A trans woman begins to step into herself after reclaiming her traditional culture to make peace with the past in Byun Sung-bin’s poignant indie drama
Mar 27, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this


Kingmaker (킹메이커, Byun Sung-hyun, 2022)
An earnest politician finds himself conflicted by the increasingly unethical strategies of his campaign manager in Byun Sung-hyun’s contemplative political drama.


Cat Kiss (고양이 키스, Hwang Soo-bin, 2022)
A widowed single father’s life is suddenly thrown into disarray when his son’s decision to take in a local stray cat forces him to confront the trauma of…


My Perfect Roommate (룸 쉐어링, Lee Soon-sung, 2022)
A grumpy old woman and cheerful student begin living together as a part of a social initiative and eventually discover an unexpected solidarity in Lee Soon-sung’s warmhearted dramedy.


Character of the Month: Sung Jinwoo
Greetings, fabulous people of the Internet! Hanime on Anime here, and welcome to the monthly tradition on this blog, which is Character of the Month. This month’s pick…


Tomb of the River (강릉, Yoon Young-bin, 2021)
A noble gangster is pulled towards the dark side in an internecine battle with pure evil over a lucrative resort in Yoon Young-bin’s purgatorial gangland drama


Space Sweepers (승리호, Jo Sung-hee, 2021)
Cynical space junkers find themselves conflicted on discovering a missing little girl in Jo Sung-hee’s epic sci-fi adventure.


Sung Jin-woo, Our Glorious King, Awakens!
Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 7 Review Anyone who’s read this blog’s reviews of Solo Leveling should know its stance on Sung Jin-woo by now: he…


Gangnam Zombie (강남좀비, Lee Soo-sung, 2023)
A struggling YouTuber takes on sexism, classism and the zombie apocalypse in Lee Soo-sung’s office-bound horror.


Bear Man (웅남이, Park Sung-kwang, 2023)
A pair of bare cubs decide to become human with entirely different results in Park Sung-kwang’s zany comedy.


Summer’s Camera (여름의 카메라, Divine Sung, 2025)
Summer can’t bring herself to press the shutter button on the last four exposures left on the unfinished roll of film her father left behind. Her unwillingness to…


Sunday League (선데이리그, Yi Sung-il, 2020)
An embittered former football prodigy gains a new lease in life after reluctantly agreeing coach a trio of hopeless amateurs in Yi Sung-il’s sporting dramedy
![Featured image for Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220502/1651490576.35545.64214.jpg)
![Background image for Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220502/1651490576.35545.64214.jpg)
Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Aloners 혼자 사는 사람들 Director: Hong Sung-eun (South Korea) [Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022]
Girls und Panzer das FINALE Part 1: Ich bin ein Berliner
There are many series that represent the soul of anime. There are many series that show off the best of what this medium can be, but when it…


Aloners (혼자 사는 사람들, Hong Sung-eun, 2021)
A solitary call centre employee is forced into a reconsideration of her way of life when a neighbour dies a lonely death in Hong Sung-eun’s melancholy character study


Sung HIM-Woo, the Black Air Force Hunter
RJ Writing Ink’s (hilarious) recap of Season One of Solo Leveling Sung Jin-Woo, the main protagonist of the Korean manwha Solo Leveling and the black air force Hunter.…


Iron Mask (만분의 일초, Kim Sung-hwan, 2023)
A young man seeking revenge sets his eyes on kendo glory in Kim Sung-hwan’s sporting drama.


Okinawa Blue Note (오키나와 블루노트, Cho Sung-kyu, 2024)
A blocked romance writer and a lovelorn young woman discover unexpected connection in Okinawa in Cho Sung-kyu’s charming dramedy.


Sung HIM-Woo Continues his Black Air Force Campaign
Solo Leveling Ep 9 Review Ever since I started (and finished) reading the Solo Leveling manwha, I’ve looked forward to seeing many moments. And most of them involve Jin-Woo making victim…


12.12: The Day (서울의 봄, Kim Sung-soo, 2023)
A righteous general stands alone against an authoritarian insurrection in Kim Sung-soo’s intense exploration of the 1979 coup that brought Chun Doo-hwan to power.


A Song Sung Blue (小白船, Geng Zihan, 2023)
A lonely teenage girl discovers another side to life while drawn to a flightly older friend in Geng Zihan’s melancholy drama.


