Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Nonureva Really Surprised!

Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

sergeimontoya I don't usually weep, but this one hits me and i haven't weeped since the other infamous Korean movie Hello Ghost.To conclude simply over my summary, movie wise, North korean struggle movie had seemed to be a cliché at the Korean movie industry. It really sounded simple, a family has struggling to live at NK, problem comes out, family separated in order to search for hope that seems impossible at North Korea, etc etcBut after execution, its way more different than what i expected, the synopsis and movie descriptions are too simple to describe it that you have to watch it yourself. You feel their pain, their sorrow, their hope, their life trip along the movie, even with the simplest details and scenes.==contain spoiler== I really expected this to be one of those movie attmepting to give u a cheap tearjerker and ends up with a happy ending. But after the movie progress, even if the boy made it to his father, a happy ending would've still give this movie a good rating and won't break themselves as a cliché ending, i would've been way more glad if the boy survived. But no, this movie reminds us the harsh cold truth, that there are a lot of people who had high hopes, they've seen the lights at the end of the tunnel , even many times. But at the end, even when things seemed to be able to get a happy ending, it ended terribly, and all those hopes were nullified to 0 at an instance. I didn't see that ending coming.

Crveni Krst I'm not a person who usually sheds tears for a movie, or weeps in general for that matter, but man I cried a river after seeing "Crossing". It really makes you wonder how can life be so tough. Unfortunately, it can and though this is an extreme example, way too many people have to go through such injustice and sorrow.Story - the toughest you can find. Acting - brilliant. Directing - excellent. But the thing that hits you right in the forehead is the reality. It made me project myself into the poor soul of a simple man, whose life is not much more than a non stop struggle for survival, and then such a simple, tiny joy like a summer shower makes you happy and brings a smile to your face. Even in the toughest times life is about little things and it does make you appreciate all that you have.The mark is 10, and even that's way too low for what this brilliant title made me feel. Good job.

thekimchicure Initially, I agreed with one of the previous comments about the "ex-football star" background of the protagonist. The tidbit seemed cheap, unreal, and less authentic. The more I thought about it though, I suspect that the choice was made for two reasons: 1) to make the protagonist appeal to the rest of world, especially South Koreans, by creating this common interest (football/"soccer"). I think the world has a hard time relating to North Koreans. Americans and some South Koreans have this phobia of communist countries. Furthermore, North Koreans have been in a hermit state for a very long time. Very little is known or seen of the North Korean citizens themselves. The football thing was a simple way of making people realize that North Koreans are human beings, and in some ways they're just like us. 2) to show that the protagonist was not against the North Korean government. Well, at least not outwardly. I think this film did a good job of staying away from direct commentary on the N.K. government. Yes, the film paints the government in a bad light at times. That really can't be helped, as many of the scenes are based on true accounts. However, not once does the protagonist start ranting about how his government failed him. While there is heavy censorship in North Korea to speak against the government, the film could have had the protagonist 'think' these thoughts or discuss them safely with his family-- but it didn't. The main problem that the protagonist faces-- and that many North Koreans face-- is not that he resents his government (although, we like to think North Koreans do). His problem is that his family is starved, sick, and unable to find help in a country that lacks resources. For those two points, I have to applaud the film. I think it made a sincere effort to do what's best for the cause-- North Korean Human Rights-- and not just focus on what's best for the art.If anyone is interested in learning about how they can help, you can search the web for The Chosun Journal, U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Liberty in North Korea, or Amnesty International's page on North Korea. Like any cause, donations are very important. But unlike most causes, I think the biggest challenge for N.K. Human Rights is that most of the world (and concerning, most South Koreans) ignores it. I hope this film succeeds in bringing more awareness to the plight of the suffering.

john-3798 I saw this in Korea over the summer (2008) at a special preview screening with English subtitles.It is a very powerful story that aims to depict the plight of ordinary North Koreans in the face of sickness, hunger, poverty, oppression and, inevitably, fear. The production is excellent, and the storyline is very believable - well, it is based on real events! In fact, you'll find many of the topics covered in documentaries made on N. Korea over the last 10 years - particularly those that include secretly shot footage smuggled out of the country. While there are elements of sentimentalism, it isn't overdone as it is in many Korean movies.However, there were a couple of minor annoyances:1. The bible cropped up early enough in the film, and I thought: "Oh no, the director is going to spin some pro-Christian message later on", but while this thread is returned to later in the movie, it is pretty much left hanging.2. The makers of this film couldn't resist making the main character a a former footballer (soccer player) of some repute. This was totally unnecessary and distracted somewhat from the credibility of the content. This needed to be a movie with ordinary characters in what is simply an extraordinary, but common, predicament.Nevertheless, despite these small annoyances, the film gets across its main tenet, and should leave no viewer unmoved.