The Way Home (2002)

There's not much twisting plot, just both stories depicting slices of life. They both might touch your heart for the pure love and innocence.

Apart from the fact that both won awards, both portray the stories of people who went through a situation and came out of it with changed mind sets. Both of these experiences taught humility, discipline, a reality check, a new perspective on the 'less appealing' sides to things (like for Departures, the MC learns to respect a job he once thought was degrading and in The Way Home, the MC learns to accept his grandmother and the poor conditions she lives in), teach us the importance of family values and to keep an open mind.

If you happen to stumble upon my recommendation page, the Way Home is a film about the bittersweet friendship of a grandmother and her spoiled grandson. It is nothing spectacular, but the grandmother's acting skills were on another level that propelled this movie to new heights for me. My Grandpa deals with relationship and redemption more so through a character study of the Grandpop and his granddaughter. The film has a serious message, though, so stay patient and you will enjoy this little gem.

Coming of age tale of a city boy who ended up living in the countryside, not entirely out of their own volition.

Seven-year-old Sang-woo is left with his grandmother in a remote village while his mother looks for work. Born and raised in the city, Sang-woo quickly comes into conflict with his old-fashioned grandmother and his new rural surroundings.