Message from mstephans

[Anonymous]

Friday evening, after the commencement of our class, I took the opportunity to watch Ode to My Father (which is easily accessible on Netflix). I was truly touched by this film. I loved the range of emotions this film coaxes from the viewer. Ode to My Father manages to successfully combine many moments of lighthearted comedy with intense gut-wrenching, heartstring-pulling scenes into a fluid, well-rounded film about the experience of a man whose family was torn apart by the Korean War. So many lives were torn apart by the Korean War that this one film does not encapsulate every sad, horrific experience; however, it was certainly a powerful and beautiful story. To me, the most captivating moments in this film were the following:

Vietnam - There is a sadness in the moment when Deok-soo continues on a path of endangering his life to support his family a second time by working in Vietnam (the first time being a coal miner in Germany). He chooses to live his life with the enduring goal to provide for his family, which leads to him getting shot. He also reenacts the terrible scene/situation he himself experienced as a child while trying to save a Vietnamese girl. (I won’t give all of the details away for anyone reading this who might want to watch the movie without spoilers!)

Live Broadcast to Reunite Victims of Korean War - This was a tremendously powerful scene, in which Deok-soo takes part in a program during the 1980s which reunited families that were torn apart. The film was incredibly successful in conveying the emotions people felt through this experience.

Final Scene - Throughout the film, family, fellow business owners, and others criticize Deok-soo for holding onto his shop that is outdated and losing money. The audience sees only the point of view of those who criticize Deok-soo, but aren’t yet given reasons for his stubbornness in keeping the shop. In one of the final scenes, there is a tremendous sadness in how his family does not understand his actions or show appreciation and respect for all he has done for them. Perhaps they do not know? After what appeared to me as a callous comment by a family member, Deok-soo retreated to another room, in which, he cried. In the last scene of the film, he is talking to his wife and reveals that he will sell his shop and why he never let it go…(spoiler)

…in hopes that the instructions his father gave him, as they were being ripped from each other’s lives, would serve as the way for his father to reunite with him once again.