The World of Us (2016 Film)
The World of Us (Korean: 우리들; RR: Woorideul) is a 2016 South Korean drama film written and directed by Yoon Ga-Eun. The film examines the intricate and often painful social hierarchies within childhood friendships.
Plot
The story follows Sun, a lonely elementary school student who spends her summer vacation in isolation. Her life changes when she meets Jia, a new transfer student. The two develop a close bond, sharing secrets and spending their summer days together. However, as the new school term begins, their relationship shifts. Jia begins to distance herself from Sun, aligning instead with Bo-Ra, a popular student who holds influence over their peer group. Fearing a return to her previous state of social isolation, Sun attempts to reconcile with Jia, eventually leading to the revelation of a shared secret that complicates their relationship further.
Production and Release
The film was directed and written by Yoon Ga-Eun and produced by Kim Soon-Mo. It features cinematography by Min Jun-Won and Kim Ji-Hyun. The film was released in South Korea on June 16, 2016, with a runtime of 95 minutes. It was distributed by At9 Film.
Cast
- Choi Soo-In as Sun
- Seol Hye-In as Jia
- Lee Seo-Yeon as Bo-Ra
- Choi Jun-Woo as Min-Cheol
- Jang Hye-Jin as Mother
- Son Suk-Bae as Father
- Ri Woo-Jin as Stationary store man
- Yoo Ho-Han as Director
Reception and Awards
The World of Us received critical attention for its realistic portrayal of children's social lives. It was screened at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2016 as part of the Generation Kplus program and at the 18th Udine Far East Film Festival in April 2016.
The film earned several accolades, including:
- 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards (2016): Best New Director (Yoon Ga-Eun)
- 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards (2017): Best Screenplay (Yoon Ga-Eun)