Did you notice she didn't even hug her mother?
Some people aren't touchy feely people and i don't think this can be a reflection of how someone cares for another person. Take a lot of people who are constantly hugging people who are 100% insincere and shallow.
I have a question regarding when the boy was leaving on the bus after the day at the market. Did the grandma mean to stay behind and why did she keep trying to hand him that bag? Someone suggested she walked home b/c she didn't have enough money for the bus but I don't think that's right b/c she never used the money she intended for the pies b/c she didn't have to pay for them and she was settled on the bus ready to go before he asked for the pie. That kid was truly the worst contrasted with how awesome that woman was. They should rename that movie "Granny abuse for 75 minutes." It was hard to watch at points.
To be honest i thought this was really clear. The little brat was walking past a shop when there was written on the shop window, saying "all kinds of batteries" (maybe your subs didn't display this?), so the grandma decided to go back to buy the batteries for the boy and she either
a missed the last bus or
b didn't have enough money to pay for the batteries and get the bus back
so you remember she was giving him his gameboy (or whatever it was) back and he was saying go away theres no batteries, but then she wrapped it up
ie she'd bought and put the new batteries in so he'd be able to play the game (Why would she do this it the batteries were dead). Also remember how the other village boy said "grandma says she has to do something" to the village girl, and she said how'd you know she meant that. So the question, to ask is what did she have to do,
ie buy the batteries...
I thought this was clear enough in the film.
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big_kmc
14 years ago
Ok you said you thought this was really clear multiple times, we got it. However it would have been much more really clear if they showed her buying the batteries but they didn't, so sorry it wasn't that clear.
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pakjaeil
13 years ago
In response to KPJF's incorrect assessment of the scene...
Please stop spreading misinformation about this film.
First of all, the grandmother never purchased any batteries. When the shop owners couldn't even supply the boy with the proper size early on in the film, how do you think a nearly mute, blind old lady would find them herself? When Sang-woo opens up the gift from his grandmother after being nearly run over by the crazy cow, there are no batteries, just two Korean bills (2000 won in total) behind his gameboy. The gift is actually money for Sang-woo to purchase the batteries himself. The initial commenter said it would have been clearer if the film showed the boy buying batteries, but this is unnecessary since we already see Sang-woo refraining from going to a good battery shop with his grandmother (while in town together) because he felt guilty about spending her money. The scene is very important symbolically in the film because it shows the naivety of his grandmother and many others of her generation regarding modern technology, but their willingness to support the exploits of their children and grandchildren in their city life. As many grandparents are left behind in small villages during Korea's advancement from a farming country to an industrialized developing nation, the grandmother's gift represents that old Korea is still willing to support this transition because of unconditional familial love.
Secondly, the reason the grandmother walked home was because Sang-woo didn't want to ride the bus with her. Sang-woo specifically told her that he wanted to be with his friend alone. Korean children are often embarrassed to be with their older grandparents even at a very young age (which is similar in many cultures). The grandmother selflessly abided, as would many grandparents of her generation, but still wanted the boy to assist her in carrying her heavy bag home since she was already intending on walking. And, because Sang-woo didn't want to be embarrassed in front of his friends carrying a dirty bag, he refused. This scene is also very important symbolically, because it shows the contrasting methods the boy (new Korea) and the grandmother (old Korea) take "the way home." The young kid conveniently rides a mechanical bus while the grandmother chooses the old-fashioned long route of simply walking. The director's choice of having the grandmother walk home isn't merely a plot-driven idea, but a thematic one which shows the pains older generations of Koreans endure trying to keep up with new Korea. Sang-woo's refusal to allow the grandmother to ride with him and carry her bag shows the refusal of modern Korea to bring along old Korea in its rapid advancement. Even though young Koreans choose to forget and leave behind the past, the film is saying that they must embrace their heritage.
Lastly, just because you think something was "clear enough in the film" doesn't mean you could condescend others who are fans simply asking for clarification. A true fan would impart knowledge to others so they could enjoy the film more. Obviously, you misunderstood the scene in question yourself and gave out completely false information. Maybe a little humility is needed next time? I hope this was clear enough for you.
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Olerragin
12 years ago
Pakjaeil's reply is correct.
The reason why it can NOT be that the grandmother spent the time buying the batteries is that at the time, the grandmother did not know Sang-woo couldn't play his game anymore because of the batteries. She , as Pakjaeil put it, represents "old Korea" and is naive to such things - ie. KFC and Gameboys (or whatever he was playing in the movie).
She only discovers this when Sang-woo pushes the game back saying "the batteries have run out". This is when she discovers he needed to buy batteries thus needed money to buy them.
Also, it is implied that the grandmother does not know how to count currency. This is shown after the restaurant scene, where the waitress/owner asks for 2300 won for the meal, and the grandmother pulls out all her money and waits for the waitress/owner to count out the money for her in her hand, suggesting that she is unable to figure it out herself. This could be the reason why she put two bills in with the game and wrapped it up, since she didn't know how much batteries would cost and she wouldn't be able to figure it herself, thus she gave him all her money (or presumably close to that) in the wrapping so that Sang-woo could have enough money for his game.
Besides, if she had already bought the batteries, why had she wrapped the game with money?
It is quite clear in the bus scene that Sang-woo said to his grandmother that he wanted to sit alone with his friends - so the grandmother decided to commit a selfless act of not getting on the bus with him. She decided that she would walk and simply asked for Sang-woo to hang onto her bag for him so that it would be easier for her to walk the long distance. Unfortunately Sang-woo refuses (perhaps likely unaware that she would be walking all the way home) and thus it takes her a long time to arrive home, where she then apologizes to Sang-woo.
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amit-y770
8 years ago
Thanks pakjaeil.. If there was ever an option to like a comment/ reply on imdb, I would've done it for yours. Thanks for putting it across in such a way.
It's unfortunate that it took me so long to come across this beautiful movie, but I'm so glad I did it.
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jicarillagirl
10 years ago
Apparently, it wasn't very clear to you! For clarification, please see pakjaeil's response -- maybe that would make it clear to YOU. A little humility goes a long way...
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