GO

Country: Japan
Release Year: 2001
Genre: Drama / Romance
Language: Japanese / Korean
Running Time: 122 minutes

[Cast]
Yosuke Kubozuka
Kou Shibasaki
Shinobu Ootake
Taro Yamamoto
Tsutomu Yamazaki

[Director]
Isao Yukisada


"JAPANESE MELODRAMA ABOUT DISCRIMINATION, TEENAGE LIFE, ADOLESCENTS, AND FALLING IN LOVE!"


I first heard of GO at an online chat group someone mentioning it as a quasi-semi-controversial Japanese movie about discrimination, about being different, about being a Japanese-born Korean growing up in Japan.

So after awhile a few months or so I finally found a copy, so here is my review.
I believe this is one of those movies that you have to pay special attention, in order to be able to watch and absorb everything the movie is going to throw at you.

The movie throws at the viewer so many different scenarios of being a teenager in rural Japan, peer pressure, good ole' school fights, dissaray teenage views on life, and what's more?

Being different.

The movie tells the story of a Japanese born Korean named, "Lee Song Ji" who calls himself "Sugihara" among his Japanese friends, is sent to a North Korean School to learn everything that is about North Korea, its history, culture, and of course the Korean Language. As he grows up, he becomes more obsessed and confused at the same time about his own identity. Wether to accept his Korean background or change it to a Japanese one. After quitting the North Korean School, and quickly enrolls himself to a Japanese school, and in no time was immidiately invovled in school brawls.

After claiming the No.1 title in school for being undefeated, he gains more courage to accept who he is. He also befriends a Yakuza's son, who invites him to a birthday party. It's in this party that will completely change his views on life, and love. And Sugihara's friends...little does he have is a reflection of his life, and himself. As a Japanese born North Korean, the struggles he's enduring as a outsider is not against the outside world, not even among his friends, and peers but, against himself. The struggle for an identity.

In my opinion, if one wanted to fully understand the exact difference, and pinpoint the problems that these two races has had in the past. Well, one is going to have to turn to the history books. I, for one is not about to do that. Personally, I just want to review such a fantastic, and truest of the truth of a movie. It captures the very essence of what, and how it is to be different, and the honest confusion that goes along with it.

Sugihara never asked to be born in a foreign country, in this case it is Japan, in an unamed city. He never asked to be sent to a North Korean school, to learn everything there is about his motherland. And yet, there he is doing daily traditional soldier marches, there he is having to listen to his teachers on how he has to become a doctor, or a lawyer so that he could take that skill back to serve his country. North Korea.

Within himself, clearly Sugihara's confused about his own identity. Having endless thoughts whether or not to accept his Korean background, or become Japanese. Heck he's already got a Japanese name for starters. Just when things starting to boil over, Sugihara's Dad, a North Korean refugee who fled to Japan in order to raise his family safely suddenly comes into the scene. To rescue Sugihara from his torment...well....sort of.

His Dad helps him make his choice in his own tried, and true way. Then, and only then we are introduced to an even bigger obastacle for Sugihara. That is when he meets a gorgeous Japanese High School Girl. What will he do? What will he say? And more importantly, What will happen if he reveals his real background of being a Korean to her? Ahh...you'll just have to watch, and find out!!!

I was really impressed by this movie, everything from the cast, storyline, and production. I found it to be an unconventional love story. By that I meant although this is all in all, a love story per se. The movie wasn't just focused on that aspect. It had every emotional hurdles to be dealt with by Sugihara. Being different, having two identities, being born in a foreign country, racial discrimination, parental problems, and....falling in love.

In conclusion, the movie is a triumph for it questions the very meaning of being ones' self. It shows that the simplest answer can be the most difficult to accept, in other words you are who you are. Deal with it! I have never seen a more natural acting than the cast in this movie, and I have never seen a more honest story. GO! another Japanese movie gem, do not miss this one!!!