Birthday (2019 South Korean Film)

Birthday (Korean: 생일; RR: Saengil) is a 2019 South Korean drama film directed and written by Lee Jong-eon. The film explores the profound grief and emotional recovery of a family following the loss of their son in the sinking of the MV Sewol ferry, which occurred on April 16, 2014.

Poster for the film Birthday — Promotional poster for the 2019 film Birthday.

Plot

The narrative centers on a married couple, Jung-il (played by Sul Kyung-gu) and Soon-nam (played by Jeon Do-yeon). Jung-il struggles with intense guilt over his absence during the time of his son's death, while Soon-nam attempts to navigate her daily life and support her family while mourning the loss of her child.

Production

The film was directed by Lee Jong-eon and produced by a team including Kim Soon-mo, Lee Chang-dong, Lee Joon-dong, and Lee Dong-ha. Principal photography for the project commenced in April 2018. The film serves as a dramatic reflection on the societal and personal impact of the 2014 MV Sewol ferry tragedy.

Sul Kyung-gu, who portrays the character Jung-il.

Jeon Do-yeon, who portrays the character Soon-nam.

Cast

The film features a large ensemble cast, including:

Sul Kyung-gu as Jung-il
Jeon Do-yeon as Soon-nam
Do Young-seo as Ye-sol
Yoon Chan-young as Su-ho
Kim Soo-jin as Woo-chan's mother
Sung Yoo-bin as Sung-joon
Tang Joon-sang as Woo-chan
Choi Hyun-jin as young Su-ho

Reception

At the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards held on June 5, 2020, Jeon Do-yeon received the Best Actress award for her performance in the film.