My Brilliant Life (2014) Poster

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7/10
Funny, sad, depressing and uplifting. A Beautiful Film!!
subratjain18 September 2016
I watched this movie even though it didn't have any reviews after seeing the subject line. The story revolves around a family of three, with the son having Progeria. A disease that makes you grow 10 times faster and affects 1 in 30 million.

Mi-ra and Dae-soo were teenage lovers and conceived Ah-reum at a tender age of 17, who now suffers from Progeria. The film doesn't focus much on anything else and derives its plot mainly from the relation that the three leads share. It surprisingly doesn't focus much on the "teenage parent angle" to make the film sappy and I have to say it works brilliantly. The connection between different characters is explored deeply and is presented with immaculate perfection. We see the parents reminiscing about their old life as a singer and an athlete before they had a child. Whereas Ah-reum struggles to come to terms with his approaching death while trying to take in as much as he can before he passes on to another life.

The actors do a very convincing job and you start feeling for them right from the beginning. While the kid on his death bed wrenches your heart the director makes sure that his quips make you laugh the exact next moment. How he connects to the world around him was a delight to watch. You see him as a super positive person in the beginning and also as a scared and irritated being as he approaches his premature end.

My only gripe was with the characters of teenage Mi-ra and Dae-soo. You shouldn't make people in their mid 30's play teenagers. It looked to evident and distasteful. Apart from this the movie was a delight to watch and I would recommend it to everyone.
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8/10
incredibly genuine and emotionally heart-rending
aminifatimaaa12 December 2018
This movie is unexpectedly more heartbreaking than I thought it would be. A film where a family have to overcome a seemingly insuperable emotional obstacle. Strong performances from the actors especially from Song Hye-Kyo. This movie will leave you emotionally unstable.
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8/10
A fantastic story and a very beautiful movie...
paul_haakonsen8 May 2017
First of all I just have to say one thing; wow! This movie was an amazing emotional journey of a beautiful story. It is the kind of story that sinks right into your heart and soul and sticks with you for a long, long time.

I had no idea what the movie was about, but I happened to come across the movie by sheer random luck. And given my fascination with Asian cinema, and the fact that South Korea often makes really outstanding movies, prompted me to sit down to watch "My Brilliant Life" (aka "Doo-geun-doo-geun nae-in-saeng") without a second thought.

This turned out to be a really outstanding, memorable and beautiful movie. And if you enjoy a good drama, then you should definitely take the time to sit down and watch this 2014 movie from director Je-Yong Lee.

The story is about 16 year old Ah-Reum whom is diagnosed with Progeria Syndrome, an ailment that causes his body to rapidly age and now have but months left to live. Given TV exposure, Ah-Reum finds a soulmate in form of a pen-pal, whom also is suffering from some ailment.

The acting in the movie was really good, and all people on the cast list did really good jobs in portraying their given roles and characters. Especially Hye-Kyo Song, Dong-Won Gang and Seong-Mok Cho put on amazing performances and carried the movie so well.

You might want to have a tissue at hand when you sit down to watch "My Brilliant Life", because there are some very emotional and heartfelt moments throughout the course of this movie. But this is not just a tear-jerker, there are also so very happy and uplifting moments here. And the writers Min-Seok Choi, Je-Yong Lee, Hyo-Jin Oh, Aeran Kim and Je-Yong Lee really managed to create something unique and spectacular here.

"My Brilliant Life" is right up alongside with another South Korean drama titled "Oasis". And I can warmly recommend that you take the time to sit down and watch "My Brilliant Life", as it is a very memorable movie.
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My Brilliant Life is a brilliant film
degirl042021 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
that will have you reaching for a box of tissues.

The movie though is based on the family's struggle with their son's rare illness, it shows the courage of the family...

How Ahreum tries to contain his pains while remaining to have a positive outlook. His loving portrait of his parents qualities and how he was a product of teenage pregnancy. You will love his spirit. How Daesoo tries so hard to earn money for the medical fees of his son while ensuring that his son never feels that he was ever a burden. How Mira taught her son that he should never be ashamed of how he looks and how he feels. She reminded him that he is still a teenager so it is OK to act like one even if he physically he does not look like it
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7/10
A emotional Sunday night watch
chachareal8 February 2021
Ok so the story was just brilliant, it was captivating but also in the same way predictable. The pacing was on point also the timeline of the storytelling also at some point it was lagging. But these are only the small disadvantages. Overall the movie was worth the watch, the acting, dialogues, the kids storytelling was on point. Better get your tissues ready :__(
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10/10
Korean Brilliance
AJ_McAninch21 June 2019
The mediocre review for this and other superb Korean movies here--which those 'raters' probably didn't even watch--are absurd. This is a brilliant, sweet movie with wonderful actors, especially incredible Jo Sung Mok as the bright and charming boy who suffers with such love and grace. Rather than a tragedy, the movie becomes a celebration of him and the joy he brings to others.
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10/10
A good movie to watch (in the rainy days, especially)
nafaaa20 November 2018
So guys, before you watch this, better prepare a pack of tissues or you'll regret it.

It's a good movie. It feels like it can knock your heart to have a beautiful life ahead. I was crying so hard while watching this alone😭

The actors and actresses are good. Their acting was amazing.

I'm a little bit sad because i know this movie so late. I mean it was released 4 years ago, and I just watch this now.

Anyway keep watching guys!
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10/10
Brilliant movie
phd_travel16 April 2020
In a wonderful way this movie was extremely touching and fresh. The angle is uniquely Korean the feelings of the kid for his parents sacrifices was so moving. Lots of Hollywood movies about dying kids or people are more about the dying person romance and finding love. This Korean movie builds up a back story about the parents.

The tone of this movie is right. Things aren't done in a melodramatic way so when the touching moments happen they are more effective as they unfold in a matter of fact and wryly funny way. Restraint is the key here. Kang Dong Won gives a moving and vulnerable performance as a young father. Song Hye Kyo doesn't overact. They both look a bit strange as teenagers but it would have been too confusing to use another set of actors. The child actor is very effective though he seems a bit agile for a sick person.
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10/10
Beautiful movie
richurafy3 April 2019
All actors awesome expecially that boy.superb direction nothing to say more this film always in my heart😍
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10/10
its perfect
backnblack-061233 March 2022
There just isnt anything they could have done to make this any better, not all KD are silly romcoms.

The performance from this kid will stay with me.
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