Three Sisters (Korean: 세자매; RR: Sejamae) is a 2020 South Korean drama film, written and directed by Lee Seung-won. Starring Moon So-ri, Kim Sun-young and Jang Yoon-ju, the film revolves three sisters who seem to live an ordinary life but lives in their own different ways, but memories shook everything. It had its premiere at 25th Busan International Film Festival in October 2020 and was released theatrically on January 27, 2021 in South Korea. The film has won 12 awards at different award ceremonies.
| Three Sisters | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Hangul | 세자매 |
| Hanja | 세姊妹 |
| Revised Romanization | Sejamae |
| McCune–Reischauer | Sejamae |
| Directed by | Lee Seung-won |
| Screenplay by | Lee Seung-won |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Cho Young-chen |
| Edited by | Son yeon-ji |
| Music by | Park Ki-heon |
Production company | Studio Up |
| Distributed by | Little Big Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | est. US$384,717[1] |
Cast
edit- Moon So-ri as Mi-yeon
- Kim Sun-young as Hee-sook
- Jang Yoon-ju as Mi-ok
- Jo Han-chul as Dong-wook
- Hyun Bong-sik as Sang-joon
- Kim Ga-hee as Bo-mi
- Lim Hye-young as Hyo-jeong
- Jang Dae-woong as Seong-woon
- Lee Bong-ryun as Supermarket lady
- Cha Mi-kyung as Mother
Release
editThree Sisters had its premiere at 25th Busan International Film Festival in October, 2020 and was released theatrically on January 27, 2021 in South Korea.[2]
The film was invited at 20th New York Asian Film Festival in Frontlines section. It was screened on August 18, 2021 at Lincoln Center.[3] It was also part of 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival in 'Gateway' section, where it was first screened in October 2021.[4] It was also screened at 10th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt on October 24, 2021.[5]
Home media
editThe film was made available for streaming on IPTV (KT olleh TV, SK B tv, LG U+TV), Home Choice, Google Play, TVING, Naver TV and KakaoPage. It is also available through KT SkyLife and Cinefox platforms from February 23, 2021.[6]
Reception
editBox office
editThe film was released on January 27, 2021 on 569 screens.[7]
As of December 26, 2021[update] it is at 25th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$593,270 and 83,678 admissions.[1]
Critical response
editPanos Kotzathanasis reviewing for HanCinema praised the performance of Kim Sun-young, Moon So-ri and Jang Yoon-ju. Kotzathanasis appreciated the cinematography and in conclusion wrote, "Three Sisters communicates its messages about the consequences of trauma convincingly, while not many faults can be found neither in direction and acting, nor to the production values. The only thing that actually prevents the film from becoming great is the transition, which could have been handled much better. As a whole, however, definitely deserves a watch."[8]
Jung Yu-jin of News 1 praising the performance said, "the three actors, Moon So-ri, Kim Seon-young, and Jang Yoon-joo, is unparalleled." Jung praised the direction saying, "the director's detailed directing ability, which portrays the universal and mundane subject of domestic violence in a sympathetic way through the lives of three sisters who seem ordinary and unusual."[9] Rhythm Zaveri reviewing for Asian Movie Pulse appreciated the cinematography saying, "cinematography makes some interesting choices, giving each sister a distinct look with the lightning and lensing". He criticized the way transition between flash back and present, he opined, "more precise directorial vision in this matter, or even a more thought-out edit [was required]." Concluding Zaveri praised the performance of ensemble of Kim Sun-young, Moon So-ri and Jang Yoon-ju and wrote, "Outside of these small niggles, Three Sisters certainly has its merits and deserves a watch, specially to marvel at the performances from its three excellent female leads and the subtlety with which it manages to encompass complicated themes into the narrative effortlessly."[10]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress (Film) | Moon So-ri | Nominated | [11] |
| Best Supporting Actress (Film) | Kim Sun-young | Won | |||
| Best New Actress – Film | Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated | |||
| 15th Asian Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated | [12] | |
| 26th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Nominated | [13] | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Nominated | |||
| Best New Actress | Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated | |||
| 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Nominated | [14] | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won | |||
| Best Director | Lee Seung-won | Nominated | [15] | ||
| Best Screenplay | Lee Seung-won | Nominated | |||
| 41st Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Won | [16] | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won | [17] | ||
| 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Won | [18][19][20] | |
| Best Director | Lee Seung-won | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won | |||
| Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated | ||||
| Golden Cinematography Awards | Jury's Special Award | Jang Yoon-ju | Won | [21] | |
| 8th Korean Film Writers Association Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Seung-won | Won | [22] | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won | |||
| Female Film Writer of the Year Award | Best Actor Award | Moon So-ri | Won | [23] | |
| Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won | [24] | |
| 2021 Women's Film Festival | Best Actor Award | Moon So-ri | Won | [25] |
References
edit- ^ a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Busan International Film Festival Three Sisters". BIFF Archive. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ MacDonald, Joan (July 20, 2021). "20th New York Asian Film Festival Screens Several South Korean Films". Forbes. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "VIFF 2021 Films Three Sisters, Gateway". VIFF. September 9, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Three Sisters / 세 자매". Korean Film Festival Frankfurt. WordPress. October 24, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ Jo Ji-young (February 23, 2021). "[공식] '세자매' 오늘(23일) 극장 동시 VOD 서비스 오픈..문제적 자매들 안방 상륙" [[Official] 'Three Sisters' opens simultaneous VOD service in theaters today (23rd).. Problematic sisters landing on home screen]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Three Sisters 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Panos Kotzathanasis (March 12, 2021). "[HanCinema's Film Review] "Three Sisters"". HanCinema. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Jung Yu-jin (January 21, 2021). "[N리뷰] '세자매', 불편했다가 불안했다가 납득하고 마는" [[N Review] 'Three Sisters', uncomfortable and anxious, then convinced]. News 1 (in Korean). Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Rhythm Zaveri (March 17, 2021). "Film Review: Three Sisters (2021) by Lee Seung-won". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Kim Jin-seok and Jo Yeon-kyung (April 12, 2021). "57회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 부문 최종 후보 공개" [57th Baeksang Arts Awards, final nominees for TV, film and theater revealed]. Daily Sports (in Korean). Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via naver.
