Secret Sunshine

"One of the ten best films of 2010. A great movie by a major figure in world cinema!"—A. O. Scott, New York Times

Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong's riveting, masterfully-told drama is a beautifully rendered exploration of motherhood, grief, faith, and emotional survival. A single mother relocates to her husband's small hometown for a new start after his sudden passing. Attempting to make a new life there for her young son is a challenge, and she manages to befriend only a bumbling repair man with dubious intentions. When tragedy strikes again, Shin-ae undergoes an emotionally shattering journey that pits her against everything she's known about humanity, love, forgiveness, and God. Lee’s incredible command of storytelling, character, and visual details creates a textured filmmaking style that feels almost novelistic.

Jeon Do-yeon (recently seen as the star of the Wex at Gateway film The Housemaid) won a best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her extraordinary performance, one that has been compared to Gena Rowlands's legendary roles in John Cassavetes's films. Lee Chang-dong's latest film, Poetry, plays at the Wexner Center on April 1 & 2. (132 mins., HD video)