Miracle: Letters to the President

Miracle: Letters to the President (Korean: 기적; Hanja: 奇蹟; RR: Gijeok) is a 2021 South Korean romantic drama film directed and co-written by Lee Jang-hoon for Blossom Pictures. Starring Park Jeong-min, Lee Sung-min, Im Yoon-ah and Lee Soo-kyung, the film is based on a true story of a high school mathematics genius Joon-kyeong. Set in 1980s in a remote township of North Gyeongsang Province, the film tells the story of establishing a simple, privately owned train station.

Miracle: Letters to the President
Promotional poster
Hangul
기적
Hanja
奇蹟
Revised RomanizationGijeok
Directed byLee Jang-hoon
Screenplay byLee Jang-hoon
Son Joo-yeon
Produced byYook Kyung-sam
StarringPark Jeong-min
Lee Sung-min
Im Yoon-ah
Lee Soo-kyung
CinematographyKim Tae-soo
Edited byPark Kyung-soon
Music byKim Tae-seong
Production
company
Distributed byLotte Entertainment
Release date
  • September 15, 2021 (2021-09-15)
Running time
117 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$5.4 million[1]

The film was theatrically released on September 15, 2021, coinciding with Chuseok festival holidays. On box office as of December 11, 2021 it ranks 8th among the Korean films released in the year 2021 in South Korea, with gross of US$5.61 million and 715,608 cumulative admissions.[1]

Synopsis

This fictionalized film is based on the true story of a family in the 1980s living in a roadless remote area of North Gyeongsang Province.

Tae-yoon, an engineer, has as his life goal setting up a train station in his village, which has tracks but no station. His son Joon-gyeong is a high school math prodigy. He works with his girlfriend Ra-hee, his older sister Bo-gyeong and the village residents to establish in 1988 a small train station that is privately owned and the first of its kind.[2]

Cast
Special appearance

Production

On 9 June 2020, it was reported that Park Jeong-min, Im Yoon-ah and Lee Sung-min were considering the proposal of appearing in the film positively.[6][7] On 25 August 2020, the cast was confirmed.[8]

Principal photography began on August 2, 2020[9] The filming location was Gangwon Province, South Korea. The film set in 1988, was shot in an open set and filmed around Yucheon-ri, Jeongseon, and various other places in the province such as a house in Nakcheon-ri, Dogye Dongdeok branch school in Samcheok, High1 Chuchu Park, Wonju Ganhyeon Tourist Site, and Wonju Rail Bike.[10]

Release

Lotte Entertainment released a special video clip and handwritten letters of Park Jeong-min and Im Yoon-ah to promote the film.[11][12] It was scheduled to premiere in June 2021[13] but the release was postponed.[14] It was released theatrically on September 15, 2021, coinciding with Chuseok festival.[15]

The film was also screened at 1st Ulsan International Film Festival on December 19, 2021.[16] It was also selected at 24th edition of Far East Film Festival held from April 22 to 30 2022, where it won Golden Mulberry award.[17]

Reception
Park Jeong-min and Im Yoon-ah promoting the film on Marie Claire Korea in September 2021

Box office

The film was released on September 15, 2021, on 1198 screens.[18] As per Korean Film Council (Kofic) integrated computer network, the film ranks third on the Korean box office in opening weekend.[19]

As of December 11, 2021 it is at 8th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$5.61 million and 715,608 admissions.[1]

Critical response

Kang Min-kyung of Star News reviewing the film lauded the performance of ensemble, especially acting of Lee Soo-kyung, saying, "Soo-kyung is the trump card and core of The Miracle". She liked the scenic beauty of locales and wrote, "Their [Park Jeong-min, Lee Seong-min, Lim Yoon-ah, and Lee Su-kyung] ensemble and the beautiful background where you can feel the four seasons from spring to summer, autumn, and winter add to the immersion and leave a lasting impression in the heart." Kang wrote about the film in the opening of review, "It touches the hearts of the viewers slowly and permeates. A genius boy's 'miracle' brings laughter and sometimes tears. This is the story of the movie The Miracle."[20] Kim Seong-Hyun reviewing the film for YTN wrote that the performance of the actors was excellent but, "despite the strong performances of these actors, the film story is overly dramatic and weakens the narrative link. The conflict structure in the film and the process of resolving it are to the point that it feels forced and artificial.." Concluding the review Seong-Hyun said, " The Miracle ends with Richard Sanderson's famous song "Reality", which was also used in the movie La Boum in the 80s. The lyrics of the song 'Dream is my reality' are as beautiful as Junkyung's dream, but it is not enough to erase the bitter taste."[21]

Kim Ji-eun of Newsis in her review praised the performances of Park Jeong-min, Yoona Lim, Lee Seong-min and Lee Soo-kyung, writing, "The character shines with the strong performances of the actors." She opined that the film set in 1980s have "captured the nostalgic sensibility of that era", and "the sentimental atmosphere of a rural village without a train station, with beautiful scenery and colors." Kim wrote that the "warmth" of narrative softly pervaded "with the landscape in harmony with nature". She concluded, "It started out as a simple station, but in the end it is a story about a dream."[22]

