Disappointing

It's not bad, an entertaining 105 minutes, but seriously lacking. Heavily based on visuals and symbolism, I think it must have blinded some people (those things always go down well with Western critics).

Especially the summer story between the boy and girl is rushed and unrealistic. The director should have spend more time on that, because it is the foundation for the whole story. Instead what we are shown is:
- they meet
- he shields her from rain (why is she sitting there in her summer dress anyway?)
- he stares at her while undressing
- he touched her breasts while she's sleeping
boom. they are in love.
Eh? Normally a woman is freaked out by that point. If the director wants us to believe they are in love suddenly, he should show us some more development.

Neither character is likable; one is even a murderer. We are still supposed to 'like' him for the remainder half of the movie. Nobody cares about how her friends or her new love must have felt? They must have been together for some 10 years on 'the outside'. He didn't develop into a normal person in all that time? Let say one who doesn't believe in fairytale romance. Why didn't they have children in that time?

The girl's illness was ludicrous; lack of love? at that young age? She was clearly just in the movie to be pretty. And how did about 8 different outfits fit in the small bag she was carrying?

The only good role was that of the old man. He seemed calm and wise, believable.

It has major holes, but I'd give it a 7/10 based on visuals.