Singapore International Film Festival 2018
A Broad Bellflower
Language
Korean - subtitles to be advised
Cast
Kim Ryung-jo, O Mi-ran, Song Yon-ok
Synopsis
Sisters Song-rim and Song-hwa lead a simple life in a village in the rural mountains of North Korea. Their idyllic existence is threatened by the ambition of Song-rim’s boyfriend, Won-bong, who longs to leave the mountains with Song-rim for a better life in the city. Things come to a head when Won-bong issues an ultimatum: Either Song-rim leaves with him, or he leaves the village forever.
Part romantic melodrama, part ode to the importance of community and staying true to one’s roots, A Broad Bellflower was one of the most popular films of 1980s North Korea. It swept the awards at the inaugural Pyongyang International Film Festival and launched the career of its lead actress, O Mi-ran.