[Korean Film News] Kim Hee-Jeong's The Wonder Years [열세살, 수아]

In the midst of the clamour of the summer season, along comes a subdued coming-of-age drama about a young girl (Lee Se-young) whose quite ordinary life takes on new meaning when she becomes persuaded that her real mother is the lead singer (Kim Yu-na, lead vocal of Jaurim) of a popular rock group. By ordinary, we don’t mean dull, as the film is brimming with observations about small-town life and the joys and sorrows of being a teenager. When thirteen-year-old Su -ah and her mother (Choo Sang-mi) are forced to leave the eatery that also serves as their home, the taunts of peers persuade her to take off for Seoul with a friend, determined to find the female rock star. Kim Hee-jung, 37, is the first Korean to receive support from the Cannes Residence Program for new directors. The film opened in theatres on June 14th.

Director: Kim Hee-Jeong [김희정]
Cast: Choo Sang-Mi [추상미] (Turning Gate, 2002), Lee Se-Yeong [이세영] (Lovely Rivals, 2004), Kim Yu-na [김윤아] (The President's Last Bang, 2005)

Posters, photos, production shots, trailers

[Source: The Korea Times]