Land of Scarecrows

This sentimental and visuel poem crosses the lives of Jiyoung Jang, a 40-years-old trans artist, Loi Tan, an adopted Filipino boy, and Rain, a young woman from the Philippines with a Korean dream. Their lives accidentally intertwine. The way the characters undergo psychological pollution in both spaces, and how these people pollute their own environment illustrates the irony that the modern people lives in.

Directed by Roh Gyeong-tae, Land of Scarecrows leans on a strong ensemble — Nellisa Arnado, Adelyn Bacon, Jocelyn Baculi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2009.