FILM 1
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That Thrilling Moment of Focusing Solely on Myself and My Work, <Ford V Ferrari>

The movie <Ford V Ferrari> is based on a true story of the American car company 'Ford' challenging the prestigious European sports car brand 'Ferrari.' It begins with the meeting of car racer Carroll Shelby and race enthusiast and expert mechanic Ken Miles. Their shared goal is to win the '24 Hours of Le Mans’ race, known as one of the world’s top three car racing challenges and often referred to as the 'Race from Hell.'

Keenly focused and racing ahead, Ken, and Carroll, who strives to maximize Ken's strengths, display the best team dynamic that gives you goosebumps. Director James Mangold, already recognized for his prowess through various films, delivers a flawless action-packed movie while concentrating on the camaraderie of Carroll and Ken, united by their love for cars. Though over two hours long, this exceptional piece leaves no room for boredom, gripping audiences at the pace of '7000rpm' and 400km/h with its solid drama and miraculous true story.

What makes all this possible is the collaboration of 'trustworthy actors' Christian Bale and Matt Damon. Especially memorable is Christian Bale’s performance as the meticulous racer and technician Ken Miles, passionately embodying a man with an immense passion for cars to 200%. A line from his monologue sticks long in memory: “There’s a perfect lap somewhere. No mistakes, all shifts and cornering are perfected. Most don’t know it exists, but it truly does.” <Ford V Ferrari> is a drama for passionate people racing towards their very own ‘perfect lap.’

·  Title: Ford V Ferrari
·  Director: James Mangold
·  Cast: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, etc.
·  Genre: Sports, Action, Biographical Drama
·  Country: USA
·  Platform: Disney+

FILM 2
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Listen to the Sound of Passion Breathing Within You! <Baseball Girl>

Soo-In becomes the first female player on her high school baseball team. Her goal is not just to be the 'first,' but to advance to the pros and play in the KBO. However, Soo-In faces the harsh reality of being told that women cannot become professional players. Watching her childhood friend get scouted, she also faces sermons from her closest family, her mom, telling her to wake up. Yet to everyone urging her to 'quit,' Soo-In responds, “How do people know my future? Even I don’t know. I’m not giving up without even trying.”

<Baseball Girl>, inspired by ‘An Hyang-Mi,’ Korea’s first female baseball player, is a typical sports and coming-of-age film. With the help of Jin-Tae, the new baseball team coach, Soo-In finally gets a chance to test her abilities and showcase her restrained talents once the opportunity arises. However, unlike many sports films filled with dynamic and unrelentingly positive scenes, this story features the protagonist Soo-In, played by Lee Joo-Young, calmly overcoming hurdles one by one.

Although <Baseball Girl> isn’t a film filled with adrenaline that keeps the pace fast, it moves hearts by portraying extremely realistic aspects, even closer and grander to viewers. It’s a film that gently portrays the breakthrough discovered by people who refuse to give up, despite no clear answers, and who consistently walk their path with conviction.

·  Title: Baseball Girl
·  Director: Choi Yoon-Tae
·  Cast: Lee Joo-Young, Lee Joon-Hyuk, Yum Hye-Ran, etc.
·  Genre: Sports, Drama
·  Country: South Korea
·  Platform: Tving, Watcha, U+ Mobile TV

FILM 3
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Explore Imagination and Illusion with the Sound of Waves on a Dark Night, <Gerald's Game>

<Gerald's Game> is a Netflix original film directed by Mike Flanagan, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name released in 1992. It centers around an incident involving the couple 'Gerald' and 'Jessie.' Among Stephen King’s works featuring 'escape,' it is known for its strong, provocative story, combined with the growth journey of a protagonist overcoming an extreme situation.

The 'game' begins with Jessie left alone, handcuffed to a bed, in a secluded cabin away from people. As Jessie focuses all her mental strength to escape from the predicament left by Gerald, she confronts her deeply buried traumas. Childhood memories she'd like to forget, facing those she wished to run away from, thirst, hunger, and threats - all of these torment Jessie, eventually triggering the turning point that allows her to emerge from beyond the bed. Jessie's 'fantasy,' where the line between reality and unreality blurs, is a product of her focused state, and <Gerald's Game> explores the duality of 'fear' through diverse imagery.

