No Babysitter? (Spoiler)

Upon finishing the film, I must say I expected rather more. Overall I'd say 3 out of 5 stars, since it certainly had its moments, and Do-yeon Jeon was obviously quite good.

The major problem, as others have noted (though surprisingly including virtually no professional critics), is the whole kidnapping for ransom plot device and its aftermath. I found it to be quite mis-handled by the director, thoroughly unconvincing, and simply uninvolving. Obviously this was a character study, and an examination of the grieving process (as well as a valid critique on the inanity of religion - though a bit repetitive at that). It was clearly not a "who-done-it". But it seems that in trying to portray the grieving process solely from the perspective of Shin-ae the director purposely left out any details regarding the kidnapping (the how, the why, the who, etc.).

When you introduce the kidnapping subplot, the audience automatically becomes invested in these questions. When you neglect to answer any of them adequately, it becomes a serious mis-step. Was Shin-ae interested in who the perpetrator was? We have no indication. We see the schoolteacher arrested, and are left to assume he was then convicted. We then do not hear about it again until Shin-ae mentions she is going to the prison to forgive him. Are we the audience supposed to be invested in this confrontation, when we were given virtually no context - no perspective - in the first place?

Simply taken as a study of grief, the film was quite good. It seems this end would have been better achieved if the source of that grief was something less involving, less provocative than a kidnap for ransom and murder. Had Jun simply been struck by a speeding car, for instance, none of these details would have been necessary. That's why it is surprising to me that no one has mentioned the contrivance of this scenario. It seems the only reason to include it is to justify the final scene of the film.

Of course there is nothing wrong with good melodrama, except that it should portray itself as such.

i thought the same thing about leaving the (5 year old, 6 year old?) kid alone. WTF?? Yet none of the gossipy townspeople criticizes her for that -- they sure would in the US. "Well you know she left him alone while she was out DRINKING so...." At least you'd expect her to blame herself & have to forgive HERSELF for doing that, but it's treated like just a cruel twist of fate. Can it really be a cultural thing? Very hard to believe about people of any country.