A Brand New Life (2009 Film)
A Brand New Life (Korean: 여행자; RR: Yeohaengja) is a 2009 drama film directed by Ounie Lecomte. The film is a co-production between South Korea and France, featuring a narrative set in a 1970s South Korean orphanage. It is widely noted for being partially based on the director's own life experiences as a South Korean child adopted by French parents.
Production
The film was produced by Now Film in South Korea and Gloria Films in France. It is recognized as one of the early instances of a South Korean-French co-produced feature film. During its development phase at the 11th Pusan Promotion Plan, the project received the $10,000 OKF Fund award from the Overseas Korean Foundation, which supports projects by Korean filmmakers living abroad.
Cast
The film features a central performance by Kim Sae-Ron as Jin-Hee, a young girl awaiting adoption. The supporting cast includes:
- Kim Sae-Ron as Jin-Hee
- Park Do-Yeon as Suk-Hee
- Ko Ah-Sung as Ye-Shin
- Sul Kyung-Gu as Jin-Hee's father (cameo)
- Park Myung-Shin as the nursery school nanny
- Moon Sung-Geun as the doctor (cameo)
Reception and Awards
A Brand New Life premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2009, in the Special Screenings section. Following its release, the film was screened at numerous international festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the Pusan International Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival.
The film received several accolades, including:
- Best Asian-Middle Eastern Film Award at the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival (2009)
- Best Children's Feature Film at the 3rd Asia Pacific Screen Awards (2009)
- Korean International Critics Award at the 30th Critics Choice Awards (2010)