A Brand New Life (2009 film)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A Brand New Life
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYeohaengja
McCune–ReischauerYŏhaengja
Directed byOunie Lecomte
Written byOunie Lecomte
Produced byLee Chang-dong
Laurent Lavole
Lee Joon-dong
StarringKim Sae-ron
Park Do-yeon
CinematographyKim Hyun-seok
Edited byKim Hyung-joo
Music byJim Sert
Production
companies
Distributed byFinecut
DCG Plus
Release dates
  • May 20, 2009 (2009-05-20) (Cannes)
  • October 29, 2009 (2009-10-29) (South Korea)
Running time
92 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$167,776[1]

A Brand New Life (Korean여행자; RRYeohaengja; MRYŏhaengja) is a 2009 film. It is the debut feature of director Ounie Lecomte, who directed and wrote the film.[2]

Loosely based on Lecomte's own experience, A Brand New Life is set in Seoul in 1975. The film portrays a girl who is left in a Catholic orphanage by her father and her struggle to adjust to a new life.[2]

A Brand New Life was released in South Korea on October 29, 2009.[3] The film grossed over US$167,776[1] and was well received by critics. It won several awards, such as the Best Asian Film Award at the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival and the jury award at the 2009 Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam.[3]

Plot

Jin-hee (Kim Sae-ron) is a 9-year-old girl whose father leaves her at an orphanage run by Catholic nuns after remarrying. Before leaving her, her father buys her new clothes and a cake to convince her that she is going on a trip. This coincides with the Korean title, which literally means "traveler" or "tourist". In the orphanage, she tries to come to grips with the abandonment by her father and insecurities about a possible adoption. She gradually makes friendships, although she retains the belief that her father will return to take her back, and struggles (sometimes violently) not to adjust to her surroundings. She even tries to run away from the orphanage but all in vain. In the end, Jin-hee is adopted by French parents who are eagerly waiting for her at an airport to meet their new child.

Cast

  • Kim Sae-ron as Jin-hee
  • Park Do-yeon as Sook-hee
  • Go Ah-sung as Ye-shin
  • Park Myung-shin as a nanny
  • Sol Kyung-gu as Jin-hee's father
  • Oh Man-seok as Director Goo
  • Shin Young-sik as Ye-shin's foster father
  • Moon Sung-keun as a doctor
  • Richard Wilson as puppeteer/U.S. soldier
  • Rob Youngs as Sook-hee's adoptive father
  • Luke Doyle as guitarist/U.S. soldier
  • Harvey Schmidt as Jin-hee adoptive father

References

  1. ^ a b "A Brand New Life". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  2. ^ a b "A Brand New Life on Worldmovie". WORLD MOVIES Channel. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  3. ^ a b "Korean-French Movie Honored at Tokyo Film Fest". The Chosun Ilbo. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2011-07-02.

External links