Three Sisters (2020 film) explained

Three Sisters
Native Name:
Child:yes
Hangul:세자매
Hanja:
Rr:Sejamae
Mr:Sejamae
Director:Lee Seung-won
Screenplay:Lee Seung-won
Music:Park Ki-heon
Cinematography:Cho Young-chen
Editing:Son yeon-ji
Studio:Studio Up
Distributor:Little Big Pictures
Runtime:115 minutes
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Gross: US$384,717

Three Sisters 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.

Cast

Release

Three Sisters had its premiere at 25th Busan International Film Festival in October, 2020 and was released theatrically on January 27, 2021 in South Korea.[1]

The film was invited at 20th New York Asian Film Festival in Frontlines section. It was screened on August 18, 2021 at Lincoln Center.[2] It was also part of 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival in 'Gateway' section, where it was first screened in October 2021.[3] It was also screened at 10th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt on October 24, 2021.[4]

Home media

The 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.[5]

Reception

Box office

The film was released on January 27, 2021 on 569 screens.[6]

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.[7]

Critical response

Panos 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

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref(s)
2021 Best Actress (Film)[11]
Best Supporting Actress (Film)Kim Sun-young
Best New Actress – FilmJang Yoon-ju
15th Asian Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressJang Yoon-ju[12]
26th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest Actress[13]
Best Supporting ActressKim Sun-young
Best New ActressJang Yoon-ju
30th Buil Film AwardsBest Actress[14]
Best Supporting ActressKim Sun-young
Best DirectorLee Seung-won[15]
Best ScreenplayLee Seung-won
41st Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest ActressMoon So-ri[16]
Best Supporting ActressKim Sun-young[17]
42nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ActressMoon So-ri[18] [19] [20]
Best DirectorLee Seung-won
Best Screenplay
Best Supporting ActressKim Sun-young
Jang Yoon-ju
Golden Cinematography AwardsJury's Special Award Jang Yoon-ju[21]
8th Korean Film Writers Association AwardsBest ScreenplayLee Seung-won[22]
Best Supporting ActressKim Sun-young
Female Film Writer of the Year AwardBest Actor AwardMoon So-ri[23]
Busan Film Critics AwardsBest ActressKim Sun-young[24]
2021 Women's Film FestivalBest Actor AwardMoon So-ri[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Busan International Film Festival Three Sisters . BIFF Archive. November 25, 2021.
  2. Web site: 20th New York Asian Film Festival Screens Several South Korean Films . MacDonald . Joan . July 20, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . Forbes.
  3. Web site: VIFF 2021 Films Three Sisters, Gateway . VIFF . September 9, 2021. November 25, 2021. en.
  4. News: Three Sisters / 세 자매. Korean Film Festival Frankfurt . WordPress . October 24, 2021. December 29, 2021.
  5. News: [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. Jo Ji-young. Sports Chosun. February 23, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . ko.
  6. Web site: KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Three Sisters 2021. November 25, 2021. KOFIC.
  7. Web site: KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2021. November 25, 2021. KOFIC.
  8. Web site: [HanCinema's Film Review] "Three Sisters" ]. . Panos Kotzathanasis . November 25, 2021. March 12, 2021. en.
  9. News: [N리뷰] '세자매', 불편했다가 불안했다가 납득하고 마는 ]. [N Review] 'Three Sisters', uncomfortable and anxious, then convinced . Jung Yu-jin . News 1 . January 21, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . ko.
  10. News: Film Review: Three Sisters (2021) by Lee Seung-won. Rhythm Zaveri . Asian Movie Pulse. March 17, 2021 . November 17, 2021 . en.
  11. News: 57회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 부문 최종 후보 공개. Kim Jin-seok and Jo Yeon-kyung. 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, final nominees for TV, film and theater revealed . naver. Daily Sports. April 12, 2021. November 25, 2021. ko.
  12. Web site: [공식]'소리도없이' 유아인X'콜' 전종서, 亞필름어워즈 男女주연상 노미네이트]. Lee Seung-mi. [Official] 'Silent' Yoo Ah-in X 'Call' Jeon Jong-seo, 亞Film Awards Nominee for Best Leading Actress. Sports Chosun. Naver . September 9, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . ko.
  13. News: 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 . Seong Ha- Hoon . OhmyNews . July 5, 2021. November 25, 2021.
  14. Web site: 모가디슈' ·'자산어보' 13개 부문 중 8개 부문 후보에 올라. Jo Young-mi. Mogadishu’ and ‘Jasaneobo’ were nominated for 8 out of 13 categories. Busan Ilbo. Naver. August 29, 2021. August 29, 2021. ko.
  15. Web site: '모가디슈' 허준호·'세자매' 김선영, 남·녀조연상 [부일영화상]]. Jung Yu-jin. 'Mogadishu' Heo Jun-ho, 'Three Sisters' Kim Seon-young, Best Supporting Male/Female [Buil Film Awards]. News1. Naver. October 7, 2021. November 25, 2021. ko.
  16. News: '세자매' 문소리, 영평상 여우주연상 수상 . 'Three Sisters' Moon So-ri wins Best Actress Award at Youngpyeong Awards . Kim Kyung-hee . MBC Entertainment . Naver . November 11, 2021 . November 11, 2021. ko.
  17. Web site: 자산어보', 영평상 최우수작품상…설경구·문소리 남녀주연상. Jung Yu-jin. 'Jasaneobo' wins Best Picture at Youngpyeong Awards... Seol Kyung-gu and Moon So-ri Best Actor . News 1. Naver . October 26, 2021. October 26, 2021. ko.
  18. Web site: 제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식]]. Kim Na-ra. 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official] . My Daily. Naver . November 1, 2021. November 25, 2021. ko.
  19. Web site: [청룡영화상] "'행복한 영화' 자부심"…허준호X김선영, 남녀조연상]. Baek Ji-eun. [Blue Dragon Film Awards] "The pride of 'Happy Movie'"... Heo Jun-ho X Kim Seon-young, Best Supporting Actor . Sports Chosun. Naver. November 26, 2021. November 26, 2021 . ko.
  20. News: '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] . Han Hyun-jung . Star Today . Naver . November 26, 2021 . November 26, 2021 . ko.
  21. News: 영화 <자산어보> 황금촬영상 5관왕 . The movie wins 5 Golden Cinematography Awards . Kim Cheol- gwan . OhmyNews. November 21, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . ko.
  22. News: '모가디슈', 영화제작가협회상 작품상…고두심·설경구 주연상 . 'Mogadishu' wins Best Picture at the Film Producers Association... Go Doo-shim and Seol Kyung-gu Best Actor . Lee Jae-Hoon . Newsis . Naver . December 6, 2021 . December 6, 2021. ko.
  23. Web site: 올해의 여성영화인상' 대상 고두심·연기상 문소리[공식]]. Bae Hyo-joo. ‘Female Film Impressionist of the Year’ Grand Prize, Go Doo-shim, Acting Award Moon So-ri [Official] . Naver. Newsen . December 9, 2021. December 11, 2021. ko.
  24. News: 변요한·김선영, 부산영화평론가협 연기자상 [연예뉴스 HOT④] ]. Byun Yo-han and Kim Seon-young, Busan Film Critics Association Actor Award [Entertainment News HOT④] . Sports Donga . Naver. November 29, 2021. December 11, 2021 . ko.
  25. News: [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 . Ryu Ji-yoon . Dailyan . Naver. December 16, 2021. December 16, 2021 . ko.