My Favorite Movies

Chariots of Fire (1981) by Hugh Hudson

Eric: "If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.. I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

The Mission (1986) by Roland Joffé

Gabriel: "We are not the members of a democracy, Father. We are the members of an order."

Cinema Paradiso (1988) by Giuseppe Tornatore

Alfredo: "Whatever you end up doing, love it. The way you loved the projection booth when you were a little squirt.. Toto. Life isn't like in the movies. Life is much harder."

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) by Frank Darabont

Red: "Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free."

Chungking Express (重庆森林, 1994) by Wong Kar-Wai

Cop663: Would you let a person on board with a boarding pass like this? It's dated today, but it got blurred in the rain. I don't know where it's taking me. Do you? Faye: No idea, but I'll give you another. Cop663: Great. Faye: Where do you want to go? Cop663: Wherever you want to take me.

La Vita è Bella (1997) by Roberto Benigni

Guido: "I'd have to be crazy to tell you. I'd even make love to you now right here for the rest of my life."

Christmas in August (1998) by Jin-Ho Hur

Jungwon: "I always knew that feelings of love would fade - just like old photographs. But for you, you will always remain in my heart, as you are in my last moment. Thank you, and goodbye."

Joint Security Area (2000) by Chan-Wook Park

L'auberge Espagnole (2002) by Cédric Klapisch

Xavier: "When you first arrive in a new city, nothing makes sense. Everythings unknown, virgin. After you've lived here, walked these streets, you'll know them inside out. You'll know these people. Once you've lived here, crossed this street 10, 20, 1000 times... it'll belong to you because you've lived there."

Reconstruction (2003) by Christoffer Boe

"If he steps back, if he doubts about the love, she will disappear."

Der Fischer und seine Frau (2005) by Doris Dörrie

Still Life (三峡好人, 2006) by Zhangke Jia

Ratatouille (2007) by Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava

Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille, 2009) by Klaus Härö

Sound of Noise (2010) by Ola Simonsson, Johannes Stjärne Nilsson

The Tree of Life (2011) by Terrence Malick

Mrs. O'Brien: "The only way to be happy is to love. Unless you love, your life will flash by.. Help each other. Love everyone, every leaf, every ray of light. Forgive."

Life of Pie (2012) by Ang Lee

Adult Pi Patel: "I wept like a child. Not because I was overwhelmed at having survived, although I was. I was weeping because Richard Parker left me so unceremoniously. It broke my heart. You know my father was right. Richard Parker never saw me as his friend. After all we had been through he didn't even look back. But I have to believe there was more in his eyes than my own reflection staring back at me. I know it, I felt it. Even if I can't prove it. You know, I left so much behind: my family, the zoo, India, Anandi. I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go. But what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye. I was never able to thank my father for all I learned from him. To tell him, without his lessons I would never have survived. I know Richard Parker is a tiger but I wish I had said, "It's over. We survived. Thank you for saving my life. I love you, Richard Parker. You'll always be with me. May God be with you." 

Adult Pi Patel: Faith is a house with many rooms. 

Writer: But no room for doubt? 

Adult Pi Patel: Oh plenty, on every floor. Doubt is useful, it keeps faith a living thing. After all, you cannot know the strength of your faith until it is tested.

The Dandelions (Du Vent dans mes Mollets, 2012) by Carine Tardieu

A Late Quartet (2012) by Yaron Zilberman

Peter Mitchell: "Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future, and time future contained in time past. If all time is eternally present, all time is unredeemable. Or say that the end precedes the beginning, and the end and the beginning were always there before the beginning and after the end. And all is always now."

My Love, Don't Cross That River (2013) by Jin Mo-Young

Gravity (2013) by Alfonso Cuarón

Blooming vs. Fading

What a surprise! For the first time, I got an email from my first niece, Hyewon. It was good news from her. Before Christmas, I visited her family in Jupiter, Florida in the States. We had some nice times (mostly chatting) usually on her bed but we also did her social project, which was about introducing Pennsylvania State to her classmates next year. Of course, I gave her some insights. Her message was to let me know how the presentation, which was our collaboration, went well in her class. This week she got a mysterious score on it. 104/100! Additional 4 point is a bonus, she said. She wanted to boast of her good performance, so emailed me. The simple message made me so happy. Maybe it is because I don't have my children yet? My niece, Hyewon is blooming although I am going in the opposite direction, fading, that is aging. Well, looking forward to building a nice friendship with the smart lady and having my children some days. Wish her and me good luck!

Paik, Nam-Jun and Google

Today is Baik, Nam-Jun's birthday. Google is so cool. I like this creative logo design!

Mary Poppins' Brother

The guy riding a bicycle seems to be Mary Poppin's brother. This is the front page of my school's website today. Liked it.

Snow Storm in April

He knows me and loves me. So He sent me here in Ithaca since I really like snow.. yes, but it's going too much. I cannot believe this amazing weather. Today is April 16th!! He is my humorous father, I cannot help laughing today!

My cute friend, Faustina and I @April 16th, 2007

Let's Go Red!

Last Friday, I had a good chance to watch an ice hockey game. People shout out, "Let's go Red." It reminded me of Korean supporters of World Cup. Yes! It was really fun. Strange to say, I could not support Cornell team heartily although I belong to them. It is probably due to my nationality? I guess. I am a mere third party here. After our team scored a goal, I also supported the other team to make a goal. Cornell, however, won the game against Quinnipiac 2 to 0. Well done.

Game Night

Cousin Chris' two sons: Cole and Ken

Ken is crazy about games so I had to keep playing games with them during Christmas holiday. Thanks to Ken, I got to love to play Othello. My sisters have three daughters so I have three nieces. During this winter break, I met my three cousins' families and got to have six more nephews and nieces. It is amazing I am an aunt of nine children!

I heard from Meg, the two boys' mother, a hilarious episode of Christmas Eve. When their whole family was watching TV around midnight, Cole got to be upset about their family's watching TV. He was ready to burst into tears and then said, "Go to bed now! If you stay here, Santa cannot come in tonight." How cute he is! He is 4 years old now. I cannot hate children.