Mujigae Review

 Mujigae 무지개 (Korean for "rainbow") is a Filipino-made family drama with a Korean flair that was broadcasted nationwide on October 9 and is currently accessible on Netflix.  The official trailer for Mujigae 무지개, which received millions of views in its first week on social media, highlights the transformational power of innocent and unconditional love while providing a look into the touching story of how a child's love may mend shattered relationships.

Credit: ClickTheCity

After losing her Filipino mother in South Korea, 5-year-old Mujigae—half-Korean, half-Filipino—finds herself in the care of her estranged Aunt Sunny in the Philippines. As they navigate this unexpected journey, they confront grief, unravel cultural complexities, and discover the transformative power of family and community. Through their poignant exploration, Mujigae learns to embrace change through courage and resilience, finding her place in the world with a strong chance at life.

My reaction to this movie...

I have been seeing this for quite a while on Netflix, but I haven't watched it because I have been extremely busy. It is only now that I have been able to find the time since it is vacation and I will also be joining my husband for a viewing. So, when we were looking for a movie on Netflix, I suggested we watch this. I felt it would be emotional and at that moment, I was in the mood for a drama, so even though my husband hadn't agreed yet, I started playing the movie right away.

The beginning of the movie is beautiful because it shows that the main child actress is in Korea. The child is adorable, and I am curious whether the actress portraying her mother truly speaks Hangeul or if it is dubbed, as she is so good that it feels like that is genuinely her language, which immediately hooked me into the movie. The child is also impressive, which adds another positive point for me.

So when the kid went home to the Philippines, I laughed at the role of Rufa Mae even though she had a short exposure. She's really funny with her lines, what a pure comedy. I also felt for the kid because you can sense that she misses her mom and yet her aunt treats her so badly; she’s just a kid, so it's really sad for her. The grandpa is also pitiful. There's just one part that I didn't like. I felt that Alexa Ilacad’s role at the beginning was kind of shallow for me because her reasons for being so angry at her sibling and her life were flimsy, and then suddenly everything changed. It felt like the story was rushed. To be honest, her acting here seems forced. I did not feel emotional about what she went through or what she wanted to convey to the audience. I also liked that Kim Ji-soo is here, I just wish he got more screen time.

Anyway, this story is light-hearted. It is a beautiful film for the entire family to watch because there are valuable lessons to be learned here. It also showcases the support of those surrounding the child and Alexa, allowing one to feel a sense of belonging, as this reflects the love every Filipino has for their family. It illustrates that even when facing challenges, people can overcome their problems together.

I would recommend this to people looking for something to watch with their family, whether they're young or old. But if you're looking for a super dramatic movie, this isn't it because the scenes here aren't really tear-jerkers.

My Overall Rating: 📽️📽️📽️(3/5)