A Brand New Life (Yeo-haeng-ja) (2009) - Movie Review

Inspired by her childhood, French-Korean filmmaker Ounie Lecomte recounts the emotional journey of a little girl abandoned by her father in an orphanage. (IMBD)

Rating: 

Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes

Genre(s): Drama

Released: October 29, 2009

Directed by: Ounie Lecomte

Written by: Ounie Lecomte

Starring: Kim Sae-ron, Do Yeon Park, Ko Asung

For a movie that spends 90 minutes from the point of view of a moping girl with no more than 3 facial expressions, it did a great job of projecting complex emotion. The lack of score in this film enhances the realism of each scene; and while the main character's actions and attitude may seem frustrating or annoying at times, it does feel real.  I can remember feeling this way when I was a little girl, specifically during the "self-burial' scene. The movie uses side characters to address a few of the standard 'coming of age' themes in a way that seems natural and not forced, which adds something special to the story.  Overall, the product is a realistic and sincere representation of a young girl's experience of having her entire life transformed in an instant.

Really, who hasn't felt this way at least once in their life?

Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆7/10