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[HanCinema's Film Review] "Canola"

Gye-choon (played by Youn Yuh-jung) is an old woman living on Jeju Island. She's had the misfortune of outliving her husband and her son, but finds joy in life through a surviving granddaughter. The opening scenes of "Canola" depict these circumstances, as Gye-choon is able to live in comfort and love by virtue of having someone to care for. That is, until malicious destiny steps in once again.

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Flash forward twelve years. Hye-ji (played by Kim Go-eun) is living the runaway life, through circumstances which don't become completely clear until the movie's close. All that Gye-choon knows is that Hye-ji has all the markers of the girl who disappeared twelve years ago, and can describe the world she loved and left behind. Even as Hye-ji's own attitude is curiously unemotional, Gye-choon is simply overjoyed to see her granddaughter again.

"Canola" is some of the very best in sentimental film. Much of this is due to Youn Yuh-jung, who has possibly the best dramatic range of any Korean actress working today. Youn Yuh-jung gives real vibrancy to Gye-choon, a woman who has suffered through awful pain in life and consequently makes a point of enjoying every joy she has. Even farming and diving are less work to Gye-choon and more a reminder that she's still alive.

Hye-ji's slow-building appreciation of these facts is what makes up the dramatic core of "Canola". Hye-ji's life on the street was not great, but it did hold some basic creature comforts like modern toilets. Initially Hye-ji is at a loss as to what Hye-ji the child could have thought was so great about living with her grandmother. But it's the little moments that add up over time. Not just Gye-choon, but the entire community acts like they care.

An essential subplot involves Hye-ji exploring her interest in art. While Hye-ji is initially forced into the arrangement, over time, the memories come back to her. Another subtle (if mostly underdeveloped) plot point involves Han-i (played by Choi Minho), a fellow student who acts nice to Hye-ji with no expectation of quid pro quo. For Hye-jin, these attitudes are a huge influence in making her appreciate what it means to have a family.

Hye-jin may have had a functioning group of " family " on the street, but with them aid was a mutual obligation. They try to find Hye-jin out of a desire to get their fair cut of the proceeds. They don't worry about how Hye-jin is doing. Although part of that is just, what's there to worry about? That's when "Canola" is at its most heartbreaking, when we see the young Hye-jin explain in her own words what was so wonderful about living with her grandmother.

Having finally appreciated the sentiment behind those words, Hye-jin in the present day can only promise to do her best. That's all Gye-choon could have asked of her granddaughter, and the full emotional impact is devastating and tear-inducing. "Canola" is an inspiration to all of us to do our best if only in the spirit of what our grandmothers would have wanted. Even if, technically speaking, they weren't "really" our grandmothers.

Review by William Schwartz

"Canola" is directed by Director Chang and features Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Go-eun, Kim Hee-won and Shin Eun-jung.

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