Poetry

Difficult subject matter is given a delicate grace in Poetry, a film from South Korea, a country which has emerged as a key contributor to the language of world cinema over the past half-decade. Powered by the extremely careful hand of director Chang-dong Lee and an overwhelming performance by Jeong-hie Yun as a woman facing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Poetry won the award for Best Screenplay at Cannes last year, and why the jury chose it is evident: Poetry never slips. Mija (Yun) learns that she has developed Alzheimer’s around the time her grandson—her only family—is suspected of a heinous crime. To cope with all of that, she seeks out a poetry class, of all things. It’s simply, tastefully done, and the work by Jeong-hie Yun is remarkable.