Warning: This review might contain spoilers.

⭐⭐⭐☆☆

ALTHOUGH it failed to receive an Oscars nod, the Singaporean-Korean film Ajoomma directed by Shuming He remains one of the most anticipated films expected to land in Philippine cinemas due to the rave reviews it has gotten.

Starring veteran Singaporean actress Hong Huifang and South Korean actors Kang Hyung-seok, Jung Dong-hwan, and Yeo Jin-goo, the film has a warm narrative about discovering oneself amid loneliness and life’s inconveniences.

This 2022 film produced by Anthony Chen, Joonhan Lee, and Si En Tan has received several recognitions after its release. These include Best Film award during the BaliMakarya Film Festival, Best Screenplay award at the QCinema International Film Festival, and the Film AlUla Audience award (Best Film) at the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Photo courtesy: Giraffe Pictures

‘Ajoomma’ at a glance

This dramedy revolves around the story of widowed Singaporean auntie Lim Bee Hua, portrayed by Hong, and her obsession with South Korean soap operas.

She and her son, Sam, initially scheduled a trip to South Korea, but the latter had to cancel the tour for a job interview in the United States.

Because of the nonrefundable trip reservation, the auntie decided to embark on a Korean vacation on her own. She then encounters a series of mishaps and miscommunications brought by language barriers that will drive the widow to reconcile with herself and discover an entire new identity beyond being a daughter, wife, and mother.

Photo courtesy: Ajoomma (2022) | Giraffe Pictures

A sense of comfort and self-discovery

After stepping out of her comfort zone to carry on with the trip alone, Lee experiences a tumultuous journey as she grapples with loneliness while with a tour group full of Chinese tourists.

When the auntie was separated from her group, she meets an apartment complex security guard played by Jung. Despite thr unfamiliarity and a series of failed attempts to converse with one another, the duo finds a way to provide comfort to each other as they attempt to resolve Lee’s dilemma.

The Singaporean’s conversations with the trip’s tour guide, which Kang portrays, also provides the audience with a heartwarming scene that tells viewers it is never too late to make up for one’s blunders and live their lives to the fullest.

Moreso, Ajoomma is a gentle pat on the back that says life is, and will always be, what we make out of it.

Photo courtesy: Ajoomma (2022) | Giraffe Pictures

Some loopholes

While the film is undoubtedly thought-provoking, stunning, comforting, and a breath of fresh air compared to the usual storylines that most films provide, there are several parts that could have been expounded and developed to make the film more compelling.

This includes the scene where the auntie was confronted by her son regarding his boyfriend and his desire to live abroad with him. The film implicitly showed Lee’s disappointment towards her son, but it was not elaborated on whether or not she was able to accept her child’s identity and pursuits.

Another gap in the film concerned the blossoming relationship between the auntie and the security guard. In the last part of the film, viewers can see that the security guard has been sending wood carvings of animals to the widowed auntie.

It would have been nice to witness, even to see just a glimpse, of how two people could find warmth and genuine affection amid kindness and compassion, especially during times of trouble.

Ajoomma will be available for viewing on cinemas nationwide starting March 15.

Photo courtesy: Ajoomma (2022) | Giraffe Pictures