Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

thecatcanwait Bespectacled photographer with fatal illness indulges in hapless hopeless non romance with meter maid."Why are you smiling at me?" she asks. Yeah, why is he? And flippin laughing all the time. Having this terminal cancer (or whatever it is) is dead funny.But he doesn't look very ill, seem ill, act ill. The ugly pain of dying from this mystery malady is mostly airbrushed out.Is his Shy Smiley Man persona a way of keeping people out? Putting an ever so brave and humble front on? Or a genuine expression of joy at the preciousness of life? Or an absurd abreaction to how funny-odd life is? (when death is all there is at the end of it) Or a surreptitious wink of denial, contrived to con the people around him to lighten up, and smile – cus I'm dying man! (but I'm being a brave little boy by not making a great big song and dance about it) I'd quite like him to stop doing that stupid little laugh. Its not funny. Its ingratiating. This diffident shy charm act is fake mate.But he still carries on insinuating the phony feel-good happy vibe with clueless girl. Smiley smile, noddy head: "Look I'm nice. I'm gonna die but i can't stop being nice about it. How happy dying makes me feel. I'm making you (meter maid) want to fall in love with me. But I'm not going to tell you. I'll keep me – and the actual Truth – quietly to myself thank you very much. I won't let love in and i won't let love out. I won't share what is really going on with me. By staying passively withheld, and impassively withdrawn, i'll hang onto some kind of sad self-effacing virtue. Which of course will make all of you watching me go "Awww" and want to give me a nice little hug".Personally, to get more empathetic response from me I'd have needed him to drop the phony nice guy act, stop the twee smile and the ingratiating laugh, stop the wanting me to feel sorry for him (as watcher of film) – and get real. Be in authentic engagement with the people around him (in the film) Tell the girl the truth instead of doing this tepid half baked withheld involvement thing with her.If i think about it – its the actors performance as much as his character i couldn't buy into. Too smoothly pathetic. Pathos superficially acted out but not internalised or deeply enriched from within. The bland smiley facade was all Suk-kyu Han's.Overall, Christmas in August is disingenuously sly. The suffering is synthetic, not sympathetic. The sweetly winsome little soundtrack strokes you to be sad every 5 minutes; pouring sugary sad sentiment into the gaps were engaged characterisation should be, enlightening script – and genuinely involving, involved emotion.A manipulative little sham this film.

dwi-2 How would you feel if you had only a few weeks left to live? This film helps you to know through the eyes of one guy who is faced with that situation. It is told with sympathy and without too much emotion. Some might feel it rather slow - but I think that adds to the realism of the film. Some might see it as a love story, but I think that is secondary to seeing his last days through his eyes. The loves of his life are part of the end of his life and give it more impact. Low key and gentle, the film rolls out the story much as life does. Without clichés and with unexpected events set against a backdrop of getting by. If you like your films gently emotionally realistic this may be for you.

ceadee25 I have seen the movie 'Christmas In August' two times on cable tv (one from Star Chinese and another one from Arirang TV) In my honest opinion, its one of the best asian films that i've ever seen. With those typical hollywood love story films that we often seen in movies, 'Christmas In August' breaks the monotomy. A simple love story with a deeper twist. I fell in love with Shim Eun-Ha after i watched this movie. I even surf the web just to get photos and some information of her. At any rate, this is the kind of movie that only asians can produce. And i think korean directors already reached their maturity in makingfilms such as 'Christmas In August'. And for Shim, im your avid fan with love!

tt924 This is a very impressive movie. Actually, it is a heart-breaking romantic story. I feel very sorry about the main actor not confessing his love and affection. Maybe it is out of love, but it is too sad. I also feel sorry for the main actress. She doesn't know what happened and it is unfair to her.I like the way the director conduct the movie. And if you are not in a hurry, you should watch it. It is memorable.