What an obscure gem of a film. My father found "My Way" while browsing for some films and we both really liked it! Based on the story of a Korean man named Yang Kyoungjong, the film follows the Korean Jun-shik and Japanese Tatsuo Hasegawa on their mutual path through life. It's a sentimetal tale that depicts the true hardships of war, using sports as a commentary on real human values.

"My Way" is a high-budget production and it's easy to tell. On its journey through half the world, it features a great diversity of nationalities, depicting expansive environments and horrid battles. It can be quite gory, but it never glamourises any of it. I found that the violence always set forth the grimness of the World War II setting. Hope and despair clash along the rapid pace of the plot. Characters grow immensely from the moment they first appear on screen. Jun-shik remains as a more consistent moral compass, in a manner that is deeply human. Tatsuo's development is fascinating to watch, and the relationship between him and Jun-Shik was gripping. Besides these two leads, others' fates paint a fuller picture of war's depravity. Choon-bok could be considered somewhat of a weaker individual who is a proper contrast to his more idealistic companions. Shirai was amusing, but she might be one of my criticisms with "My Way", for no other reason than her story being redundant. You could remove her from the movie and nothing would change.

Another personal gripe I might have is the stylistic choice of a shaky camera. It's fantastic at representing the sheer chaos of WWII, but there's too much of a good thing - I felt downright uncomfortable watching at times. I'm not one prone to motion sickness either, so this is worth considering. Otherwise, the cinematography is gorgeous and is a strong drive of the film's emotional potency.

I mentioned sports as a major topic of the story, and this refers to marathon running in particular. War and patriotism are nothing more than superficial dividers of humanity, which butcher true values such as the wonder of sports. Jun-shik and Tatsuo retain their spirit through the values of the marathon - human willpower and love of perserverance. It's quite romanticised and I respect "My Way" for being so unashamed about this beauty.

I would recommend "My Way" to a fans of World War II cinema who would appreciate a brutalworldwide tale that has a simple message at its core. I was on the verge of crying at several points as I watched it, overtaken by the acting and scenery. A fantastic feature that deserves more love.