Secret Sunshine

The first twenty minutes or so of this had me worried that I had been sold false goods, that this was more of a hipster stance (“what do you MEAN, you haven’t experienced the wonderful cinematography of Lee Chang-dong’s greatest work?”) than truly meaningful work. Then the plot started and what I had previously regarded as aimless filler turned into haunting foreshadowing as the film spiraled into a harrowing examination of grief, dissociation, belief, and guilt. As captivating as it is wrenching, “Secret Sunshine” hurt me, made me question my principles, and ruined my Saturday night. A success, in short.

9