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Sunjas life encompasses several titanic changes in global history and in her family line.
As a child, Sunja lives in Japanese-occupied Korea and grows up with the perpetual awareness of colonial rule.
As a young adult, she moves to Japan.
Its pace is urgent but measured.
Each era in Sunjas life has its own pacing and internal momentum.
Throughout, the series is transformed by the performances of each Sunja.
Youn is excellent as the elder iteration, and Kim is absolutely astounding as Sunja in her youth.
She is like a Rosetta stone, the code that translatesPachinkos immense historical scope into palpable human reality.
If anything, its an admirable portrait of Sunjas resilience.
Even then,Pachinkoavoids sliding into wholehearted boosterism for its protagonist.
She is remarkable and shes ordinary, andPachinkodoes not see those as conflicting truths.
Family sagas set against a volatile timeline put the lie to short-sighted arc of history bends toward justice stories.
They are also comforting reminders that our current experience of a nightmarish too-muchness is not special or unprecedented.
I do wish watchingPachinkocould last forever.
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