Derek Childs (totalovrdose)
Although Virgin Snow tells a story that is very different when in comparison with other dramatic features, the central romantic plot is what makes this film very similar - that being, despite the sheer number of annoyingly painstaking events that aim to prevent the relationship from blossoming into life, we still genuinely hope the two leads can successfully unite one day.Lee Joon-Gi portrays Min, a young man who moves to Japan with his father (Jo Sun-Mook), who makes pottery for a living. Originally unable to abide by the patience that is needed to develop pottery, it is this artistic background that assists Min in becoming better acquainted with the beautiful young woman he happens to meet one day.However, art is not what initially brings the two characters together. A number of embarrassingly clumsy moments happen to befall Min over the duration of the film, who is immediately portrayed as the kind of individual who aggressively abseils through life with frantic determination, his stubbornness, occasional immaturity and lacking commonsense continuously getting the better of him, and towards the end, he can be potentially analyzed as been his own worst enemy.Aoi Miyazaki portrays Nanae, the young woman who captures Min's attention. Far more reserved and reasonable, revealed to be as soft spoken and gentle as she is prone to shyness, Nanae's appreciation of art runs deeper than Min's, and helps facilitate his own passion for the subject, his new found commitment to his father's work being just one of the many things he strives for in order to garner her attention. On occasion, these techniques appear highly impractical and exaggerated. A moment when Min unleashes a series of martial arts techniques originally appears very out of place, and is just one example of this.Although language and cultural barriers are often confrontational issues that prohibit two people of alternate ethnicities from becoming close, and could be evidenced in Nanae's passion for her culture, the friendship between Min and Nanae grows at an incredible pace, both characters going to great strides to ensure the relationship may work. The dialogue between their characters is as emotionally sensitive as it is adorable, while their on-screen chemistry is just one of the many elements that makes this film such an enjoyable experience. It is the familial situation of the leads however that proves to be one of the factors that keeps them apart, which is especially tied to the importance family plays in each of their lives.Min's occasional narration adds his opinion to the story, and informs how important Nanae is to him, though the lack of continued use of this film technique makes it appear as though the character, or the director, forgot to implement this non-diegetic production element as often as they could have. On top of this, the audience are additionally provided a glimpse of Nanae's life outside of her relationship with Min, that is further scaffolded as the story progresses. In turn, we discover more about her situation than Min ever does, and though he is able to realize there are things troubling her, never does he deign to ask.The events that lead to the separation between Min and Nanae are stereotypical of Asian melodrama, as is the intensity associated with whether or not a happy ending will actually arrive. With this in mind, there is a level of sadness that occupies parts of this film, which stems from the commitments the leads promise each other, and the fear they might not ever see fruition, while the scene in which Nanae confesses her feelings, is quite possibly one of the film's most metaphorically powerful and emotionally breathtaking moments.Some very beautiful scenery, including snow drifting across the streets of the metropolis, and another depicting Nanae alone on the beach, are visually stimulating, and the accompanying soundtrack helps further flesh out the emotions conveyed over the course of the feature. There are several morale lessons the film attempts to provide its audience about relationships and destiny that ought to be considered. However, the most important morale lesson of all might be; even if you don't speak Japanese, you can still get a date with a cute Japanese girl.
KineticSeoul
This is a dramatic Asian romantic movie that is alright but just isn't that good and doesn't even stand out much. The only somewhat interesting part about this movie is the language barrier from a Korean male and a Japanese girl. And how they fall for each other, actually the way they fall for each other isn't all that interesting either. And most of the way through the movie is kinda dull and and cliché. I can see how some girls would like this movie because of the romantic and cute elements although it's been done many times before. I like romantic movies, but this one just didn't stand out or grabbed my interest.4.8/10
overseer-3
Why isn't this film better known? It's so beautiful it melts your heart! Virgin Snow (2007) is a simple story of a Korean boy and a Japanese girl who fall in love. The boy goes to Japan with his father, a potter, for one year and though he doesn't know the Japanese language he is enrolled in school and has to acclimate to new surroundings and people. On a bike ride he stops by a shrine and meets a lovely traditional Japanese girl in a kimono and there is an instant attraction. Though they don't know each other's languages, they manage to communicate with sign language and a few words of English both know.They fall in love but the girl has a secret: her home-life is a tragic one, which she keeps from the boy, only showing him her happy side. Eventually they are parted but will fate intervene and bring them back together again? I thought this film one of the most beautifully photographed films I have ever seen. Have you ever seen Japanese director Ozu's classic films? He had in them what is called by movie critics "pillow shots": moments in his films that add a punctuation to certain scenes, focusing on the beauties of nature. This film has some outstandingly beautiful moments just like those, but even prettier.The English subtitles were excellent, but the film is so beautiful you would not even require any subtitles to enjoy it: you are seeing the Language of Love, which is universal. The two main actors: Jun-ki Lee of Korea, and Aoi Miyazaki of Japan, are dreamy to look at. They have a gentleness about them that is impossible to see today in the youth of the West, a spiritual beauty that shines forth like a full moon on a Spring night.You can buy Virgin Snow on yesasia.com or eBay. RUN, don't walk, and get it, especially if you enjoy Asian films or Japanese / Korean culture.
Saket Das
I've seen a Korean movie after along time even though my logic kept requesting me not to do that as its my exam time. But I have to say that it was worth it. Though the movie has a theme which is very common in Korean movies but it has touched a few areas which are rare. I was praying for the movie not to end but it end and left me very emotional. The coordination and contrast between Japanese and Korean is shown in a good fashion. The story moves around a Korean boy who meets a Japanese girl in Kyoto and many events starts to take place between them which seems quite natural. Like many Korean movies it starts with the comic flavor, get romantic and becomes very sentimental as the story builds on. The ending is something that everyone like and hope to see. If you are an emotional guy or gal then you may feel a lump in your throat as the movie ends. It also shows a few things about Japanese culture as most of the movie events occur in Kyoto, Japan. You may learn a few words of Japanese language and get a good taste it. One may not be impressed by the story as nothing is new in it but its a very good pastime and I am sure you will be entertained and thats what a movie is all about, isn't it?
