yasmina
This review may contain spoilers
Queen of Tears : The lachrymose ode to this miracle called life.
"Queen of Tears" is portrayed as a romantic-comedy, depicting a tale of the reversed Cinderella love story between a heiress for whom money has never been a concern and a brilliant lawyer who was born and raised in the village of Yongduri. At first glance, this story-line may appear superficial. However, a question arose throughout my watching experience: How could this seemingly simplistic romcom encompass such complexity? Watching this drama also led me to ponder a naive yet profound question: Is it possible to love this much?
I experienced a roller-coaster of emotions while watching this drama. Their joys, their sorrows, their fears, their love. I became privy to their inner thoughts and feelings, just like a personal diary. Each character, though it can differ in intensity, has a story to tell, feelings to share, wounds to heal. You will cry tears of joy, of sorrow, of anger. Watching this drama will make you become THE queen of tears.
While the story unveils a significant number of typical K-drama scenes (Amnesia, Accident...), I suggest you give this drama a chance for the showstopping acting performances that have led to an excellent execution of the scenes.
The drama heavily emphasizes the "Miraculous" side of their love. This malignant brain tumour was the catalyst for Haein and Hyunwoo to rediscover and redefine the essence of love. What is better: living as they did for the past two years, eventually divorcing while burying their unspoken words and feelings, or experiencing a sudden event that teaches them how to love again? This illness happened for a reason; thus we learn that the things that hurt you in the present might offer you a grandiose gift in the future. The things you think are good to you might be the cause of your demise in the future.
The blind yet comfortable trust Hong Mandae gave to Eunseong and Moh Seulhee led to his death. The blind yet comfortable trust Haein's family gave to Eunseong led to their destitution. Haein's tumour led to cherishing this miracle called life.
I see this drama as a celebration of life. Getting older is a blessing. However, ensuring that you lived your life how you wanted it to be is the greatest accomplishment. Hong Mandae, who died at age 80, but has so many regrets; Hong Soowan, who is forever young and never got the chance to experience what life had to offer to him; Baby 1031, who became a star in the sky. They are all examples of life paths.
"I spent my whole life saving money, and I did everything I could to keep it from being taken away from me. [...] I want to leave you this confession that I have lived wrong [...] I want you to live a different life than I did. And I sincerely hope that you will have an end that is not in vain." - Hong Mandae, to Haein.
Haein, who was once a middle child, suddenly had to go through the hurdles of an oldest sibling. The relationship with her mother kept on worsening. She is married yet she is estranged to her husband. She was given three months to live. Three months to supposedly prepare to leave this earth. Three months to bid farewells. Death doesn't knock at people's houses and ask for permission to enter, it can snatch your soul away in a second. However, Haein was given a deadline, she was given a chance. The chance of reviving the hibernating passionate, yet pure love between her and Hyunwoo.
Haein and Hyunwoo retraced the beautiful moments of their past, returning to their haven called 'Sanssouci", walking together in the lavender fields, searching for the padlock engraved with their names. However, sacrificing their past was the only way for them to have a present and a future. Haein had to make the most difficult choice of her life: passing away with her memories, or doing a surgery leading her to start anew with her loved ones like a tabula rasa. As her three-months deadline draws near, Hyunwoo exhibits desperate behaviour, proving to Haein that he would go crazy if she were to pass away. The scene where he breaks the car window with his bare hand, thinking that Haein is trapped in the burning car, was one of my favourite scenes. It was always him, her reason to live.
"He's the reason why I didn't want to lose my memory. And even if I did, he's the reason why I wanted to live. Baek Hyunwoo is the person I want to remember forever." - Haein.
I am thankful she was given three months. In such a short period, Haein and Hyunwoo learned about one another more than they did in four years. It doesn't matter how long you know a person; what matters is how you spend time together. How you communicate with one another. How you can sacrifice anything for this person, even your life. In the finale, Hyunwoo taking the bullet instead of Haein to protect her was the climax of his love for her.
Another aspect of the drama I loved watching was the surprising yet endearing dichotomy between Hyunwoo's family and Haein's family. It was a pleasure to watch. The Napoleon painting in Hong Mandae's place being replaced with a family picture showcases how Haein's family managed to redeem itself. From aspiring to thrive and dominate the economy to cherishing the greatest gift life has to offer; a loving family.
"Queen of Tears" offers a heartbreakingly beautiful story. The ending shows Haein and Hyunwoo returning to "Sanssouci", this time with a baby girl. Their time has come to become the greatest parents. Their 1031 baby shines bright like a star on them. It is followed with, I think, one of the most beautiful scenes ever: Baek Hyunwoo walking on the staircase of "Sanssouci", a place that has lost its warmth. Haein's grave is shown afterwards, with an epitaph saying "The time I spent with you was the miracle of my life." All of this accompanied with Kim Soohyun's OST, a heart-shattering yet beautiful song.
Although Haein managed to overcome the torments of her illness, she was the first one to walk the eternal path of bliss 50 years later. She indeed will be the one who will pick Hyunwoo up, to live a long and beautiful life elsewhere, where there are no worries - a "Sanssouci" place in the sky.
