Secret Sunshine (2007)

93% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(3,917 ratings)

In this somber Korean drama, a young mother and widow, Shin-ae, moves with her young son, Jun, from Seoul to a small town called Miryang following her husband's death. Having given up on her career as a concert pianist when she married her husband, she starts up a piano school, but soon it begins to… More In this somber Korean drama, a young mother and widow, Shin-ae, moves with her young son, Jun, from Seoul to a small town called Miryang following her husband's death. Having given up on her career as a concert pianist when she married her husband, she starts up a piano school, but soon it begins to feel like the polite people who inhabit her new home aren't as friendly as they seem on the surface. Judgmental whispers and disapproving gossip begin to reach Shin-ae's ears, and pressure to join the Christian cult that thrives in the town begins to mount. She's hesitant until an unimaginable tragedy alters her life forever, setting Shin-ae on a dark path of withdrawal from society as a whole. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Chang-dong Lee
Written By: Chang-dong Lee, Chong-jun Yi
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 22, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Aug 23, 2011
Studio: Cinema Service

Critic Reviews

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
There is a natural tendency to appreciate movies that are neat and concise. "Secret Sunshine" makes a striking argument for the antithesis.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
The cinematic equivalent of prose that is clear, elegant and lyrical.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Buried in the year-end rush but one of the year's best films.
, Globe and Mail
This fourth film from Lee Chang-dong, one of the leading lights in the new South Korean cinema, begins as a young widow moves to the small town of Milyang, where her late husband was born and where she plans to work as a piano teacher.
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
Emotionally complex tale of a woman's confrontation with the worst of fates.
Derek Elley, Variety
An ambitious, almost novelistic pic by writer-helmer Lee Chang-dong that ultimately fails to dramatize its lead character's conflicts in cinematic terms.
Glenn Heath Jr., Slant Magazine
A powerful anti-sermon on the mount, Lee Chang-dong's Secret Sunshine illuminates the transcendent grace inherent to one woman's crippling dependence on born-again identities.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
In a performance as raw and naked as I can recall seeing, Jeon navigates the ebbs and flows of Shin-ae's grief.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Superbly observed study of a woman's tortured spiritual odyssey, filled with honest drama, unexpected humor and brilliant revelations.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
a wrenching, darkly comic and immersive work
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It doesn't touch the heart as much as it thinks it does.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
Profoundly moving, intelligent and unflinching. It boasts a brave, emotionally devastating performance by Jeon Do-yeon.
Noel Murray, AV Club
Secret Sunshine is a frequently beautiful film with a cold, dark heart.
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Brilliantly written, acted and directed, this is a work that evokes the Russian novel despite being a Korean film. Treats larger questions of life and death in the serious manner that they deserve.
Nora Lee Mandel, Film-Forward.com
[S]low portrait of damaged woman struggling against community expectations reveals universality [in] extraordinary Do-yeon who dramatically shifts gears again [and again].
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
An exemplary examination of coping that expands to entail questions of morality, absolution and faith.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
It is unlikely you are going to see a more palpable portrayal of grief this year than Jeon Do-yeon's magnificent perfomance as Shin-ae in this Korean drama of the heart.
Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly
A secular hymn to the small triumphs and cavernous tragedies of the everyday, and to our awesome ability to cope.
Eric Campos, Film Threat
Perfect for those wishing to enjoy a nice traumatizing time at the movies.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
This exploration of grief in contemporary South Korea plods along adequately and intelligently.

Read all 23 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Reid V

A brave exploration of grief and the process of forgiveness. We all know those people who seem to attract tragedy. We read about them in the paper or hear about them through a family friend. In yet another great film by director Lee Chang Dong, we are given insight into the lives of… More
A brave exploration of grief and the process of forgiveness. We all know those people who seem to attract tragedy. We read about them in the paper or hear about them through a family friend. In yet another great film by director Lee Chang Dong, we are given insight into the lives of one of these perpetual victims. It follows the plight of a young woman as she attempts to move forward in the face of her world collapsing around her. This study of the grieving process, made possible by the phenomenal performance by Jeon Do-yeon, isn't just an opportunity to go hog wild with gut-wrenching speeches and tears, but is one of the more honest approaches I have seen in a long time. With this, comes its share of risks. For example, It is risky to take a woman, whom the audience feels so much sympathy for, and through the recovery process alienate her so much from the audience. It is hard to understand why she does what she does. but we get the sense that we cannot possibly even begin to understand what she is going through. Sometimes there are no tears and as comforting as faith can be for others, it isn't immediate enough to snub out the pain that is sometimes scraping your very nerve and at other times leaving you completely numb. Also, that same faith that can be freeing to many, can be used by others as a more subtle tool of control. Maybe I'm just biased due to my love for Korean cinema, but I feel like South Koreans are able to take a more honest look in the mirror than I think most are willing to allow. There is a hell of a lot more to chew on in this one film than the past 20 domestic films I have watched. And for that, I give it a lot of credit. It isn't a pleasant watch, but one that is definitely worth your time.
Jan Marc M

