Poetry: Reflection of Society

From Seoul, Korea
Is there a standard age of learning how to write poem?The Poetry, the Korean Film, certainly tells us that anyone can write. Mija Yang, 66 years old, learns how to write poems, expressing her true feelings toward today's society. Throughout her poetry course, Mija learns and realizes not only beauty but also reality of today's society.

See the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo2dfY317-k

In the first part of film, Mija takes poetry class so that she can choose perfect words to express her true feelings. With her little note book, Mija describes everything that she sees: flowers, trees, and other wonders of nature. Though she receives partial grant from the government, she has to earn daily wage by helping elder male with cleaning and cooking to support herself as well as her grandson, Wook. One day, after her poetry class, she discovers that Wook and his group of friends had been constantly raping their peer, who recently committed suicide after writing the full story in her poetry. Mija, who develops Alzheimer Disease, is afraid of losing her memories as well as her grandson's future for what he has done. Through out the film, Mija learns and realizes the reality of th society by looking at the world with poet's view.

The Poetry certainly earned lots of awards not only in Korea but also around the world. The critics highlighted that the movie highlighted and reflected the reality of modern society through 66-years old grandmother.

During the end and ending credit, the poem of girl is read as form of song. The poem is actually created by Chang-Dong Lee, the director, which expressed and showed how the girl felt throughout the story. The poem, called Agnes Song, is translated as:

How is it over there?
How lonely is it?
Is it still glowing red at sunset?
Are the birds still singing on the way to the forest?
Can you receive the letter I dared not send?
Can I convey…
the confession I dared not make?
Will time pass and roses fade?
Now it's time to say goodbye
Like the wind that lingers and then goes,
just like shadows
To promises that never came,
to the love sealed till the end.

To the grass kissing my weary ankles
And to the tiny footsteps following me
It's time to say goodbye
Now as darkness falls
Will a candle be lit again?
Here I pray…
nobody shall cry…
and for you to know…
how deeply I loved you
The long wait in the middle of a hot summer day
An old path resembling my father's face
Even the lonesome wild flower shyly turning away
How deeply I loved
How my heart fluttered at hearing faint song
I bless you
Before crossing the black river
With my soul's last breath
I am beginning to dream…
a bright sunny morning…
again I awake blinded by the light…
and meet you…
standing by me.