Haven't we all seen this story before? A convict leaves prison after a long sentence, only to find himself like a fish out of water, trying to catch up with what's happened to his loved ones and society in general. That doesn't mean, of course, that The Old Garden is without merits — at the very least, it does not have the usual downbeat tone that most movies of this genre possess, and actually has quite an optimistic outlook on the protagnist's chance at starting life anew.

Oh Hyun-Woo (Ji Jin-Hee), a political prisoner for 17 years, has finally been released back into the world. His family is keen to welcome him back, but what occupies his mind is his old lover Yoon Hee (Yum Jung-Ah). The couple's romance is told in flashbacks, but there's a sense of loss back in the present, with the implicit knowledge that the passage of life has made their relationship a thing of the past and virtually impossible to reclaim.

Like most Korean films, The Old Garden is unabashedly sentimental, but if you are hoping to gain more insights into the political history of Korea, then be prepared to be disappointed. Also, the feisty Yoon Hee actually makes for more interesting viewing than Hyun-Woo, although she is merely a supporting character in this movie.