Treeless Mountain

"Treeless Mountain" is a beautiful and emotionally affecting film. In the film, two young girls are left in the care of an uncaring aunt so that the mother can supposedly go look for her estranged husband. She tells the girls she will return before too long, but it soon becomes clear (through a letter to the aunt) that she simply is unable to care for the children any more. So the aunt, on the advice of the mother, takes the children to their grandparents farm to stay. The children develop a close bond to the kind grandmother and they start to feel comfortable in their surroundings.The two children, who had never acted before, gave incredibly beautiful performances. Six-year-old Hee Yeon Kim played the role of Jin while four-year-old Song Hee Kim played her younger sister Bin. I found it so easy to fall in love with these two beautiful children. They performed with such a naturalness and softness that they seemed like real sisters. The chemistry was so strong between them. And So Young Kim did a remarkable job as writer and director of the film. Her style of direction put all the focus on the two girls and their circumstances. And even though times were sometimes difficult for the girls, there is such a soft and delicate air about the film. I think "Treeless Mountain" is one of the best films about childhood ever made. And it does such a good job of showing the resilience that children have in adapting to difficult situations. I would give this film more than 5 stars if I could; it's really that good. And I would certainly recommend it to anyone.

Treeless Mountain was utterly charming, a far more upbeat take on a situation somewhat similar to Hirokazu Koreeda's tragic "Nobody Knows" ("Dare mo shiranai", 2004). A 30ish big-city single mom in dire financial straits drops off her seven and five-year-old daughters with the 50ish 'Big Aunt', her sister-in-law, a functioning alcoholic in a small town, who a few weeks later in turn dumps them on their 70ish maternal grandparents, who live on a rather primitive farm.Mom has given the girls a piggy bank, and said she'd return by the time they've filled it, a white lie, of course, but the kids start collecting impaling and charbroiling grasshoppers (yum -- healthful animal protein) to sell to big aunt's neighbors at ten cents a pop. Then they discover that ten pennies take up more bank space than a dime, and engage in some currency conversion. Even though the piggy's now full, mom doesn't show up. Later, at the farm, the girls offer grandma the bank to buy herself new winter shoes.It's not all sunshine. The girls have their quirks. Jin, the older daughter, has a bed-wetting problem, and frames little sister Bin, who gets revenge later. There are lots of little touches like that in all the characters, but it's all understated, and much is implied without being obvious. The overall impression is of a society that values its kids highly, and the extended family structure makes what might otherwise have been a tragic situation bearable and even light-hearted at times. On the commentary track, the director reveals she's dedicated the film to her own grandmother, the movie having been somewhat autobiographical.

Two very young children are left to an aunt as the mom says she needs to leave to find the children's father. The aunt, after awhile, can not handle this job any more, and the children are being handed around until they end up with the grandmother, where the children find security and love.I enjoyed watching this true-to-life story very much. It shows how resilient and resourceful little kids can be, and how they thrive when they feel loved.

I'm surprised I don't find more discussions about this movie. Why, because it is one of the best family movies I've seen and it portrays one of the saddest issues - that is the effect of adoption, divorce, foster care - all the estrangements that can occur between children and guardians.What makes this movie different are the brilliant actors and the classy filming and editing. Never mind the sub-titles the movie just visually tells a story, some of the best scenes come from the subtle smiles and natural movements that only a child could render.Fortunately this DVD comes with extras, whether through deleted scenes or interviews with the two leads that add comedy and poignancy to the film.Amazingly two actors age five and seven are able to deliver a striking performance.

This movie touches home with me. So many of our children go thru the same scenario. Including myself - these children endured so much but in the end I am happy that they ended up with their grandparents.

This is the most boring movie I've ever watched. (SPOILER INCLUDED IN REVIEW). The director is big on silence, close-up shots, and long shots of nothing but black. It could have been saved with some kind of resolution, but it ends abruptly with no rhyme or reason. An abandoned mother can't support her two small girls (seven and four?) and after being kicked out of their apartment, Mom leaves the girls with her sister-in-law while going off to find her husband. The treatment of the older girl is very realistic, showing her anger, hurt and confusion. The magical aspect of the piggy bank has been covered elsewhere, and the scenes of the girls waiting at the bus stop are heart-breaking. Then sister-in-law gets a letter from Mom saying things haven't worked out with husband, and Mom can't take care of girls, so please take them to Mom's parents' farm. The girls are duly dropped off at the farm, where grandmother is kind and loving. They all go out to the forest to look for wood and other things, then we see a field, then the girls, hand-in-hand are climbing a hill and singing a folksong, and then the credits roll, leaving one with the feeling that surely there's more to the ending than this.If you're teaching a class on how not to make a film, buy this one. If you want a good Korean movie, buy "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring." Also atmospheric, but not pretentious, like this one.

Hello,I have been collecting asian cinema for some time and this is surely one of my favorites. Not a lot of action. I mean no action at all. Feels like you are entering the diary of these 2 little girls. Like an observation. In the beginning you will start wondering when will there be some dramatic event but then you start realizing it will be like this untill the end. Simply wonderfull. Don't have any '' offspring '' but i would certainly ask them to join watching. Greetings, Edward

This is a lovely little film, simple but moving. Highly recommended I am sorry that I can't add anything else as my message speaks for itself.

Oh what a wonderful story line, many children go through what these children go through in this well made film. Full of sentiment so keep your tissues handy.