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Yeo-jin Kim, Kyung-gu Sol, Jung Suh, So-ri Moon, In-kwon Kim

In the spring of 1999, a group of old friends gather to celebrate their 20 year reunion. Among the group is Yeong-ho, a cold, unhappy man, whose demeanor puts a damper on the festivities. The seriousn... read more read more...ess of Yeong-ho''s depression becomes apparent, however, when he climbs a railroad bridge and looks like he might jump. At this crucial moment, memories of seven crucial episodes from Yeong-ho''s past flood his mind.

Flixster Users

82% liked it

1,516 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 9 min.

Directed by: Chang-dong Lee

Release Date: January 2, 2000

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DVD Release Date: October 18, 2005

Stats: 118 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (118)

  • skactopus
    November 15, 2008
    skactopus
    Peppermint Candy is a film that is all about character development and if you like this type of drama you will enjoy this movie.

    The span of the plot takes place from 1979-1999. Let me rephrase that. The span of the plot takes place from 1999-1979. Yes, the twenty ye

    ... read morears of one man's life is told in 130 minutes and in reverse order. It all starts in 1999 with the demise of our main character, Yong-Ho. As the film progresses, or reverses, you get to see how Yong-Ho ends up the way he does.

    The nice thing about the storytelling is the fact that you get to see not only the change in Korea, but the change in character for Yong-Ho. A lot does happen in 20 years after all. On the flip side, there is nothing really eventful, with the exception of the 1980 segment near the ending. If you are not able to appreciate the slow burn drama, this will be a huge bore. Believe me when I say that 2+ hours of this doesn't fly by.

    The soundtrack is mellow and appropriate while the camerawork is professional. Both of these help with the success of this film.

    Kyung-gu Sol heads the film and does a nice job at changing personalities from the beginning to the end. The 2 female leads, So-ri Moon and Yeo-jin Kim, do good jobs as well.

    Peppermint Candy takes a nice approach with the storytelling and it deserves the attention that it gets. Too bad it isn't exciting enough for someone like me.
  • kiriyamakazou
    January 2, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Lee Chang-Dong again astounds me with another startling film. Unlike most films we don't see a character progress as the scenes are played in reverse chronological order. The protagonist regresses and we see a harsh, bitter suicidal and violent man turn back into the sweet and ge... read morentle student he once was. Unlike many comments this is nothing like Memento, in Memento the scenes all linked together here however each segmen is set years apart. Not only do we see a fragile mans life unravelled before us each part also comments on a major political/historical moment in Koreas recent past, and not in a preachy dull way either. A film that at first makes you confront the main character, before forcing you to withstand him before finally accepting him. Well paced and expertly crafted this is another great entry into what is shaping to be a fabulous and unblemished filmogrophy.
  • lesleyanorton
    April 14, 2010
    lesleyanorton
    Yeong-ho wants to kill himself, and then he does. That's the first ten minutes sorted, then the next 110 minutes shows how he became what he became, by going backwards through the previous twenty years of his life. As one of the few reverse chronology films, it's definitely worth... read more a watch, though I found it harder to get involved fully in his life when such a large time span was being covered with a handful of key moments. The sweetness of the final scene stays though.
  • maikerugo
    April 9, 2007
    maikerugo
    It takes a "Memento" and "The English Patient" style approach to story telling, but this time it's with character development. You'll learn that the difference betwen the truth and the whole truth is context and history.

View All Peppermint Candy (Bakha satang) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Anton Bitel
May 11, 2010
Anton Bitel, Little White Lies

This is Korea's millennial elegy, filtering its search for times past through a confection no less bittersweet than Proust's madeleine. Full Review

Beth Accomando
January 29, 2008
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org

The film offers a heartbreaking drama told in reverse chronology and spanning twenty years in both the life of the main character and the political history of Korea.

Joshua Tanzer
August 14, 2003
Joshua Tanzer, Offoffoff

It's a story about the original sin of a nation as well as one character. There has rarely been a better film made, ever Full Review

June 13, 2001
Hollywood Reporter

No review available.

June 13, 2001
Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

June 13, 2001
New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

December 6, 2005
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

Greg Muskewitz
December 22, 2003
Greg Muskewitz, eFilmCritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

December 8, 2002
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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