If I were going to make a list of a list of films that portray grief in a palpable manner, Secret Sunshine would be near the top of the list. Recently widowed, Shin-ae (Jeon Do-yeon) and her son Jun (Seon Jung-yeop) move to the small town of Milyang to start a new life. Her mantra whenever anyone asks why she left Seoul, is “My husband was born here.”
On her first day in town, she begins a friendship with Jong-chan (Song Kang-ho), a good-hearted mechanic who quickly finds himself falling for her. Just when it seems Secret Sunshine might be the story of a second chance at love, the film takes an abrupt and tragic turn. A single event leaves Shin-ae facing all-consuming grief.
One evening, feeling optimistic about her life, Shin-ae decides to go out for a drink with the girls. She returns home to a call from a kidnapper demanding her entire savings in exchange for Jun. Shin-ae’s dropping off of the money is a sequence fraught with tension, but the film never becomes a thriller in the traditional sense. The kidnapping doesn’t go as planned, and detectives escort Shin-ae to the local river to identify Jun’s body, which is closely followed by the arrest of the kidnapper. Forgoing the expected path of following the manhunt and capture of the kidnapper allows director/screenwriter Lee Chang-dong to closely examine the events emotional impact on Shin-ae.
Initially, Shin-ae finds relief in Christianity and the sense of community it offers. In time though, that comfort dissipates and her behavior becomes more erratic. The only constant is Jong-chan, who endures ridicule and heartache to stand by a woman he loves, despite the fact that she has no romantic feelings towards him. Song Kang-ho is a talented actor, and the kindness and ease with which he plays the role immediately has the audience rooting for his character.
Lee Chang-dong takes on a complex subject and doesn’t shy away from its complexities. As Hollywood often does, a tragic tale like this could have easily been turned into a into a feel-good crowd pleaser. Instead, Lee is more concerned with the choices we make when faced with seemingly inconsolable grief. He and his cinematographer, Cho Yong-kyu, let Secret Sunshine play out in real locations, using naturalistic light, capturing Shin-ae’s unraveling in all of its detail.
Jeon Do-yeon emotionally nimble and breathtakingly physical performance is a wonder to watch. When Shin-ae makes the mistake of visiting her son’s murderer in prison, being faced with questions of Christian faith and forgiveness, Do-yeon touches on a many deeply felt emotions without speaking more than a handful of words.
The final scene is a moving one, relying on feeling rather than exposition to communicate. Without saying exactly what the scene entails, it makes it clear that everyone has to take a series of different steps before they’re ready to move on from grief. The sun will always shine again, no matter how gray the day.
Presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1, this 1080p transfer is an excellent one. The scope photography is wonderfully detailed. The color palette is bright and vivid. Black levels are robust throughout, while whites are intentionally overblown, causing a nice spring-like brightness. There are no digital anomalies to speak of.
The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound mix is front and center. Surrounds aren’t really used, but that’s because of the films design, not the fault of transfer engineers. Dialogue is clear and audible throughout, atmospherics are well-utilized, and effects are cleanly presented.
English SDH subtitles are included.
We get a small, but nice slate of special features:
- Lee Chang-dong – in this video interview, conducted by film critic Kim Young-jin in Seoul, South Korean, exclusively for Criterion, director Lee Chang-dong discusses the themes in Secret Sunshine, its characters, and production history. In Korean, with optional English subtitles. (25 min, 1080p).
- On the set of Secret Sunshine – this video piece features on-set interviews with actors Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho, as well as behind the scenes footage. In Korean, with optional English subtitles. (7 min, 1080i).
- Trailer – the original U.S. trailer for Secret Sunshine. In English and Korean, with English subtitles where necessary. (2 min, 1080p).
- Booklet – an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film critic Dennis Lim.
