A Moment to Remember

A Moment to Remember (Eraser in My Head) was released in 2004 and based itself around the Japanese TV drama Pure Soul. The plot revolves the story of a young couple that inevitably falls upon the heart-breaking destruction of Alzheimer's disease.

Plot

Cut into three acts, A Moment to Remember introduces Kim Su-jin, daughter of a CEO in charge of a construction firm, and Choi Chul-soo, the construction site's lead worker in hopes of becoming an architect.

Arc One

The story begins with their accidental meeting one night as Su-jin wallows in depression. At the prime age of twenty-seven and with a future set as a fashion designer, Su-jin is rejected by her past lover, a married man. She heads to the store in hopes of ridding her sour spirit when she bumps into Choi Chul-soo.

One day when she accompanies her father (who has forgiven her for falling in love with a married man and intermingling in some relationship with him) into his construction site, she catches sight of Chul-soo and is utterly embarrassed of her past behavior which was exerted during their meeting that night near the store. Inevitably does she find herself feeling utterly attracted to him despite his dirty and seemingly careless attitude and makeup as a person.

Chul-soo is not a being used to exposing his vulnerabilities or his weaknesses through loving gestures. Therefore, Su-jin has to take the many first steps in courting him and guiding him into their relationship which inevitably leads her to proposing to him. Chul-soo, taken aback by her proposal, accepts nonetheless. Though her family is a bit hesitant in her choice, there is no doubting Chul-soo's undying love for Su-jin.

Arc Two

Settling into their marriage, the arc opens up with Chul-soo jumping into the kitchen only to put out a fire starting from Su-jin's incompetence. Nonetheless, the couple is happy and enjoying their never ending love for the other.

Chul-soo is busy chasing his dream as an architect and plotting to make their dream house on an expanse of land with the best construction workers he can find. And Su-jin, though working alongside her fashion designing company, is adjusting to life as a housewife (ex: cleaning, cooking).

But as time goes on, Chul-soo begins to realize how forgetful Su-jin really has become. In one instance, she had forgotten key components of his lunch and another, Su-jin forgot the way back home after going out to run errands.

Arc Three

After seeking medical attention on her own, Su-jin comes to find that she's become a victim of Alzheimer's disease, an early onset of it to say the least. At first, she keeps this brand of information away from Chul-soo and grieves on her own. Burdened with denial and depression, Su-jin can't seem to grasp the concept of forgetting her own husband. Sooner than not, Chul-soo too finds out the truth behind her doctor visits and grieves on his own terms, trying to look tough for his wife.

One day, Su-jin brings up the topic of divorce and claims Chul-soo should not be with her as she'll become a burden. Heartbroken at the thought, Chul-soo reminds her of his devotion to her and stays by her side as she loses her memory.

Placed into a facility while losing her memories and her mind, Chul-soo goes to visit her even after Su-jin forgets who he is.

Given permission by the doctors and family, Chul-soo gets Su-jin's mother and father to assist in taking her out for a day. It's then that she's taken back to the old store that she had her accidentally meeting with Chul-soo, and it is there that he re-enacts their meeting. Sparked by this event and falling back into the memory she had inevitably forgotten, Chul-soo takes the moment to say, "I love you" to her at the end of the film. Something he had never said to her until this moment in time.

Overall

I have seen so many adaptations of this movie. There was also a Hindi movie following the similarity of this plot, U, Me, Aur Hum. Both versions of which I have seen regarding the disease of Alzhemier's have broken my heart. But I personally think A Moment to Remember knocked it out of the park.

Jung Woosung and Son Ye-jin are amazing actors and their on-screen chemistry was so realistic, it killed a part of me inside.

It's just such an emotional story between two lovers that are trying to adjust to the devastating news they've uncovered. The raw emotion I felt just watching this made me stop almost three times just to take a break from this heartbreaking form of what was condensed into a movie. And I can not express how much I sobbed just seeing the grieving process of Chul-soo's character. Jung Woosung is such a talented actor to say the least. I've seen him in action movies ranging over a thriller based genre. But seeing him act in a romantic setting has also proven that he can act in almost anything while exerting the same amount of passion.

I was very satisfied with this movie and would recommend it to all those that enjoy a traumatic adventure between two people finding solace in the end. You seriously will not regret the beauty A Moment to Remember has to offer. My only advice? Get a bucket of ice cream and some Kleenax ready. You'll be needing it.