There are flaws, but still a great film.

Rating: 7/10 (22 May 2015)

The first time I watched this film, I thought it was perfect. Then because of my research, I watched this film a couple of times more and spotted the problematic perspectives of it. The film has indeed presented humanity, courage and love in the anti-Japanese time from a unique and creative point of view, thanks to the excellent story from the original novel under the same name. However, the filmmaker's alleged effort to meet the expectations from the audience at home or abroad seems to be too much, as the 'eroticism'- related scenes are not so compatible or even contradict with the atrocity and cruelty of war and the destructive harm on those innocent souls in the film. Nevertheless, the film is still incredibly powerful. Again, I watched the film with the sound off due to the need of my research, but still I cried many times during the whole time for the heart- wrenching story. I cry every time I watch it, even if I remember pretty much every minute of the plot.