Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, drugs, language in dramatic romantic thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
My Name Is Loh Kiwan
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In MY NAME IS LOH KIWAN, a man (Song Joong-ki) tries to make a living for himself in Brussels after having escaped North Korea. A young woman is also trying to escape a part of her past but is caught up with some bad people who are forcing her to compete in underground shooting competitions. When the two meet, they realize they share more than similar histories.
Is It Any Good?
This dramatic thriller also wants to be a romance, but trying to be too many genres sometimes makes this film feel disjointed. But the performances in My Name Is Loh Kiwan are very decent, and the earnest delivery of the story is commendable, even if some of its scenes veer into the melodramatic. Based on the novel I Met Lo Kiwan by Cho Hae-jin, many aspects of the story seem a little dramatically overplayed, but there is enough quality character building to warrant getting to the end. Loh is somewhat captivating and easy to root for, even though he's a bit of a blank slate. And so is Ma Ri, as she clearly struggles with some trauma in the past.
Where things start to fall apart a bit, however, is the two main characters' sudden romance, and their inevitable persecution. The film takes a turn into thriller territory, complete with a "scary villain" who will kill Ma Ri if she doesn't keep doing what she's told. And when it's revealed exactly why Ma Ri has taken such a life turn toward drugs and criminality, some may scoff at the reasoning. Further, her 180 back toward forgiveness is also a bit abrupt and unexplained. With a tidy wrap-up and (additional) escape, the film ends with a predictable conclusion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in dramas. Did you feel that the violence in My Name Is Loh Kiwan was necessary? Did you find it to be realistic, or overly dramatic?
Did you find the connection between Ma Ri and Loh believable? Why, or why not?
How do you feel about the villain? Was he portrayed well? Believably?
Do you think this story realistically portrays what it's like running away from North Korea? What else do you think might be involved?
Were you satisfied with the ending of this story? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 1, 2024
- Cast : Song Joong-ki , Choi Sung-eun , Wael Sersoub , Jo Han-chul
- Director : Kim Hee Jin
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 133 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : April 15, 2024
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