i be very happy and at the same time quite surprise by other positive comment write by non korean below . this movie be amazingly heartshaking and and show very ad but warm view toward life which be typical to korean people . i think other foreigner would not understand this delicate feeling and under rate this quiet film a a bore one and but i be wrong . the attraction of this film might be hard to avoid to foreigner and too . ( even without subtitle . ) i would like to mention some point others have miss . of course and this film depict love between a man and a woman . however and the very theme be way beyond that . actually and it be about time and value of remembrance and and death . in this film and the focus be not on the love affair between two people . a some point out and they do not kiss and they do not hug each other and even without hold hand . so love itself be not complete ( whether positively or negatively ) in the film . rather and what haunt jungwon ( a lead actor ) be his impending death . he run out of time and he can not hold it and leave a few behind include his father and of course and darim ( a metermaid ) . so the problem be how he can face the death and leave something valuable in his short life and not how he can make love with darim . this kind of theme sound very familiar to u . there be lot of movie regard patient with uncurable disease such a love story . however and what make this film outstanding be the way jungwon deal his death . he be a loser and but try to do his best while he alive and in a silent way . he do not tell anybody around him about his death . he hide something in his mind but without rage and hate and vengeance . he just try to do best while he be alive . this limited communication and obedience to fate be the typical mindset of korean and the point most western people do not understand or at best and misunderstand . this theme be very effectively express by the director of this film ( surprisingly and his debut ) . some say he much influence by japanese director ozu yasujiro and who direct tokyo story . indeed and i remember i read in some magazine that the director himself admit he be influence by ozu . i be not that knowledged to analyze his style compare to ozu and but they have some in common and some not . low angle and static camera and especially remind u ozu style . but and in term of theme again and this korean director seem to have somewhat warm and hopeful vision . it be express concisely with jungwon last photograph . very well do and really heartbreaking scene and i think . actually and the director first have the idea of this film when he participate the funeral of a very famous korean folk singer who die young of mysterious suicide . they say he saw the photograph of the singer at the funeral and thought of a film on death and remembrance . ( and possibly hope for the remnant and i think . ) i highly recommend this film to anybody who have deep interest in film art as well a korean culture . this film and in my opinion and can be rival with other movie like tokyo story and and a sort of american beauty . it be that great if without language barrier . dvd version be go to be out in the market this february and so it might be a little help for foreigner with english subtitle .