Son Ye-jin is called the “One and Only” for good reason. She became a star right with her debut and has been at the centre of public interest as an icon of melodrama ever since. She has moved between different genres, while avoiding stereotypes and fearlessly embarking on adventures to find her unique character and novelty. Successful both on cinema and TV, Son Ye-jin is one of the most iconic actresses of her generation. On the occasion of being the focus of the special spotlight at BIFAN, here are ten of her best movies, in chronological order, although it is obvious, that her two best movies are “The Last Princess” and “The Truth Beneath”
1. Lover’s Concerto (2002) by Lee Han
One day, Ji-hwan begins to receive letters from an unidentified person. The letters, containing black-and-white photos of happy children playing, remind Ji-hwan of his old two friends. Five years earlier, while Ji-hwan is taking pictures with his camera, two girls, Soo-in and Gyung-hee, walk into the frame. Ji-hwan falls in love with Soo-in at first sight. He then musters up enough courage to confess his love to her, but she refuses him very politely. Son Ye-jin plays Soo-in in one of the first roles that highlighted her acting prowess, although her beauty was still shining much brighter at this point.
2. The Classic (2003) by Kwak Jae-yong
By far, the most impressive part of “The Classic” is Son Ye-jin, who knocks it out of the park as both Ji-hye and mother Joo-hee. Ye-jin is able to play both characters so convincingly distinct that the only way you could keep them apart is by colour grading and style. Cho Seung-woo also does incredibly well in his role as Joon-ha. Cho adds a lot of charisma to the character and is incredibly strong in making the audience feel for him. This is then also the most endearing pair to watch, with Jo In-Sung as the second male lead being less notable in his role, lacking depth. Additionally, Gwak Jae-young is remarkably funny as the supporting character and friend Tae-su, and delivers a rather short but memorable performance. (Reinier Brands)
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3. A Moment to Remember (2004) by John H. Lee
What makes the film so special apart from the technical aspects, the script and the directing, is undoubtedly the performances of the main actors. Jung Woo-sung and Son Ye-jin are absolutely perfect, with a brilliant chemistry rarely seen on the screen. That’s why with such good actors it’s almost impossible not to feel affection for them and not get thrilled along the way. (Pedro Morata)
4. April Snow (2005) by Hur Jin-ho
Since the story focuses on the two characters, the acting and character portrayal are particularly important. Son Ye-jin, whose popularity significantly contributed to the film’s success, delivers an excellent performance. For this role, she won the Best Actress award at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. Similarly, Bae Yong-jun, although not awarded, delivers a noteworthy performance. (Tobiasz Dunin)
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5. My Wife Got Married (2008) by Chong Yun-su
Son Ye-jin, instead of letting In-ah be misunderstood as greedy or selfish, uses a myriad of facial expressions to bring depth to her character. In her pursuit to fulfill her desire, she confronts prejudice and seeks the right words to convince others, all while dealing with Deok-hoon’s growing jealousy and self-doubt. In this expansive space crafted by Son Ye-jin, the film questions and explores alternative forms and even possibilities of relationships. (Cha Hanbi, BIFAN)