Jung Yu-jin of News1 praised the performances of Park Jeong-min, Yoona Lim, Lee Seong-min and specially, Lee Soo-kyung, who in her opinion "is the heart of the film." Commenting on the mixing of filial relationship, first love of high school boy and fantasy, she said, "director Lee Jang-hoon mixed these familiar ingredients with a different seasoning called 'Fantasy' in an unfamiliar bowl based on a true story called 'Simple Station Making', and finished it well enough to eat. Jung felt that "the warm sensibility and humor that flows throughout the film" made "The Miracle, a cute and moist growth narrative that brightens the heart."[23]

Kim Ye-eun of Export News reviewing the film said, "The Miracle, which started with laughter and flowed into emotion, stimulates the tear glands with the warm story of these families. A strong reversal appears and sometimes adds to the emotion."[24]

Accolades
YoonA (Im Yoon-ah) winner of Popular Star Award
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2021 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Screenplay Lee Jang-hoon, Son Joo-yeon Nominated [25][26]
Best Actress Im Yoon-ah Nominated
Popular Star Award Won
Best Supporting Actor Lee Sung-min Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Lee Soo-kyung Nominated
Best Art Direction Kim Hui-jin Nominated
Best Music Kim Tae-seong Nominated
2022 58th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Film Miracle: Letters to the President Nominated [27][28][29]
Best Director Lee Jang-hoon Nominated
Best Actress Im Yoon-ah Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Lee Soo-kyung Won
24th Udine Far East Film Festival Golden Mulberry: Audience Award Miracle: Letters to the President Won [30][31]
Chunsa Film Art Awards 2022 Best Supporting Actress Lee Soo-kyung Nominated [32]
31st Buil Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Won [33]
17th Festival du Film Coréen à Paris Best Feature Film: Audience Award Miracle: Letters to the President Won [34]