The 12th Suspect (열두 번째 용의자, Ko Myoung-sung, 2019)
An inspector calls on a small group of artists in the immediate aftermath of the Korean War in Ko Myoung-sung’s taut psychological thriller.
Sung Jinwoo PFPs: 23 Epic Profile Pics for Solo Levelling Fans
Sung Jinwoo Solo Levelling PFP collection: Download over 20 epic profile pictures now! Perfect profile pics for fans of the Solo Levelling..


My Lovely Angel (내겐 너무 소중한 너, Lee Chang-won & Kwon Sung-mo, 2021)
A cynical man’s horizon’s broaden when he begins taking care of a little girl who is deafblind in Lee Chang-won & Kwon Sung-mo’s touching drama.
![Featured image for Bear Man 웅남이 (2023) Director: Park Sung-kwang [New York Asian Film Festival 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230717/1689611320.65010.99901.jpg)
![Background image for Bear Man 웅남이 (2023) Director: Park Sung-kwang [New York Asian Film Festival 2023]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20230717/1689611320.65010.99901.jpg)
Bear Man 웅남이 (2023) Director: Park Sung-kwang [New York Asian Film Festival 2023]
Bear Man 웅남이 (2023), by director Park Sung-kwang, is a solid comedy/action/crime film about bears that turn into men. It makes good on its premise and offers an…


A Romantic Comedy from a Different Point of View: A Review of Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka
Have you ever thought, “If only romantic comedies had protagonists who actually knew what they were doing?” Then this series is for you!


A song written by Vaundy and sung by Ado… yeah, ’nuff said, count me all in.
I may not always vibe with all of Ado’s songs. I mean she does pump out a lot of tracks. But I have to say, when I listen…
![Featured image for Yamabuki (2022) review [IFFR 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220204/1643935114.30396.58118.jpg)
![Background image for Yamabuki (2022) review [IFFR 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220204/1643935114.30396.58118.jpg)
Yamabuki (2022) review [IFFR 2022]
“A beautiful socially-engaged narrative that explores the very fact that, by being grasped within the societal network of relations, one cannot but influence the other and become influenced…
![Featured image for Eleven Greed (2022) [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220719/1658197140.39939.69652.jpg)
![Background image for Eleven Greed (2022) [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220719/1658197140.39939.69652.jpg)
Eleven Greed (2022) [JFFH 2022]
Despite its obvious low-budget nature, Soejima delivers a highly entertaining and engaging action-thriller.
![Featured image for Straying (2022) review [Camera Japan 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220914/1663121940.43600.74074.jpg)
![Background image for Straying (2022) review [Camera Japan 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220914/1663121940.43600.74074.jpg)
Straying (2022) review [Camera Japan 2022]
A pleasant and charming exploration of the fact that, within the game of love and romance and beyond, subjects often rely on acting-out to reveal to the other…
![Featured image for Shaman’s Daughter (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220818/1660787940.42009.72202.png)
![Background image for Shaman’s Daughter (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220818/1660787940.42009.72202.png)
Shaman’s Daughter (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
A genre mish-mash – a cocktail of light-hearted comedy, family drama, bloody thriller, and ghostly romance – that is not only pleasant but offers the spectator a rich…
![Featured image for Random Call (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220420/1650435278.34892.63431.jpg)
![Background image for Random Call (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220420/1650435278.34892.63431.jpg)
Random Call (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
Ohkanda’s narrative proves that one does not need a big budget to deliver a narrative that touches the spectator.
![Featured image for Angry Son (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220318/1647566914.33043.61143.jpg)
![Background image for Angry Son (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220318/1647566914.33043.61143.jpg)
Angry Son (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“An incredibly rich and deep narrative that not only delivers a satisfying coming-of-age story but also an elegantly delivered social commentary on some of the frictions marking Japanese…
![Featured image for Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220414/1649898878.34540.62994.jpg)
![Background image for Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220414/1649898878.34540.62994.jpg)
Melting Sounds (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“Kahori Higashi’s debut is impressive.”
![Featured image for Stone Steps (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220701/1656653134.38682.68061.jpg)
![Background image for Stone Steps (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220701/1656653134.38682.68061.jpg)
Stone Steps (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
A great indie narrative that highlights the need for the parental and the traditional Other to aid the subject to embark on the path of his own desire.…


