Monday, January 24, 2005

... seen through it and moved on.

The movie 'My Brother' was so intense it brought tears to my eyes. With a heavy feeling of gloom I left the threatre when the credits rolled in.

It was a story about two biological brothers brought up in a single parent family. Their father died when they were merely kids. The two brother were one year old apart.

Seong Hyeon, the elder one was born imperfect - a cleft lip. Thus, their mother paid 90 percent of her attention to him and neglected the younger one, Jong Hyeon.

Often, their mother scrimped and saved in order to raise money for Seong Hyeon's operation.

Seong Hyeon, the elder one though born imperfect exceled in his studies and was a genius at poetry. For Jong Hyeon, he was defiant and rebellious. One was quiet while the other, loud. Both brothers couldn't click on well but they weren't enemies either.

Time passed and they grew from kids to teens. They attended the same school and the same class. Often, Jong Hyeon gets into fights. There was once when he was injured terribly and Seong Hyeon dashed in to his resuce. In the end, both suffered injuries. Mother was disappointed and her heart cracked. Why were her children so disobedient?

But still, she said - "In future, if anyone hits any of you, be sure that the other one hits that person back. The both of you shall unite and fight that enemy together. No one should be battling alone. That's what brothers are for."

Deep inside their hearts, both brothers cared a lot for their mother.

Though on the surface their mother tend to care more for Seong Hyeon, she loved Jong Hyeon the same.

They graduated from high school and with excellent academics Seong Hyeon entered a university in Seoul, pursuing a degree in medical. For Jong Hyeon who failed his exams, he remained in Korea with mother.

Time passes and mother was cheated of her money and in deseparation to take care of the finances, Jong Hyeon, who saw no point in studying quit school secretly. He turned to work for an underworld leader by collecting debts from him.

Then, elder brother Seong Hyeon returns from Seoul during the vacation and by accident learns about it. He advised that Jong Hyeon resigned from the gang as it does him no good.

Angry, Jong Hyeon spat back - "You are so selfish! You only care about your studies and what about mom? All these years she has been paying too much attention to your studies, mony for your surgeries she neglected her health!"

Their dispute drew their mother's attention and she scolded them, heart throbbed at the argument between the siblings. The neglected Jong Hyeon retorted - "Since all these years you are always so concerned about Seong Hyeon, why give birth to me? What is the purpose of my existence when you can't seem or don't even bother to take note of my existence?"

Tears stung his eyes when a slap from his mother throbbed his cheeks.

Later that night when Jong Hyeon wasn't around, mother told Seong Hyeon - "I care more for you not because I am biased. But because you have a weaker personality than Jong Hyeon. Your younger brother is brave and strong therefore, I need not worry about him getting bullied."

....... Ok ok.. I shall not continue blabbling in case I spoil the story but its really a nice story and a touching one, especially the ending part when Jong Hyeon misses his elder brother, Seong Hyeon badly.. As usual, Korea movies never have 100% happy ending.

Go find the ending yourself if you are interested. The story is too long to narrate.

Won Bin has once again proved he isn't just a pretty face. But he has the talent. Misery gripped me when he shed tears at the ending part, talking to the sky, where his brother was at during that point of time - Heaven.

Yes,Seong Hyeon died in the end and that was when Jong Hyeon realised how empty his heart was without a brother to call his own. Upon the departure of Seong Hyeon from Earth, their mother was driven mad by grief. Though Seong Hyeon was always quiet, gentle and more on the low profile, the whole house felt lifeless and silent without him.

Jong Hyeon, the younger one said in his thoughts - "Although I would never be able to fill in the existence of Seong Hyeon, but all that I can do now is to try my best to do it. That's the only thing I can do for my brother."