Birthday (2019 film)
Birthday is a 2019 South Korean drama film directed by Lee Jong-un, starring Sol Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon.[2] The first South Korean film to explore the tragic sinking of the MV Sewol Ferry, it opened the 21st Far East Film Festival on 26 April 2019.[3][4]
Birthday | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Hangul | 생일 |
Hanja | 生日 |
Revised Romanization | Saeng-il |
Directed by | Lee Jong-un |
Produced by | Lee Joon-dong Lee Dong-ha Lee Chang-dong |
Written by | Lee Jong-un |
Starring | Sol Kyung-gu Jeon Do-yeon |
Music by | Lee Jae-jin |
Cinematography | Cho Yong-kyu |
Edited by | Shin Min-kyung |
Production company | Nowfilm Pinehouse Film Redpeter Films |
Distributed by | Next Entertainment World |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean |
Box office | US$8 million[1] |
Plot
Ripped apart by the loss of their eldest son Su-ho (Yoon Chan-young) to the Sewol Ferry tragedy on 16 April 2014, Jung-il (Sol Kyung-gu) and Soon-nam (Jeon Do-yeon) struggle to keep their family together. No longer able to communicate with each other, they must still bring up their surviving daughter Ye-sol (Kim Bo-min).[5][6]
Cast
- Sol Kyung-gu as Jung-il
- Jeon Do-yeon as Soon-nam
- Kim Bo-min as Ye-sol
- Yoon Chan-young as Su-ho
- Choi Hyeon-jin as young Su-ho
- Kim Soo-jin as Woo-chan's mother
- Lee Bong-ryun as Jung-sook
- Park Jong-hwan as Yeong-joon
- Kwon So-hyun as Eun-bin
- Sung Yu-bin as Seong-joon
- Tang Joon-sang as Woo-chan
- Kim Gye-seon as Hyeong-woo's mother
- Sun Wook-hyun as Hyeong-woo's father
- Kim Hyun as Geon-jae's mother
- Shin Mun-sung as Geon-jae's father
- Kim Min-jae as Immigration officer 1 (special appearance)
Production
Principal photography began on April 10, 2018, and wrapped on July 6, 2018.[7]
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 7 reviews, with an average rating of 6.67/10.[8]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 55th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated |
24th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Director | Nominated | ||
Balinale[9] | Best Feature Film | Birthday | Won | |
28th Buil Film Awards[10] | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Nominated | |
Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Won | ||
Best New Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated | ||
40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Nominated | |
Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Nominated | ||
Best New Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated | ||
6th Korean Film Producers Association Awards | Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Won | |
19th Director's Cut Awards | Nominated | |||
Women in Film Korea Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Jong-un | Won | |
2020 | 56th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Nominated |
Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Nominated | ||
Best Planning | Birthday | Nominated | ||
56th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated | |
Best Actress[11] | Jeon Do-yeon | Won | ||
References
- "Birthday (2019)". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- "Jeon Do-yeon Talks About Difficulties of Ferry Disaster-Themed Film". english.chosun.com. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- Brzeski, Patrick (29 March 2019). "Far East Festival to Open With Korean Ferry Disaster Drama Birthday". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- "Birthday". fareastfilm.com. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- Conran, Pierce (9 April 2019). "JEON Do-yeon and SUL Kyung-gu Drama Goes to Italy". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- Frater, Patrick (28 March 2019). "Udine Festival to Open With Korean Tragedy Birthday". Variety. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- "KoBiz - Korean Film Biz Zone". www.kobiz.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- "BIRTHDAY (SAENG-IL)". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- "Festival Awards". Balinale. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "28th Buil Film Awards Nominees 2019". HanCinema. 28 August 2019. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- MacDonald, Joan (5 June 2020). "2020 Baeksang Arts Awards Honor The Best Korean Dramas And Films". Forbes. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.