- ^ Lee Seung-mi (September 9, 2021). "[공식]'소리도없이' 유아인X'콜' 전종서, 亞필름어워즈 男女주연상 노미네이트" [[Official] 'Silent' Yoo Ah-in X 'Call' Jeon Jong-seo, 亞Film Awards Nominee for Best Leading Actress]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Seong Ha- Hoon (July 5, 2021). "춘사영화제, 이번엔 온라인 개봉영화까지 품었다, 26회 춘사국제영화제 후보작 발표, <승리호> 조성희 감독도 후보에" [Chunsa Film Festival, this time also has online release, Nominations announced at the 26th Chunsa International Film Festival]. OhmyNews. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Jo Young-mi (August 29, 2021). "모가디슈' ·'자산어보' 13개 부문 중 8개 부문 후보에 올라" [Mogadishu’ and ‘Jasaneobo’ were nominated for 8 out of 13 categories]. Busan Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved August 29, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Jung Yu-jin (October 7, 2021). "'모가디슈' 허준호·'세자매' 김선영, 남·녀조연상 [부일영화상]" ['Mogadishu' Heo Jun-ho, 'Three Sisters' Kim Seon-young, Best Supporting Male/Female [Buil Film Awards]]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Kim Kyung-hee (November 11, 2021). "'세자매' 문소리, 영평상 여우주연상 수상" ['Three Sisters' Moon So-ri wins Best Actress Award at Youngpyeong Awards]. MBC Entertainment (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ Jung Yu-jin (October 26, 2021). "자산어보', 영평상 최우수작품상…설경구·문소리 남녀주연상" ['Jasaneobo' wins Best Picture at Youngpyeong Awards... Seol Kyung-gu and Moon So-ri Best Actor] (in Korean). News 1. Retrieved October 26, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Kim Na-ra (November 1, 2021). "제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식]" [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Baek Ji-eun (November 26, 2021). "[청룡영화상] "'행복한 영화' 자부심"…허준호X김선영, 남녀조연상" [[Blue Dragon Film Awards] "The pride of 'Happy Movie'"... Heo Jun-ho X Kim Seon-young, Best Supporting Actor] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved November 26, 2021 – via Naver.
- ^ Han Hyun-jung (November 26, 2021). "'모가디슈', '청룡' 작품상 등 5관왕…설경구·문소리 주연상[종합]" [5 crowns including Best Picture for 'Mogadishu' and 'Blue Dragon'... Seol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri Best Leading Actor [Comprehensive]]. Star Today (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ^ Kim Cheol- gwan (November 21, 2021). "영화 <자산어보> 황금촬영상 5관왕" [The movie <Jasaneobo> wins 5 Golden Cinematography Awards]. OhmyNews (in Korean). Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ Lee Jae-Hoon (December 6, 2021). "'모가디슈', 영화제작가협회상 작품상…고두심·설경구 주연상" ['Mogadishu' wins Best Picture at the Film Producers Association... Go Doo-shim and Seol Kyung-gu Best Actor]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Bae Hyo-joo (December 9, 2021). "올해의 여성영화인상' 대상 고두심·연기상 문소리[공식]" [‘Female Film Impressionist of the Year’ Grand Prize, Go Doo-shim, Acting Award Moon So-ri [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ "변요한·김선영, 부산영화평론가협 연기자상 [연예뉴스 HOT④]" [Byun Yo-han and Kim Seon-young, Busan Film Critics Association Actor Award [Entertainment News HOT④]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Naver. November 29, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ Ryu Ji-yoon (December 16, 2021). "[D:현장] 연대로 빛난 '2021 여성영화인 축제'…고두심, 올해의 여성영화인상 수상" [[D:Site] The '2021 Women's Film Festival' that shines through solidarity... Go Doo-shim, Female Filmmaker of the Year Award]. Dailyan (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
External links
edit- Three Sisters at HanCinema
- Three Sisters at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)