Grieves with sorrow and shines with faith, Secret Sunshine ponders on spiritual maturity and recovery of a woman tormented by loss. Starring 2007 Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Jeon Do-Yeon. Argumentative. Complex. Magnificent.
Nicki M

Another good Korean film (aren't they always good?! I honestly can't think of too many I haven't liked.. not that I have seen lots, but anyhow....). Though this is mainly a sad story about loss, (Shin-ae moves to her deceased husband's hometown in memory of him… More
Another good Korean film (aren't they always good?! I honestly can't think of too many I haven't liked.. not that I have seen lots, but anyhow....). Though this is mainly a sad story about loss, (Shin-ae moves to her deceased husband's hometown in memory of him with their small son. Not long after, her son is kidnapped and drowned), it also manages to be quite funny in places. Quite an achievement considering the subject matter! Well acted, well paced - at over 2 hours long it doesn't wear out it's welcome as you might expect. I was really impressed with the actress who plays Shin-ae (Jeon Do-yeon).
Luke B

The first and most striking aspect of this film are the visuals. The bright, golden, crisp glow of this film is almost heavenly. Not a bad choice considering the religious themes tackled. Chang-dong adds another exquisite film to his portfolio even if it is a tad harder to like than… More
The first and most striking aspect of this film are the visuals. The bright, golden, crisp glow of this film is almost heavenly. Not a bad choice considering the religious themes tackled. Chang-dong adds another exquisite film to his portfolio even if it is a tad harder to like than his previous efforts. It certainly zips by with a well paced story that isn't afraid of not giving any definite answers, much like religion itself. Forgiveness isn't something that comes naturally, nor is it easy. Unlike most films Secret Sunshine refuses to patronize it's audience. It presents a story and there are limitless views that can be taken which is possibly a sign of great art.
Walter M

"Secret Sunshine" starts with Shin-ae(Do-yeon Jeon) driving from Seoul to Miryang with her eight-year old son Jun(Jung-yeop Seon). On the way, her car breaks down but they get help from a good samaritan and ride the rest of the way with Jong(Kang-ho Song), a kind tow truck… More
"Secret Sunshine" starts with Shin-ae(Do-yeon Jeon) driving from Seoul to Miryang with her eight-year old son Jun(Jung-yeop Seon). On the way, her car breaks down but they get help from a good samaritan and ride the rest of the way with Jong(Kang-ho Song), a kind tow truck driver. Once settled in town, she quickly gets to business, opening a music school and making plans to buy property on the edge of town. At the heart of "Secret Sunshine" is an emotionally complex tale of forgiveness. Much to the consternation of those who know her, Shin-ae has made peace with her late husband who cheated on her, moving to his old hometown in order to feel close to him. Like all small towns, everybody knows everybody else's business which is scary when you realize how seriously the pharmacists are about their religion.(The film reinforces what Karl Marx and Larry Flynt said about religion.) While Do-yeon Jeon is superb, the movie is simply too long for such an intimate story, as there are several places it could have ended without sacrificing any of its well-earned ambiguity.
Daisy M

Lee Chang Dong is one of Korea's talented directors, making his movies so close to reality. Korean cinema could be quite surprising for Western audience, because of the variety of tones and genres you could see in one movie. In Secret Sunshine, there was comical parts, thrilling… More
Lee Chang Dong is one of Korea's talented directors, making his movies so close to reality. Korean cinema could be quite surprising for Western audience, because of the variety of tones and genres you could see in one movie. In Secret Sunshine, there was comical parts, thrilling scenes and romantic times. It was not just tragedy, but all these genres together brought reality to the experience that this rich movie had to offer. It was surely rare to see such a deep portrait of a woman in pain, which only Lee Chang Dong could bring alive.The performance of the woman in the lead role Jeon Do-Yeo was tremendous.She was captivating showing grief, attempts for moving on, and putting her self into Christianity to clear her conscience of guilt was admirable.To say more would be giving away the movie, so I recommend to those who love Korean cinema, just like me.