The Way Home

Film Review for “The Way Home.”
Dr. Patricia A. Sheahan, Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at Duquesne University.
The film, “The Way Home” is appropriate for any age level in the areas of language arts, social studies, geography, literature, writing, philosophy, psychology, bullying awareness programs, the arts, book clubs. The film could be adapted for study in a multitude of ways to enhance discussion on building relationships, unconditional love, patience and perseverance, faith, family, generational differences, role models, teaching by example.
I would consider using this film to demonstrate to pre-service students on how to create a three to six week unit on all of the above in an integrative way using rotating centers. I would design centers for a class of 4th/5th graders engaged in the study of character development/writing and a high school class of gifted students preparing a writing portfolio showcasing original poetry, script writing, essays, short stories, art. The centers would include technology, geography, writing, research, reading center, arts.
The film, “The Way Home”, has been called the best 2002 film coming out of Korea. This movie is a detailed description of the travails of a spoiled seven year old boy whose mother leaves him in the care of his seventy seven in year old grandmother in the remote countryside. Sang-woo is left with his grandmother because his mother wants to look for work in Seoul without the burden of worrying about her son. City slicker Sang-woo quickly comes into conflict with his old-fashioned grandmother and his new rural surroundings. He is both disrespectful and selfish, consistently lashes out in anger, and perceives that he has been abandoned. Throughout the film San-woo’s grandmother demonstrates boundless patience and devotion, and near the end of the film he finally learns to embrace empathy, humility and the importance of family.
The rural hovel of Sang-woo’s deaf-and-mute grandmother is quite foreign to him, and he does not adapt well to his new surroundings. His grandmother is unable to speak and has diminished mental faculties, making communication difficult. The country lifestyle, without the modern conveniences of television or running water, comes as a bit of shock to the videogame-playing Sang-woo. Frustrated by his new home, Sang-woo begins calling his grandmother a 'retard'.
Grandmother displays the patience of a saint as she quietly goes about her business of cooking his meals, washing his clothes, and gathering his drinking water from the local well even though Sang-woo is obnoxious, spoiled, and terribly disrespectful. Over time Grandmother’s persistence pays off, and the maturing grandson learns patience, caring, and devotion as well.
Two important scenes demonstrate the film's emotional pull between the two main characters as the viewer observes first Sang-woo being completely oblivious to the consequences of his selfish actions, as well as his grandmother's tireless efforts to care for him. Sang-woo freaks out after his grandmother boils him chicken after having shown her a picture of Kentucky Fried Chicken-- unfortunately, the effort that went into such an act of maternal love, which includes a trek into town through pouring rain, is completely lost on Sang-woo. The second is a bus trip into town where the grandmother is almost reduced to begging to sell her vegetables on the street in order to buy Sang-woo a new pair of shoes-- but as usual, Sang-woo ends up snubbing his grandmother on the bus ride home to hang out with a girl he likes.
"The Way Home" shows a close examination of the gap between South Korea's older generation, which has witnessed the painful emergence of the country's democracy, and its youth, who have grown up in a world of cell phones, Internet access, and music videos.
Grandmother’s weathered face and very simple and sweet expression offers her character a way to illustrate quiet dignity, stoic determination, and un-conditional love; all without the benefit of dialogue as she is partially deaf and mute. The despicable bully brat, Sang-woo, eventually comes to appreciate and care for his grandmother. This subtle and bucolic Korean film is "dedicated to all grandmas" by its director Jeong-hyang Lee
Today’s audience will see that Sang-woo is bored with his new life of simple food, sleeping on the floor in a one-room hut, and having nowhere to buy batteries for his dying handheld video game. Thank goodness he does come to realize Grandma's humble patience and love, and there's plenty of space for comic vignettes and moving moments of stillness along the way. The boy's hyper world of candy and toyscontrasts with grandma's slow, natural environment and allows for contemplation on a rapidly changing culture.
Students will be surprised to see what a spoiled, self-centered, rude and bullying child can overcome. Students will understand a plot in which one or more characters undergo a transformation, and Sang-woo indeed learns a lot during the six or so months while living with his grandmother.
When Sang-woo's mother comes for him in the fall, he has learned the virtues of honesty and caring for others. It is interesting to see the evolvement of Sang-woo learning the error of his ways on his own. Hopefully, for students who view this film, the real message is that they should show more respect to their parents and grandparents.
Writer and director Lee Jeong-hyang has fashioned a simple and satisfying drama about the healing power of love. Throughout all the taunts, tricks, and temper tantrums, Sang-Woo's grandmother keeps reaching out to the young boy and never once puts him out of her heart. This unconditional love is something he is unfamiliar with and eventually it begins to soften his hard heart. “The Way Home” is a wonderful tutorial in the miracles that can be wrought by unconditional love.

Name: Daniel Kornosky
Grades/Subjects Taught: 10th Grade World History II and 12th Grade Government and Economics
School: Oakland Catholic High School
The Way Home
The Way Home was a very touching film which I feel could be used at all grade levels. Although the story is about a young boy the messages are clearly sent to the viewer and can be built upon for older students. The story has many themes that can be easily related to Korean culture, values, and society.
It is important to note that before using The Way Home it is essential to teach and explain the background of the story. The plot develops quickly, but can be difficult to follow or understand if students do not know about Korean society and the prejudices within Korea based on social status. The film is about a young boy from Seoul who is taken by his mother to live with his grandmother for a period of time. The grandmother lives in a poor, rural village. It is import that students know what a poor, rural village is like and how different it is from a major city. The young boy is frustrated by his grandmother who is deaf and mute. The two slowly develop a relationship and the boy is finally able to appreciate his grandmother just as he is about to return to his mother.
I used The Way Home as a closure to the Asia unit in my World History II classes. We just finish learning about Korea, China, and Asia and I wanted to show my students how the Confucian values and social statuses, among other themes, were still heavily rooted in Asian society. I gave a quick introduction to modern Korea while also comparing Korea to Japan and China. I asked the students to watch the film with the goal of answering the following question: How does The Way Home reflect the countries of Asia which we have studied. Focus on society, religion/philosophy, or lifestyles. The students took notes on the film and we conducted a follow up discussion comparing the story in the film to the student’s lives so that they were able to make connections and fully understand Korea through the film. The students truly enjoyed the film and were moved by the compassion and thoughtfulness of the characters. In addition, the students were very insightful with their discussions and follow up essay.
I was very happy to use The Way Home and I plan on using it again in the future. The important idea is to remember is to be sure to watch the film before showing it. Then you can set the stage for the film so that the students receive the most from viewing it.