it's fascinating to see how things have changed in a matter of 4-5 years tbh. not sure if i would even be writing this response were i in my early 20s reading something like this. but if anything this shows us just how amazing and imperative art is which is why i tend to demand more from artists

I also remember watching this movie on local cable channel few years ago. Wonderful movie and loved the acting all around. Forgotten mostly what I saw and maybe should rewatch it again to understand the recap written.

Some American soldiers were harmless or benevolent. I am an American citizen and I have a great love for the people and country of Korea. I am pleased that they have pride in their country and who they are. There is a difference between "jingoism" and nationalist pride.

I went to this with zero clue about what it is and how it was made, and it looked so unassuming and "normal" imagine my surprise when the movie threw one after the other grand scale high budget scenes like nobody's business (Hungnam evacuation, Coal mine working in Germany, Vietnam war, The KBS mission to reunite people seperated during Korean war....wow.
The best part is each of these were glued seamelessly together with lots of heartfelt, tearjerking and natural delivery of our veteran cast. I cried a lot. Well paced, well balanced, consistent. 10/10.

I came across this film by chance today and I am so glad I discovered it. Such an important reminder that we just don’t know what older people have gone through that influences their seemingly irrational decisions.

It was touching to see the friendship between the two boys and their journey through life together, experiencing random historic events along the way.

The KBS reuniting family members scenes were so heart warming but also sad for the families that had their hope raised but were unsuccessful.