ASIAN FILM AWARDS SECRET SUNSHINE

Following his previous works PEPPERMINT CANDY and OASIS, Korean novelist and director Lee Changdong continued to maintain his humanistic concern for Korea’s disadvantaged in SECRET SUNSHINE. Instead of actors like Sol Kyung-gu and Moon So-ri whom Lee frequently worked with, Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho were cast respectively as the grief-stricken mother whose son was abducted and killed, and the car shop owner who pulls her through her darkest times. “Secret Sunshine” is the literal translation of the city that serves as the film’s setting and an allusion to Jeon Do-yeon’s character restarting her life. The film is a piercing portrayal of the mother’s agony and rebirth as well as the conflict between religion and humanity. Jeon Do-yeon gave a raw yet precise performance as her character transforms from suppression to complete devastation. As the favourite and eventual winner, Jeon became the first Korean ever to win Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival. She was also crowned Best Actress at the Asian Film Awards for this film.