The Way Home

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		List Price: $19.99		From: Paramount From: Paramount Salesrank: 12156 Released: 2003-05-06 Running Time: 80 Minutes
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The Way Home Editorial Review:
Quietly unfolding like a sweet and simple fable, The Way Home is a touching, award-winning film about the common bonds that emerge between distant generations. Directed with delicate compassion by Jyong-Hyang Lee, it's the first South Korean film to receive distribution by a major American studio (under the art-house imprimatur of Paramount Classics), and begins when seven-year-old Sang-Woo (Yoo Seung-Ho) is left with his mute, stooped-over grandmother (Kim Eul-Boon) in her ramshackle hut in a rural region far from the comforts of Seoul. While his single mother struggles to find a job, the selfish boy initially resents his elderly relative, who responds to his obstinate behavior with unconditional love. Slowly, the boy comes to respect and love his caring grandma in return, and while The Way Home is too slight for its 88 minutes and leaves important character details unexplained, its soothing rhythms, youthful humor, and playful score lend universal appeal to the story. (Amazingly, the 78-year-old Kim had never seen a film before appearing in this one.) --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:
Very touching story
I wasn't prepared to be touched by the human story of this film. The subtitles keep you engaged. There were so many elements that left me wondering and hoping for a continuation. This would make a great movie for a college course study.

A delight to spend 2 hours with
It is a story about a little boy who goes to live with him grandmother in a remote village until his mother can find some work. The little boy, Sang-woo, is a city kid and he loves the world he grew up in. When he goes to see his grandmother, his shoes are brand new with lights, he has his video game and he finds he is much to wise to play with the humble village kids.

Besides his love for his video game that he brings with him, he also shows his grandmother loads of disrespect because she doesn't understand the important stuff in life, like KFC. This particular scene is most heartbreaking to watch played out. Sang-woo wants chicken from KFC, but his grandmother doesn't understand. However, she still walks into the town to get him his beloved chicken. Unfortunately, it's not quite what he wants..... You'll just have to see this scene.

It is through the grandmother's boundless patience and love that she teaches Sang-woo what is really important, the simple things. He in turn learns the value of empathy, humility and a deeper love for his grandmother and her life.

I would watch this one again in a second, definitely one to check out.

Dawn C.
[..]

More Profound Than a Mere Morality Tale
I was inspired by this beautifully made film. The message is awesome. Its all about the true nature of love, unselfishness, family, humility, etc.
More profound than a mere morality tale, its more equivalent to a beautiful work of art, showcasing the greatness of a simple human heart.

Good for the Soul
The grandmother featured in this film is a beautiful portrait of meekness. A little trivia about the making of this movie is that the director had originally intended to give lines to the woman, but she was unable to memorize the script and so he made an impromptu decision to make her character mute--how serendipitous! I think that actually added greater depth and dimension to the character and to the entire film. Cinematography here is stunning and clever. This is one of those movies I'll want to watch repeatedly for the rest of my life, as there's much to learn from it. Please do not miss it. If by the end you don't find yourself wanting to be a better person, something's just not right with your heart.

Not exciting, something better....
88 minutes of tranquil commune with a lifestyle unlike the big city. A front row seat to the evolution of gratitude and compassion in a self-centered child. The enduring, unflappable love of a grandmother. A good cast. Photography par excellence. This movie won't jumpstart your battery, but it will heal your frazzled nerves. I only wish we could purchase the soundtrack of the simply eloquent piano music!

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