Capturing scenes that rescue protagonist Jessie from the deep pit of trauma, bridging past and present, the editing and direction showcase the culmination of director Mike Flanagan’s, who is constantly in the spotlight. Additionally, directors who capture the essence of Stephen King's works as well as this one are rare. Remember the name ‘Mike Flanagan’ through this film.

·  Title: Gerald’s Game
·  Director: Mike Flanagan
·  Cast: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood
·  Genre: Horror, Thriller
·  Country: USA
·  Platform: Netflix

FILM 4
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The Work of Making a Story is Looking into Your Heart Continuously, <Jūhan Shuttai!>

'Jūhan' literally refers to a second printing of a book, meaning additional copies are printed after the first edition sells out. In the publishing world, when a book goes into 'Jūhan,' congratulations are exchanged among the author, editor, and other publishing company staff as it means 'breaking even.' The drama <Jūhan Shuttai!> follows the story of the publishing company Hongdogwan, which strives for 'Jūhan,' with rookie editor Kurokawa Kokoro as the central figure.

Kurokawa Kokoro was an athlete but quit due to an injury and, while searching for a new path, decided to work related to the manga she loved, thus entering a manga publishing company. Kokoro’s distinct cheerful nature and passion for manga move not only the staff but also various authors. Moreover, the charm of the protagonist Kokoro, wonderfully portrayed by actress Haru Kuroki, makes it an enjoyable and hopeful drama. It's a lively and delightful drama featuring a roster of exceptional actors like Matsushige Yutaka, known for <Solitary Gourmet>, familiar faces like Odagiri Joe, and Yasuda Ken.

Owing to these reasons, the drama continues to enjoy global popularity despite ending quite some time ago. The manga of the same name, the original work of the drama «Jūhan Shuttai!», continues to be actively serialized over a decade. It’s a bewitching piece that invites you to revisit whenever you want to see individuals facing work with integrity and giving their all.

·  Title: Jūhan Shuttai!, 重版出来!
·  Directors: Nobuhiro Doi, Ryosuke Fukuda, Ayuko Tsukahara
·  Cast: Haru Kuroki, Joe Odagiri, Kentaro Sakaguchi, Yutaka Matsushige, Ken Yasuda, and others
·  Genre: Drama
·  Country: Japan
·  Platform: Netflix, Tving, Wave, Watcha

FILM 5
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Reflecting on the Azure Waters of Goseong's Sea, <My Octopus Teacher>

Craig Foster, who was filming documentaries around the globe, suddenly fell into burnout. Suffering from intense depression, he visited the Cape Town coastline in South Africa, a place where he had fond memories from childhood, to find solace. One day, while swimming in the sea daily, he encounters an octopus covered in shells that catches his eye. To Craig, who thought it was a common octopus in the ocean, this octopus left a special impression. This bond started that day and continued the next, and the day after.

This extraordinary story of establishing communication with a female octopus across various seasons is, upon closer look, nothing particularly special. It doesn't delve into environmental teaching about protecting the oceans and habitat of octopi nor offers a parable about receiving profound insights as indicated by the ‘teacher’ in the title. The marvel of <My Octopus Teacher> lies in ‘trust.’ The film is made extraordinary by a year-long friendship based on mutual trust between a human and an octopus, as they break barriers and forge a bond.

<My Octopus Teacher> is a documentary and a reflection piece that you’ll want to share with everyone. It’s a story about a person at the end of their rope meeting another being and changing, offering a lesson on how to transcend barriers, even the ones within ourselves. A work filled with wonder from beginning to end.

·  Title: My Octopus Teacher
·  Directors: Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
·  Cast: Craig Foster, etc.
·  Genre: Documentary
·  Country: South Africa
·  Platform: Netflix

Text | Kang Min-young
https://brunch.co.kr/@ekiria