Happy Chuseok everyone! After all the struggles we are facing right now, let’s always be reminded that there are still a lot to be thankful for.
For my Chuseok feature, I am writing about heartening Korean movies that you can watch with friends and family on your movie dates. Actually Chuseok weekend or not, you can pick one from this list for an engrossing film experience with your loved ones.
The Way Home
In 2002, The Way Home achieved an unexpected success with its seemingly modest yet deeply affecting story. Depicting the interaction between a bratty city boy who was left under his grandmother’s care, the little boy’s journey in acknowledging the warmth from his grandma is a tale full of warmth that can be enjoyed even in years to come.
Once in a while you get to sit with a simple story about love that doesn’t involve romantic feelings, and you will feel so happy and moved after spending time watching it.
Bunt
This endearing father-and-son movie is a heartwarming film full of a father’s love to his good-natured but feeble-minded child. It also highlights a friendship so sweet that will make you reminisce your childhood memories.
Bunt is a gladdening and encouraging movie experience. Full of inspiring and beautiful lessons about parenthood, friendship and believing in yourself. Even the humor is edifying, and you will just find yourself immersed in the story, cheering for Dong-gu – cheering for everything that will make him happy.
Miracle in Cell No. 7
Wrongfully accused of kidnapping and murdering the daughter of the police bureau chief, a mentally-challenged father was imprisoned and was separated to his 6-year old daughter. When he saved the leader of the cell room he was assigned to from a fatal attack, he was granted a wish and he can only think of seeing his daughter again. The inmates who can sneak in almost anything was able to smuggle the daughter inside and they embarked in a quest to uncover the truth before the final trial of the father’s case that could make or break him to execution.
Miracle in Cell No. 7 is a heart-warming tale that will make you smile and cry. This daddy-daughter-love film is a heart-wrenching picture that narrates the simple and yet meaningful theme of a father’s love to her daughter and a daughter’s appreciation to his loving father.
Scandal Makers
This upbeat delightful story is an amazing Korean movie treat. As a self-confessed Cha Tae Hyun fan, the signature amusing humor in most of his films kicked adorably and sassy easing a work week stress if you will watch it.
A local radio celebrity who is also playboy on the side meets an unexpected fate. His world changes upside down when a young girl approached him and claimed to be her long lost daughter along with her son. An instant-father-and-a-young-grandfather, this family makes your movie time so worthwhile as they worked on the new relationship they were put into, while adjusting to the invasion of their personal spaces in the most adorable way.
Hello Ghost
A man has been living all alone, and because he has no reason to live, he has been resorting to suicide, but he was rescued from his multiple attempts. After another unsuccessful trying, his fate will change. For the first time in his life, he will not be alone as he meets up new friends imported from the after-world.
The quest of fulfilling his dead friends’ bucket wishes will be the only guarantee that they will leave him, so off they set to do those wishes as they teach him how to enjoy and value life.
An amazingly done family movie with amusing supernatural theme that you will enjoy watching with your family. The ending twist won me over impressively.
Sunny
This is one of the best friendship movies I’ve seen in my life. It made me dig back memories I’ve shared with my high school girlfriends.
A retrospective film that will make you stop and think for a while to wonder and reminisce one of the best days of your life. Its nostalgic vibe easily makes you cry and happy at the same time.
A dedicated mother and wife accidentally bumps with her dying high school friend and from there they relive the old times while looking for the rest of girls in their friendship circle. Narrated in shifting timelines, the film beautifully captures the depth of friendship built with trust and memories.
Paying homage to all those friendships we build, this film is a firm reminder of appreciating friendship that endures.
Hearty Paws
Another tear-jerker dog movie, Hearty Paws promises a lot of smiles. The simple and quick to predict story line is overshadowed by the relationship of Hearty, the dog and his master.
Hearty Paws tells about the story of Chan, Soyi and Hearty. Chan and Soyi’s mother left them under their auntie’s care and went to the city to earn money, but she never came back. Since Soyi wants a dog for her birthday, Chan steals a pup for his sister’s birthday gift.
Chan loves his sister so much and has been living a simple life with her and their dog. He is willing to take all the hardships in life and was trying to be strong for his sister. However, his sister dies because of an accident. From there, life becomes extra hard for Chan, but Hearty gives him the strength to get by.
Another heartwarming movie you can share with your family, and if you are a dog lover like me, I can guarantee this as a nice watch Korean movie.
My Brilliant Life
This is by far the only Song Hye Kyo Korean movie that I enjoyed immensely. A heartwarming and engrossing story that makes the viewers root for the family to be together forever. Although leaning on a sad tone, the narrative is neat and most of the time thought-provoking.
A young couple raising their child with a rare disease have to confront the sad reality that the child who changed their fate is bound to leave them permanently. It talks about the importance of family and the magical bond that every parents and their child have. Engaging, no complications just pure narration of a loving family story.
*Movie Posters Credit To Respective Film Distributing Company
