Daseulyi (2011 Film)

Daseulyi (Korean: 다슬이), also known by its international title Lovable or its early festival title The Lovely Child, is a 2011 South Korean drama film directed by Park Chul-Soon. The film explores the life of a nine-year-old girl named Da-Seul, who lives in a small coastal village with her grandfather and uncle.

The Lovely Child promotional poster — Promotional material for the film, initially titled The Lovely Child.

Plot

The story follows Da-Seul, a young girl living in a village overlooking the ocean. While her family members, including her uncle and grandfather, initially perceive her as mentally challenged, the narrative reveals that Da-Seul possesses a significant talent for the arts, which is linked to her autism. The film focuses on her perspective and her interactions with her environment.

Production

The film was directed and written by Park Chul-Soon. To prepare for the role of Da-Seul, lead actress Yoo Hae-Jung visited a school for children with disabilities to observe and interact with students, including those with savant syndrome. Director Park Chul-Soon emphasized a collaborative approach to directing, focusing on building a rapport with the young actress through shared interests, such as animals, rather than relying solely on the script.

Q&A session for the film — Director Park Chul-Soon and actress Yoo Hae-Jung at a Q&A session in Daegu, December 2011.

Release and Reception

Daseulyi held its world premiere at the 15th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) in July 2011 under the title The Lovely Child. It was later released generally in South Korea in November 2011 under the title Lovable. The film was recognized at the 11th Asian Film Festival of Dallas in 2012, where it received the award for Best Narrative Feature, and Yoo Hae-Jung was honored with the Special Jury Prize for Acting.