Happy Old Year (2019)

A line from the movie: " Let go of everything you don’t need anymore."

Jean, an interior designer, wanted to apply the minimalistic style to her house. In the first 2 minutes of the movie, you can see that she has achieved this, she has converted their old storefront into her office. She is interviewed and asked how to get rid of things. Then begins her journey in decluttering her house as well as facing the memories and consequences the past may bring.

First of all the movie was excellently made. Every element from the cinematography, the film score and music, the editing, the acting, the setting, and even the clothes have cohesion. It's like an indie film that usually relies on the emotional impact of the story.

The main problem for me was how the movie ended. The ML's acting was superb. That's why I wanted it to continue. I think the character's growth should be explored more.

Warning!! Do not read ahead if you don't want to be spoiled!

Jean started a plan to convert their house including their old repair shop into a minimalist home without even consulting her brother and mother. She needs to declutter a house that was so full of junk! She got her brother on board but her mother was still against the renovation. But she did it anyway. Here on out, I loved watching Jean's journey. She seems heartless at first but as she was going through some of the stuff she can't deny that she still had a sentimental attachment. I loved that she tracked down her friends and gave back some of the things she borrowed and even gave stuff she bought for them years back.

One of the most important objects of the movie was the piano. I feel like it was a metaphor for her father. Jean wanted to sell it while her mother didn't want to let it go.

Now the plot with the ex, Aim, and it was a lot. Returning the items to her ex opened up a lot of unhinged emotions for Jean. She had to deal with guilt over cutting him off. The dialogue in every scene between these two was so raw and vulnerable. And honestly, every line was quotable.

The movie ends with the closeup of Jean’s pained expression.

This end was so hard to watch (but tremendous acting by Chutimon) because I think we were left with a cliffhanger of what happens to Jean. That scene says so much that her self-realization that even though she has achieved her goal, in the end, she just choose what she wants to believe in and she isn't happy.

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the story was simple, it starts with jean wanting to live a "militaristic" lifestyle, which is when you only have the basic furniture and utensils. it sounds easy until you realize it means you need to get rid of everything you ever collected.

in some ways they were kinda like hoarders xD they had too many things laying around, they couldn't let go of them. everyone has boxes of memories hidden somewhere, gifts, childhood stuff, CDs and anything that has sentimental values. and in someways getting rid of the objects was like getting rid of that memory so it's actually harder than it seems.

now I didn't get why most of the things she had were actually things she borrowed or took from other people xD tbh I do keep things but I'd never keep something that's not "mine"..


aokbob is a really great actress, this was basically mostly about her character, though her brother was a cutie and her friendship with pink was nice too~
the directing and camera work were good quality but the audio was weird, especially that random horn(?) sound when her korn friend asked about his picture..

also tbh other people were selfish too, the moment they heard she was giving things back they started asking her to look for a random photo or a belt. I get the photo but it kinda seems random that everyone remembers what she took..

I never rewatch stuff so it's eitehr a 1 or a 10

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