Ditto

I was leary of spending the time watching "Ditto" on the Japan Air flight I was on as it would interfere with my nap. This was a refreshingly nice twist to the story lines like Frequency and many Star Trek episodes...

Melancholy and sad moments were balanced out with the innocence of the female lead's character, it never got overly heavy with sadness. No nudity and very minimal abusive language.

I too am surprised this gem currently only has 7 stars.

This movie is a perfect example of our universal shared understanding of the nature of attachment and love. The classical music score and the sound of the voices of the young actors transcend the language. The underplayed but extremely moving acting leaves us wanting to know more about these people. We are hugely on their side.

This is the antithesis of a movie chock full of plot and devices; it is rather bare-bones perfect in the references it makes. It's all done with acting and camera-work, and pacing. What we don't need we don't get. It's like a minimalist Shakespeare play.

What you *will* see are a collection of moments that just tug at your heart.

Expect this movie to stay with you for a long time.

What a great actress!

from what you have already heard about this film it may remind you of a movie released in 2006 called 'Lake House' a cheesy love story between Keaun Reeves and Sandra Bullock mainly based around them communicating a year apart from each other and realizing they're 'meant to be' love for each other.

Ditto (the English name of the movie) has only a basic connection to 'Lake house' It's main difference is the two characters are 21 years apart in their communication to the past or future. This allows the story to be handled less of a love story between the characters but as an exploration of how their 'long distance' relationship affects the two characters lives and in unexpected ways.

In my opinion we have to many clichéd, formula love stories. Moving away from that, and dealing with the portrayal of relationships in a mature, realistic way pushes the film from being just an ordinary love story, to being a wonderful film.

Moments of the film however seemed rather strange. The mannerisms of the characters and some of the ways of doing things seemed foreign and stereotypical to Korean culture. Begging the question of whether or not Korean cinema is as accurate of Korean life style as Hollywood is of western lifestyle.

It also seemed that bits of the movie were 'lost in translation' with background details like signs not being translated to English , or not having translation for what characters are writing down. As well some of the language is awkward and unfitting for the situation when translated, however this is only a mild complaint because the general message was portrayed beautifully.

In conclusion, Ditto was a wonderful film, handled with maturity and elegance. It is well worth the read, and will leave you feeling satisfied.

I can understand why many people would like this film. To a certain kind of person this may be very appealing.

But I have to agree with LostMyHairbrush. I am a fan of Korean drama / fantasy / scifi. While this film has a moderately interesting plot and a good twist, it fails to deliver in both directing and acting. The characters come across 2-dimensional and flat, making it difficult for the audience to connect with any of them. The lead female romantic role is meek and uninspiring, the male lead romantic role isn't all that charismatic, making one wonder what she sees in him to begin with. Everything presented it just somewhat bland... which causes the movie to just coast along.

While most such movies present an emotional roller coaster and often have the viewers laughing and weeping multiple times throughout, I never felt really moved by any of this. I'm withholding specific instances to avoid spoilers... but this is somewhat like a nourishing meal, but without significant flavor. There's never really a climax to this film anywhere, at all. It basically starts out telling a story, continues to tell the story, and ends up telling the story without really accomplishing anything more. I didn't really feel much emotion in any of it.

For those who loved the film, I'm glad they did. This will appeal to some viewers. But although I usually very much like this genre, Ditto left me unimpressed. It's been done before, and better. At the end I found myself wondering, "Why the name Ditto? What does that mean in the context of the movie?" And that summed it up there: what was the writer / director trying to get across? It didn't feel real, didn't bring the story home, didn't tug the heart strings. It wound up a 2-hour-long bland meal without dessert.

"Ditto" is a 2001 South Korean romantic drama film that follows the story of two college students, So-eun and In, who discover they are able to communicate through a ham radio across time. Despite their initial disbelief, they soon form a deep connection as they learn about each other's lives and struggles.

The film is a unique take on the classic romance genre, exploring the idea of time travel in a creative and engaging way. The performances by the lead actors, Kim Ha-neul and Yoo Ji-tae, are compelling and authentic, bringing emotional depth to their characters and their relationship.

The cinematography is also impressive, with beautiful shots of both the modern and historical parts of Seoul, showcasing the city's rich culture and history.

One of the strengths of the film is its ability to balance humor and heartbreak, creating a captivating and emotional journey for the audience. The plot twists and turns are unexpected and keep the audience engaged until the very end.

Overall, "Ditto" is a touching and memorable film that showcases the power of connection and the importance of cherishing the present moment. It is a must-watch for fans of romantic dramas and science fiction alike.