Beautiful Days (Korean: 뷰티풀 데이즈) is a 2018 South Korean drama film starring Lee Na-young, Jang Dong-yoon and Oh Kwang-rok.[3] The film premiered as the opening film of the 23rd edition of the Busan International Film Festival on October 4, 2018.[4][5][6] It was released in theaters on November 21, 2018.[7]
| Beautiful Days | |
|---|---|
 Main poster | |
| Hangul | 뷰티풀 데이즈 |
| Revised Romanization | Byutipul Deijeu |
| Directed by | Jéro Yun |
| Written by | Jéro Yun |
| Produced by | Kim Hyun-woo |
| Starring | Lee Na-young Jang Dong-yoon |
| Cinematography | Kim Jong-sun |
| Edited by | Jéro Yun |
| Music by | Mathieu Regnault |
Production company | Peppermint & Company |
| Distributed by | Smile Entertainment Contents Panda |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 104 minutes[1] |
| Countries | South Korea France |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$45,395[2] |
Plot
editThe film follows the life of a North Korean defector who gives birth to a son at a young age and abandons her husband and child for a better life abroad. The hidden past is revealed after fourteen years when the grown-up son visits her.
Cast
edit- Lee Na-young as Mother[1]
- Jang Dong-yoon as Zhen Chen[1]
- Oh Kwang-rok as Zhen Chen's father[1]
- Lee Yoo-jun as Pimp[1]
- Seo Hyun-woo[1]
- Lee Jung-joon[8]
Production
editBeautiful Days is director Jéro Yun's debut feature film and lead actress Lee Na-young's first film in 5 years.[8]
The film began production on October 31, 2017. Filming wrapped on November 26, 2017.[8]
Reception
editIn Variety, Peter Debruge says, "Lee Na-young impresses as a North Korean woman tracked down by her long-since-abandoned son".[9] Reviewing it for Screendaily, Wendy Ide noted the film as being structurally a little over-complicated, but still is an impressive drama which feels convincingly rooted in real lives and stories.[10]
Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter writes, "Beautiful Days certainly lives up to its title with its mesmerizing imagery and very polished production values. But it is weighed down by a clichéd narrative and simplistic moral binaries".[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Beautiful Days". www.biff.kr. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ "Beautiful Days (2018)". Korean Film Biz Zone.
- ^ "Beautiful Days". Korean Film Biz Zone.
- ^ "'Beautiful Days' to open 23rd BIFF". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ Kil, Sonia (4 September 2018). "Busan Festival to Open With North Korea Drama 'Beautiful Days'". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ "Busan to open with North Korean refugee drama 'Beautiful Days'". Screen. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ 윤재호 감독, 엘리제궁에서 “뷰티풀 데이즈”. KBS Media (in Korean). Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Lee Jung-joon to star in 'Beautiful Days - 2017' with Lee Na-young". HanCinema. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (October 4, 2018). "Busan Film Review: 'Beautiful Days'". Variety. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "'Beautiful Days': Busan Review". Screen. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "'Beautiful Days' ('Byu-ti-pul de-i-jeu'): Film Review | Busan 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. 4 October 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.