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This review may contain spoilers
A lovingly told, soulful story based on true events. 117 uplifting minutes that´ll bring you joy
"Miracle: Letters to the President" comes across as a wonderful fairy tale. And yet it isn´t. The story arose from harsh reality. "Miracle" is a soulful KMovie about dreams come true, bathed in the bright colours of the four seasons in a remote, idyllic mountain valley. This landscape is a crucial player in its own, thus impressively contributing to the whole plot. Actually, a handkerchief or two might be helpful, even though the KMovie isn´t particularly playing on our heart strings. It's just a touching story, lovingly told.
The setting of this true story: a remote mountain village in the east of the country, that can only be reached via the trass of the railway line. However, it does not have its own train station. For the residents, this means that they have to put up with an arduous walk along the trass in order to get to the next village as quickly as possible. For example, the protagonist spends five hours each day commuting to and from school. And quite a few people have already lost their lives on this dangerous walk over this busy trass through the mountains – including the mother of the protagonist. The boy's dream: a train station for his village. The chances are low, but he does not give up.
It may help that he actually seems to have a special talent for science. Also it may help that in Rah-hee, a bright daughter from an influential family, he finds a school friend and at the same time his muse, always encouraging and inspiring him in her idiosyncratic way. Thus, "Miracle" is also a tender, unusual love story with the charm of the 1980s.
So there are wounds and wonders, as well as wonderfully staged images, yet with a challenging core. All in all, a lovingly told, soulful story based on true events. Nostalgia of the 1980s, picturesque nature and rustic mountain idyll, the slower pace of provincial life and spectacular railway lines through tunnels and over bridges in the steep foothills of the Taebaek Mountains convey "Miracle" its distinctive character. The KMovie is bathed in an all-round positive aura. 117 uplifting minutes that´ll bring you joy.
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SIDE NOTE: --- Yangwon Train Station ---
Socheon-myeon is a mountainous area in North Gyeongsan, in the east of the country.
The Korail Yeongdong Line crosses this area on its way from Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province via Taebaek Mountain to Gangneung in Gangwon Province. Since 1988, the Yangwon railway station has been the smallest and also the first private railway station in South Korea. Until then, the village was isolated from the rest of the world in the middle of a rugged valley. Even though a railway line had passed the village since 1955, the train had never stopped. There was also no road leading to the village. 3.7 km of railway line separated the villagers from the nearest Seungbu railway station and thus connections to other towns and cities. With ax, shovel, mortar and sweat, the villagers finally built their tiny train station themselves.
The setting of this true story: a remote mountain village in the east of the country, that can only be reached via the trass of the railway line. However, it does not have its own train station. For the residents, this means that they have to put up with an arduous walk along the trass in order to get to the next village as quickly as possible. For example, the protagonist spends five hours each day commuting to and from school. And quite a few people have already lost their lives on this dangerous walk over this busy trass through the mountains – including the mother of the protagonist. The boy's dream: a train station for his village. The chances are low, but he does not give up.
It may help that he actually seems to have a special talent for science. Also it may help that in Rah-hee, a bright daughter from an influential family, he finds a school friend and at the same time his muse, always encouraging and inspiring him in her idiosyncratic way. Thus, "Miracle" is also a tender, unusual love story with the charm of the 1980s.
So there are wounds and wonders, as well as wonderfully staged images, yet with a challenging core. All in all, a lovingly told, soulful story based on true events. Nostalgia of the 1980s, picturesque nature and rustic mountain idyll, the slower pace of provincial life and spectacular railway lines through tunnels and over bridges in the steep foothills of the Taebaek Mountains convey "Miracle" its distinctive character. The KMovie is bathed in an all-round positive aura. 117 uplifting minutes that´ll bring you joy.
-------------------------------------------------
SIDE NOTE: --- Yangwon Train Station ---
Socheon-myeon is a mountainous area in North Gyeongsan, in the east of the country.
The Korail Yeongdong Line crosses this area on its way from Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province via Taebaek Mountain to Gangneung in Gangwon Province. Since 1988, the Yangwon railway station has been the smallest and also the first private railway station in South Korea. Until then, the village was isolated from the rest of the world in the middle of a rugged valley. Even though a railway line had passed the village since 1955, the train had never stopped. There was also no road leading to the village. 3.7 km of railway line separated the villagers from the nearest Seungbu railway station and thus connections to other towns and cities. With ax, shovel, mortar and sweat, the villagers finally built their tiny train station themselves.
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