References
  1. "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  2. Kim Ji-won (April 20, 2021). "박정민X임윤아 '기적', 6월 개봉 확정 [공식]" [Park Jung-min x Lim Yoon-ah'miracle' confirmed to be released in June [Official]]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  3. Park, Dong-je (April 22, 2021). "'기적' 이성민, 무뚝뚝한 아버지·원칙주의 기관사 변신..기대감 'UP'" ['Miracle' Lee Seong-min, a blunt father, transformed into a principleist engineer.. Expectation'UP']. BreakNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  4. Park, Dong-je (April 20, 2021). "6월 개봉 '기적', 티저 포스터..박정민·이성민·임윤아·이수경 첫 만남" ['Miracle' released in June, teaser poster.. Park Jung-min, Lee Seong-min, Lim Yoon-ah, Lee Soo-kyung first meeting]. BreakNews (in Korean). Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  5. Kang Hyo-jin (September 2, 2021). "[무:비하인드]'기적' 특별출연 고창석, 임윤아 아빠 된 사연" [[Music: Behind the Scenes] ‘Miracle’ Special Appearances Chang-seok Ko and Yoon-ah Lim’s story of becoming a father]. Spotify News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  6. "The Miracle (Korean Movie – 2021) – 기적". HanCinema.
  7. Bae Hyo-joo (June 9, 2020). "박정민·임윤아·이성민 '기적' 출연 긍정 검토 중(공식)" [Park Jung-min, Lim Yoon-ah, and Lee Seong-min appearing in'miracle' affirmative review underway (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  8. Conran, Pierce (August 25, 2020). "Yoon-a, PARK Jung-min and LEE Sung-min Confirmed for MIRACLE". KOFIC. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  9. Park Soo-in (August 7, 2020). "박정민 이성민 임윤아 이수경 '기적' 출연 확정, 2일 크랭크인(공식)" [Park Jung-min Lee Seong-min Im Yun-ah Lee Soo-kyung confirmed to appear in 'Miracle', crank-in on the 2nd (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  10. Lee Hyun-jung (May 9, 2022). "도내서 촬영된 영화 '기적' 이탈리아 영화제서 최고상" [Film 'Miracle' filmed in Tokyo won the highest prize at the Italian Film Festival]. Gangwon Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  11. Jeon Hyung-hwa (March 30, 2021). "'이상한 나라의 수학자' '인질' '기적' 등 상반기 개봉 검토 韓영화들 [종합]" [Korean films reviewed for first half release, such as 'Mathematician in Wonderland', 'Hostage', 'Miracle']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  12. Lee Da-won (April 27, 2021). "'기적' 박정민·임윤아, 예고편 150만뷰 돌파" ['Miracle' Park Jung-min and Lim Yoon-ah surpass 1.5 million views of the trailer]. Sports Trend (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  13. Kim Bo-ra (April 23, 2021). "'기적' 박정민x이성민x윤아x이수경, 간이역 생기는 게 목표..티저 공개" ['Miracle' Park Jung-min x Lee Seong-min x Yoona x Lee Soo-kyung, the goal is to create a simple role... Teaser released]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  14. "박정민·이성민·임윤아·이수경 영화 '기적', 6월 개봉 포기" [Park Jung-min, Lee Seong-min, Lim Yoon-a, and Lee Soo-kyung's movie 'Miracle' abandoned in June] (in Korean). May 20, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  15. Kim Ji-won (August 25, 2021). "[공식] 박정민X임윤아 '기적', 9월 15일 개봉 확정" [[Official] Park Jung-min X Lim Yoon-a 'Miracle' to be released on September 15th]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  16. Nadilo, Sabastian (December 17, 2021). "5 Films you shouldn't miss at the 1st Ulsan International Film Festival". Asian Film Festivals. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  17. "South Korea's Miracle: Letters to the President Triumphs at the Far East Film Festival 24". Far East Film Festival 24 (in Korean). April 30, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  18. "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: The Miracle 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  19. Lee Jae-hoon (September 20, 2021). "[박스오피스]'보이스', 추석연휴 이틀연속 1위…'샹치와~'· '기적~' 2·3위" [[Box Office] 'Voice' topped the list for two days in a row during the Chuseok holiday... 'Shang-Chiwa~' and 'Miracle~' 2nd and 3rd place]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  20. Kang Min-kyung (September 1, 2021). "[리뷰] '기적' 마음을 터치, 스며드는 감동 ①" [[Review] 'Miracle' Touching the heart and permeating the emotion ①]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  21. Kim, Seong-Hyun (September 1, 2021). "[Y리뷰] 박정민·임윤아 '기적', 배우들 호연으로 지워지지 않는 씁쓸한 뒷맛" [[Y Review] Park Jung-min, Lim Yoon-a's 'miracle', a bitter aftertaste that cannot be erased by the actors' strong performances]. YTN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  22. Kim, Ji-eun (September 4, 2021). "[리뷰]따뜻한 온기·눈물샘 터진다…박정민·임윤아 '기적'" [[Review] Warm warmth, tears bursting... Park Jung-min, Lim Yoon-ah 'Miracle']. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  23. Jung Yu-jin (September 8, 2021). "'기적', 마음이 밝아지는 귀엽고 촉촉한 성장 서사 [N리뷰]" ['Miracle', a cute and moist growth narrative that brightens the heart [N Review]]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  24. Kim Ye-eun (September 15, 2021). "웃음·감동 다 있다…추석 최적화 가족 영화 (리뷰)['기적' 개봉①]" [Laughter and emotion... Chuseok Optimized Family Movie (Review)['Miracle' Release ①]]. Export News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  25. Park Jae-hwan (November 1, 2021). "제42회 청룡영화상 후보작 발표 '모가디슈', '자산어보', '승리호' 경합" [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominations Announced Competition for 'Mogadishu', 'Jasaneobo' and 'Seungriho']. KBS (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  26. Kim Nara (November 1, 2021). [제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식] [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  27. "제 58회 백상예술대상" [58 Nominees · Works]. Baeksang Arts Awards (in Korean). April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  28. Kim Na-yeon (May 6, 2022). ""제가 감히 받아도 될지" 조우진·이수경, 영화 부문 조연상 수상[백상예술대상]" ["Would I dare to accept it?" Jo Woo-jin and Lee Soo-kyung win Best Supporting Actor in a movie [Baeksang Arts Awards]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  29. Park Seo-yeon (May 6, 2022). "[제58회 백상]'모가디슈' 류승완-'오겜' 대상 영예..이준호X김태리 '2관왕'(종합)" [[58th Baeksang] 'Mogadishu' Ryu Seung-wan - 'Ogem' Grand Prize ... Jun-ho Lee X Tae-ri Kim 'Two Crowns' (Comprehensive)]. Herald POP (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  30. "FEFF24: ALL THE AWARDS OF THE FESTIVAL!". Far East Film Festival. May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  31. Bae Hyo-joo (May 3, 2022). ""관객이 뽑았다"‥'기적' 우디네 극동영화제 최고 영예 등극[공식]" [“The audience chose it”… 'Miracle' wins the highest honor at Udine Far East Film Festival [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  32. Kim Nara (August 26, 2022). "아이유X손석구, '신인상' 받을까…"춘사국제영화제, 후보 발표" [공식]" [IU X Son Seok-gu, will he receive the 'Rookie of the Year Award'... "Chunsa International Film Festival, Candidate Announcement" [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  33. Cho, Kyung-gun (October 6, 2022). "[2022 부일영화상] 여우조연상 '기적' 이수경". Busan Ilbo (in Korean).
  34. "Festival du Film Coréen à Paris - FFCP". FFCP. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
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