Here at Write the World, we’re all about the power of community; in fact, our entire platform is built around the idea that growth as a writer comes from belonging to a supportive group of peers, offering an exchange of ideas, inspiration, and feedback. It’s no surprise that being part of a community helps us grow and develop in all sorts of ways—take Grace Choi, winner of our Film/TV Series Review Competition, who credits her eye for cinema to her group of movie-watching friends: “Having a space where we could turn to each other at the end of a film and discuss the subjects that the director chose to focus on, as well as stating if we liked the movie (or not!) carried over into my personal viewings and encouraged me to be thoughtful about what I watch.”
Below, we talk to Grace about her film knowledge, favorite critic, recommended book-to-movie adaptation, and more!
How did you go about deciding which film to review?
I knew before starting that I wanted to review a Korean movie which made the decision substantially easier. Being a Korean second-generation immigrant myself, I’ve been keeping up with the surge of international popularity around Korean cinema (predominantly Parasite and Squid Game) and wanted to follow that by engaging with Korean films as well as watching more foreign language movies in general. The Age of Shadows was the first movie that I watched and I instinctively decided that I wanted to write about it because there was just so much to say about the film—I was so eager that I started making notes for my draft before the end credits! The part that appealed to me most was the ethical dilemma which was portrayed in so many aspects of the film—I couldn’t talk about cinematography without relating it to this central struggle; I think it was this interconnectivity within the movie that made me choose to review it.
Guest Judge Mat Kesting praised your review for “referenc[ing] the work within a broader historical context, while also remaining alert to the subjectivity of historical storytelling.” When you watched this film, did you already know the broader historical context, or is that something you researched afterwards?
Although I am ethnically Korean, I was born and raised in England which meant I was less informed on the history of Korea than someone who had lived there would be. I had a few snippets of knowledge that I picked up from my parents but these were mainly framed within a familial context; for example, my aunt lived in Japan for a while during the occupation period and had a Japanese name, and I was also aware of the significance of certain insignia in the film. Apart from this I had to do my own research afterwards to write my review as I lacked the historical knowledge to fully understand and appreciate the film.
Your review demonstrates your extensive cinematic knowledge. Have you always been a cinephile? Are there any critics who have taught you about film and reviewing?
I’ve always loved watching movies, mainly because the films that I like usually offer an additional reality that I can lose myself in, hence my fondness for fantasy. I think that my interest in reviewing and thinking about films more deeply came from watching movies with my friends which I found to be a much more engaging way of consuming cinema. Having a space where we could turn to each other at the end of a film and discuss the subjects that the director chose to focus on, as well as stating if we liked the movie (or not!) carried over into my personal viewings and encouraged me to be thoughtful about what I watch.
I like to go to The Guardian’s film section for Peter Bradshaw’s reviews after I watch a movie. His succinctness at describing films and blending of plot summary and commentary is why I find his reviews particularly compelling to read.
What book-to-movie adaptation would you recommend?
The first movie that I remember being in love with was The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe directed by Andrew Adamson, an adaptation of C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. I’ve been a fan of fantasy movies for a long time and really recommend The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on the basis of its fantastic world building in camera and strong characterisation. It’s definitely a highly nostalgic watch and faithfully follows the plot and themes laid out in the book, dealing with some surprisingly sombre topics despite being aimed towards a younger audience.
