The Tearsmith

I don't understand all the bad reviews - It's a good movie. Is it Oscar worthy? No of course not. Is it predictable? Yes but why be upset about it. Surely most people who watched or plan to watch the movie knew/know exactly what they were getting themselves into, so why be so hypocritical. This movie is watchable and a great way to escape reality for 2 hours. The dark cinematography adds a mysterious element and with an attractive cast, it goes well together. If you're not into dark romantic movies, then you should move along to something else. If you're going to watch it, just lower your expectations and enjoy the cheese.

I feel like this should've been a series or at least a longer movie, as there are too many crucial details in the book that they failed to mention in this movie. Especially a lot about Nica and Rigel's relationship wasn't really portrayed very well on screen and lacked the depth and detail present in the book, which is probably why most people rated this fairly low. I would, too, if I hadn't read the book before. Up until the middle of the movie it was pretty decent and followed the book accurately, but the rest felt incredibly rushed. I really urge people to read the book though, as it's way better than this adaption.

I didn't read the book so I don't know if it's a good adaptation but as a movie it's.. mediocre. A shallow drama.

First though, let me just praise the leads. They really sell the chemistry for their characters. The longing and all that. Bonus that both are handsome people.

Now for the bad. The plot... while I was interested in the premise as I thought it had potential for depth it only gave me something shallow. They didn't give time for the trauma of their past to take root so it hits different. Would've been so much better if they really dug into the abuse, mental health issues, ptsd etc but everything got glossed over even during the scenes it's highlighted.

While I liked the base chemistry of the actors the actual romance between the them is non existent. They never built it up so it's just there. Very weak foundation is just not good. Because why should I care about these character's love for each other?

The most atrocious is the pacing... there's very bizarre cuts of time that forces you to fill it in yourself because they jumped over it so you're noticably missing chunks of scenes.

Shout out too for that bad insert of Olivia's song that was so out of place and the cringe acting for some of the actors.

Anyway overall this reminds me a lot of Royalteen... which to both would have been better as a limited series of sort to really delve into the characters' struggles, why they act they way they do, so you can actually empathize with them while the romance is a B-plot to create that slow burn. But alas this wasn't it.

Warning: Some brief nudity, attempted rape.

Honestly, I enjoyed the movie. As other people said - is it Oscar worthy - no. Is it, however, a nice movie to escape reality for a bit - yes.

It could've been a little longer and would've benefited from a bit more character development, but people need to understand that you cannot retell a whole novel in one movie, no matter how hard you try.

With that being said, I've read some ridiculous complaints such as that it does not become clear why the family chose to adopt Rigel so suddenly or why Ms. Margaret hated Nica so much.

So let me break it down - Rigel obviously reminded Mr. And Mrs. Milligan of their son, who passed away probably not too long ago (since he loved playing the piano, just like Rigel does and that is the exact moment when the family seemingly out of nowhere decide to bring home both Nica and Rigel).

Ms. Margaret, on the other hand, probably hates Nica because she sees her as a potential threat to Rigel and as someone who might "take him away from her". This is why she does everything in her power to punish Nica, out of spite.

I liked the cast, I think they suited their roles just fine and the movie is obviously targeted towards a younger audience. The atmosphere is also very nice, a little dark.

Overall I would say I enjoyed it, although the ending felt rushed and was a bit disappointing. However, as I previously said - it is impossible to reach the depth of the novel, which is completely understandable.

We went into The Tearsmith completely blind, not knowing it was based on a novel, and I have to say, it was a surprisingly solid pick for a Netflix foreign film, especially considering the expectations surrounding such movies. Mimikyu and Amy were all about the romance angle from the start (they were the ones who planned this movie night), and honestly, they hit the nail on the head with this one. The film's gothic atmosphere and mysterious aura grabbed Winny's attention right from the beginning. He loved the dark cinematography and how it set the mood for the entire film-it felt like a strange, beautiful world that you'd want to get lost in.

Mimikyu and Amy, true romantics at heart, were all about the chemistry between the two main characters. The way the relationship developed really spoke to them-they were totally invested in their love story. There's this emotional depth that pulls you in, and even though the characters' backstories aren't as fleshed out as we might've liked, it's still enough to keep you captivated. They both agreed that the cast did a great job in their roles, and it felt authentic, though it's clear the film is made for a younger, teen audience.

Sweet, on the other hand, was really curious about the term "The Tearsmith"-which, honestly, was one of those things that left us wondering a bit. The meaning of the term isn't fully explained, and while it adds to the mystique of the film, Sweet couldn't help but dig for a deeper understanding of it. That said, the film does a good job creating intrigue, even if some elements felt a little under-explained.

The bad parts? The movie could've dived a bit deeper into the characters and their development. The story leans heavily on the emotional connection between the leads, but at times it felt like it could've used a bit more substance. Also, some of the plot points felt rushed towards the end, which left us a bit confused. Still, the movie is visually stunning and the atmosphere makes up for some of these shortcomings.

All in all, The Tearsmith is a solid romantic drama that's dark, mysterious, and emotional. If you're into films that lean into mood over fast-paced action, then this is definitely worth a watch. Just be prepared for a somewhat slow burn and a few unanswered questions. But if you're a fan of emotionally charged romance with a touch of gothic allure, this one's for you.

Rating: 7/10.