Buzz
2. Moonlit Encounter
On the Beach at Night Alone is a 2017 South Korean television drama. It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the main competition section at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. In Berlin, Kim Min-hee won the Silver Bear for Best Actress.
Yeong-hee, an actress who has left South Korea and ended a relationship with a married director, arrives in Hamburg, where an old friend named Ji-yeong lives. They find solace abroad after divorce and eventually stay there, forming a tight bond between the two women. In their mostly Yeong-hee-centered conversations, she talks about her psychological state. In the coastal town of Gangneung, where Yeong-hee meets some friends and has some lively soju-fueled conversations.
Kim Min-hee, once again, intensely captivating, truly present in every scene, her performance undeniably showcasing her exceptional talent. She delivers one of the standout scenes in her career.
DETAILS:
Director: Sann-soo Hong
Some cast members: Kim Min-hee, Young-hwa Seo, Jae-yeong Jeong
Duration: 1h 41m
Release Year: 2017
IMDB Score: 6.8
TOMATOMETER Score: 92%
AUDIENCE Score: 62%
3. The Woman Who Ran
The Woman Who Ran is a 2020 South Korean television drama. It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the main competition section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival. In Berlin, Hong Sang-soo won the Silver Bear for Best Director.
In the unique style of the veteran South Korean filmmaker, The Woman Who Ran continues to be unexpectedly gentle and simple. The film resembles stacked layers of everyday life, creating a modest portrait of femininity. Throughout the film, women gather to enjoy grilled food, sip coffee, chat about men, love, marriage, and the ups and downs of life in a remarkably tranquil setting.
A short-haired Kim Min-hee as Gam-hee appears more surreal than ever, yet viewers still delight in watching her comfortably seated or playfully toying with her fingers during a conversation with Woo-jin in a coffee shop.
DETAILS:
Director: Sann-soo Hong
Some cast members: Kim Min-hee, Song Seon-mi, Eun-mi Lee
Duration: 1h 17m
Release Year: 2020
IMDB Score: 6.7
TOMATOMETER Score: 100%
AUDIENCE Score: 57%
4. The Right of Now, the Wrong of Later
Present Realities, Future Fallacies is a South Korean film from 2015. It bagged the Golden Leopard, the top accolade at the 68th Locarno International Film Festival, along with Best Actor for Jung Jae-young. However, the impression left by Kim Min-Hee is equally worth watching.
The movie unfolds a romantic narrative with two storylines, each with diverse outcomes. Chun Su, a director, arrives in Suwon to showcase his latest film at a festival. Due to an organizational glitch, he has some leisure time and decides to visit an ancient palace in the area. There, he encounters a beautiful and shy painter named Hee Jung, and ultimately, the two decide to spend the entire day together. Kim Min-hee vividly portrays two distinct characters—one a lonely, restless, and insecure soul, the other a confidently solitary individual exuding gentleness and sensitivity.
DETAILS:
Director: Sang-soo Hong
Some cast members: Kim Min-hee, Jae-yeong Jeong, Yuh-Jung Youn
Duration: 2 hours 1 minute
Release Year: 2015
IMDB Score: 7.2
TOMATOMETER Score: 92%
AUDIENCE Score: 66%
5. The Handmaiden
In The Handmaiden, the character 'Count' Fujiwara has attempted to immerse himself in the secluded circle of Kouzuki, an advocate of eccentric independence, who has become the man managing a very large estate and plans to marry his niece, Lady Hideko, the true heiress of the family's immense wealth.
Fujiwara unfolds a complex plan to 'steal' Lady Hideko for himself, and with the help of a provocatively dressed girl, Sook-hee, a small-time criminal living with her aunt's family. The plan is for the girl to become Lady Hideko's handmaiden and assist Fujiwara in seducing her. However, things don't go as planned, as an attraction forms between the two girls, leading to a story full of surprises.
Kim Min-hee truly shines as Lady Hideko, skillfully portraying various emotions and perspectives as she constantly transforms throughout the segments, from an innocent, fragile rich girl to a ruthless and scheming mastermind. The film's visual power is conveyed through her beauty, as she appears as stunning as a doll with profound machinations beneath the surface.
DETAILS:
Director: Park Chan-Wook
Cast: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong
Duration: 2h 25m
Release Year: 2016
IMDB Score: 8.1
TOMATOMETER Score: 95%
AUDIENCE Score: 91%
