Life Is Beautiful (2022 South Korean Film)
Life Is Beautiful (Korean: 인생은 아름다워; RR: Insaengeun Areumdawo) is a 2022 South Korean musical drama film directed by Choi Kook-hee. The film follows a woman who, upon learning she has a terminal illness, embarks on a journey to find her first love, accompanied by her reluctant husband.
Plot
Oh Se-yeon (Yum Jung-ah) is a dedicated wife and mother who discovers she has limited time left to live. She makes a final request to her husband, Kang Jin-bong (Ryu Seung-ryong), to help her locate her first love. Although Jin-bong is initially resistant to the idea, he eventually agrees to accompany her on a cross-country trip. As they travel, the couple navigates their strained relationship and revisits memories from their shared past.
Cast
The film features a large ensemble cast, including:
- Ryu Seung-ryong as Kang Jin-bong
- Yum Jung-ah as Oh Se-yeon
- Park Se-wan as teenage Oh Se-yeon
- Ong Seong-wu as Park Jung-woo
- Shim Dal-gi as teenage Hyun-jung
- Ha Hyun-sang as Kang Seo-jin
- Kim Da-in as Kang Ye-jin
- Kim Hye-ok as Kang Jin-bong's mother
- Park Young-gyu as Kang Jin-bong's father
Production and Release
The film was directed by Choi Kook-hee and written by Bae Se-young. It was released in South Korea on September 28, 2022, and distributed by Lotte Entertainment. The film has a runtime of 122 minutes.
Reception
At the 58th Daejong Film Awards held on December 9, 2022, the film received recognition in several categories: Yum Jung-ah won Best Actress, Ong Seong-wu received the New Wave Award, and Kim Joon-seok was awarded for Best Music.