Winter 2022
Happy New Year! I’m aware January is almost over but I’m still taking this as a win that I managed to send this post out while it was…
2022 Retrospective
As we say hello to 2023, it's time to take a look back at the many highs and hilarious lows of 2022... 2:01 - 2022 Recommendations 3:16 - Liar Game 5:30…
BLUE LOCK, Cipher, Crossing Time, Dororo, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead


Farewell, 2022…
This post is brought you by Nijiyon Animation, an upcoming short anime adaptation of a 4-koma manga series by Miyakohito which is based on Love Live! Nijigasaki High…
The Anime Rambler – By Benigmatica
Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, NIJIYON ANIMATION


WeebSack 2022
Hello and welcome back to another video also happy new Year! This one is a bit different from my normal uploads since I started making longer content on…


Motherhood (2022)
An enjoyable and engaging exploration of the destructive impact of a subject’s fixation on gaining the (m)Other’s love and that the often-ignored truth that becoming a mother is…


Farewell 2022
Happy New Year! We have entered into 2023 and so I decided to look back and reflect on the podcast and life in 2022. Lets go down memory…
![Featured image for Our House Party (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220411/1649666678.34398.62824.jpg)
![Background image for Our House Party (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220411/1649666678.34398.62824.jpg)
Our House Party (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
Kawanobe delivers a very touching and emotional story about homosexuality in Japan.
![Featured image for In The Distance (2022) review [Japannual 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221204/1670140810.47841.79244.jpg)
![Background image for In The Distance (2022) review [Japannual 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221204/1670140810.47841.79244.jpg)
In The Distance (2022) review [Japannual 2022]
“A very pleasant slice-of-life narrative that elegantly shows that bonds between subjects are that much more genuine if they are grounded in the acceptance of the other’s radical…
![Featured image for Goodbye Cruel World (2022) review [Japannual 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221207/1670402410.47989.79429.jpg)
![Background image for Goodbye Cruel World (2022) review [Japannual 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221207/1670402410.47989.79429.jpg)
Goodbye Cruel World (2022) review [Japannual 2022]
“A stylish exploration of the cruel call for destruction that structures the perverse criminal field.”
![Featured image for Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220806/1659781140.41407.71316.jpg)
![Background image for Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220806/1659781140.41407.71316.jpg)
Convenience Story (2022) review [Fantasia Film Festival 2022]
Miki delivers a great psychological mystery narrative, yet it might not be for everyone.
![Featured image for Kingdom of The Apes (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220627/1656373976.38526.67869.jpg)
![Background image for Kingdom of The Apes (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220627/1656373976.38526.67869.jpg)
Kingdom of The Apes (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
Shugo Fujii proves that he is the master of indie-thrillers.
![Featured image for Two On The Edge (2022) review [Japannual 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221122/1669105210.47219.78478.jpg)
![Background image for Two On The Edge (2022) review [Japannual 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20221122/1669105210.47219.78478.jpg)
Two On The Edge (2022) review [Japannual 2022]
“A touching experience that highlights that the desire to be loved, for better or worse, is the ulitmate guide the neurotic subject within the societal field.”
![Featured image for Short Movie Time: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220417/1650154478.34711.63198.jpg)
![Background image for Short Movie Time: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220417/1650154478.34711.63198.jpg)
Short Movie Time: Outsourcing (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A very satisfying satirical short thta shows that, within the job-seeking process, only the image matters.”
![Featured image for One Day, A woman (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220710/1657420479.39251.68751.jpg)
![Background image for One Day, A woman (2022) review [JFFH 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220710/1657420479.39251.68751.jpg)
One Day, A woman (2022) review [JFFH 2022]
“Mihiro Kaneko’s incredibly rich performance does not only engages the spectator from start to finish, but allows Yuko’s subjective turmoil, her flight from the societal Other, and her…
![Featured image for Far Away, Further Away (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220402/1648870714.33838.62126.jpg)
![Background image for Far Away, Further Away (2022) review [OAFF 2022]](https://cdn.aniblogtracker.com/live/20220402/1648870714.33838.62126.jpg)
Far Away, Further Away (2022) review [OAFF 2022]
“A beautiful film that elegantly explores the role the imaginary plays in marital failure as well as in the beginning of a new romantic bond.”