MIRYANG (SECRET SUNSHINE)

South Korea/2007/Korean dialogue, with English subtitles/35mm/142 mins

Lee Shin-ae (Jeon Do-yeon, one of Korea’s greatest actresses), a widow in her early thirties, leaves Seoul with her son to make a new life in the south, in her husband’s home town, Miryang (which translates as ‘secret sunshine’). She had given up her career as a concert pianist to marry, and in this new town, whose surface friendliness hides malicious gossip, she opens a piano school while fending off the amorous attentions of a down-to-earth garage owner, Kim Jong-chan (played by Song Kang-ho, lead actor in The Host, a DIFF selection last year) After a tragic incident involving her son, she is urged to join an evangelical Christian group and is ‘reborn’ – until another brutal twist of fate comes her way.

“With the richness and complexity of a novel, Secret Sunshine explores the emotions and crises of its heroine, with an astonishing, Cannes prize-winning performance from Jeon. Undoubtedly one of Korea’s master directors, Lee, as in his extraordinary Oasis, focuses on his female protagonists, eliciting superb performances from his leads, who move through powerfully conveyed moods and emotions.” – Simon Field

Director(s) :

Lee Chang-dong

LEE CHANG-DONG was born in 1954 in Daegu, South Korea. He has written and directed the features Green Fish (1997), Peppermint Candy (2000; winner of the Don Quijote Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival) and Oasis (2002; winner of FIPRESCI, SIGNIS and Special Director’s awards at the Venice Film Festival). His other writing credits include A Single Spark (1995) and To the Starry Island (1993).
Crew : Hanna Lee(Producer), Kim Hyeon(Editor), Christian Basso(Composer), Jeon Do-yeon(Main Cast), Song Kang-ho(Main Cast), Kim Yeong-jae(Main Cast), Seon Jeong-yeob(Main Cast), Song Mi-rim(Main Cast)
Format : 35mm
Running Time : 142 mins
Country : Korea, Republic of
Programme : Cinema of Asia
Venue : Mall of the Emirates - CineStar 12, Mall of the Emirates - CineStar 12, Mall of the Emirates - CineStar 8, Mall of the Emirates - CineStar 8
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