Fly high, Hong Haein. You did well, you were a wonderful character until the end. 22/08/1990 - 07/04/2074.
I would like to conclude this long review (although i would love to discuss about this drama even longer) with a quote from the movie "A Walk to Remember" (2002).
"Love is like the wind. You can't see it, but you can feel it."
I experienced a roller-coaster of emotions while watching this drama. Their joys, their sorrows, their fears, their love. I became privy to their inner thoughts and feelings, just like a personal diary. Each character, though it can differ in intensity, has a story to tell, feelings to share, wounds to heal. You will cry tears of joy, of sorrow, of anger. Watching this drama will make you become THE queen of tears.
While the story unveils a significant number of typical K-drama scenes (Amnesia, Accident...), I suggest you give this drama a chance for the showstopping acting performances that have led to an excellent execution of the scenes.
The drama heavily emphasizes the "Miraculous" side of their love. This malignant brain tumour was the catalyst for Haein and Hyunwoo to rediscover and redefine the essence of love. What is better: living as they did for the past two years, eventually divorcing while burying their unspoken words and feelings, or experiencing a sudden event that teaches them how to love again? This illness happened for a reason; thus we learn that the things that hurt you in the present might offer you a grandiose gift in the future. The things you think are good to you might be the cause of your demise in the future.
The blind yet comfortable trust Hong Mandae gave to Eunseong and Moh Seulhee led to his death. The blind yet comfortable trust Haein's family gave to Eunseong led to their destitution. Haein's tumour led to cherishing this miracle called life.
I see this drama as a celebration of life. Getting older is a blessing. However, ensuring that you lived your life how you wanted it to be is the greatest accomplishment. Hong Mandae, who died at age 80, but has so many regrets; Hong Soowan, who is forever young and never got the chance to experience what life had to offer to him; Baby 1031, who became a star in the sky. They are all examples of life paths.
"I spent my whole life saving money, and I did everything I could to keep it from being taken away from me. [...] I want to leave you this confession that I have lived wrong [...] I want you to live a different life than I did. And I sincerely hope that you will have an end that is not in vain." - Hong Mandae, to Haein.
Haein, who was once a middle child, suddenly had to go through the hurdles of an oldest sibling. The relationship with her mother kept on worsening. She is married yet she is estranged to her husband. She was given three months to live. Three months to supposedly prepare to leave this earth. Three months to bid farewells. Death doesn't knock at people's houses and ask for permission to enter, it can snatch your soul away in a second. However, Haein was given a deadline, she was given a chance. The chance of reviving the hibernating passionate, yet pure love between her and Hyunwoo.
Haein and Hyunwoo retraced the beautiful moments of their past, returning to their haven called 'Sanssouci", walking together in the lavender fields, searching for the padlock engraved with their names. However, sacrificing their past was the only way for them to have a present and a future. Haein had to make the most difficult choice of her life: passing away with her memories, or doing a surgery leading her to start anew with her loved ones like a tabula rasa. As her three-months deadline draws near, Hyunwoo exhibits desperate behaviour, proving to Haein that he would go crazy if she were to pass away. The scene where he breaks the car window with his bare hand, thinking that Haein is trapped in the burning car, was one of my favourite scenes. It was always him, her reason to live.
"He's the reason why I didn't want to lose my memory. And even if I did, he's the reason why I wanted to live. Baek Hyunwoo is the person I want to remember forever." - Haein.
I am thankful she was given three months. In such a short period, Haein and Hyunwoo learned about one another more than they did in four years. It doesn't matter how long you know a person; what matters is how you spend time together. How you communicate with one another. How you can sacrifice anything for this person, even your life. In the finale, Hyunwoo taking the bullet instead of Haein to protect her was the climax of his love for her.
Another aspect of the drama I loved watching was the surprising yet endearing dichotomy between Hyunwoo's family and Haein's family. It was a pleasure to watch. The Napoleon painting in Hong Mandae's place being replaced with a family picture showcases how Haein's family managed to redeem itself. From aspiring to thrive and dominate the economy to cherishing the greatest gift life has to offer; a loving family.
"Queen of Tears" offers a heartbreakingly beautiful story. The ending shows Haein and Hyunwoo returning to "Sanssouci", this time with a baby girl. Their time has come to become the greatest parents. Their 1031 baby shines bright like a star on them. It is followed with, I think, one of the most beautiful scenes ever: Baek Hyunwoo walking on the staircase of "Sanssouci", a place that has lost its warmth. Haein's grave is shown afterwards, with an epitaph saying "The time I spent with you was the miracle of my life." All of this accompanied with Kim Soohyun's OST, a heart-shattering yet beautiful song.
Although Haein managed to overcome the torments of her illness, she was the first one to walk the eternal path of bliss 50 years later. She indeed will be the one who will pick Hyunwoo up, to live a long and beautiful life elsewhere, where there are no worries - a "Sanssouci" place in the sky.
Fly high, Hong Haein. You did well, you were a wonderful character until the end. 22/08/1990 - 07/04/2074.
I would like to conclude this long review (although i would love to discuss about this drama even longer) with a quote from the movie "A Walk to Remember" (2002).
"Love is like the wind. You can't see it, but you can feel it."
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