The place where the story takes place is a small town called "Miryang", whose name comes from "Secret Sunshine" in Chinese. Since her husband died in a car accident, Shin Ae (Jeon Do Yeon) has left Seoul with her son Joon Ah to live in Miryang, hoping to get rid of the pain of the past and start a new life.
In Miryang, since no one knows, this woman's past is as unknown and mysterious as her own. With the passage of time, she has gradually adapted to the life in this small city full of sunshine. Under her careful weaving, life is getting better day by day. Inadvertently, the smile quietly crept back onto her face.
Gradually getting to know the neighbors, her son is growing up happily in the new school, her career as a piano teacher is also progressing smoothly, and an old man named Zong Can (Song Kanghao) is always circling around her ignorantly... Through these The interweaving of the pictures, we seem to see the god of happiness waving to her frequently.
Walking on the bright streets, Shen Ai raised her face to face the sun and sniffed hard, "Maybe this is the taste of happiness?"
Everything seemed so beautiful, until life was like playing a "face-changing" trick in Peking Opera Just like suddenly changing to another completely unfamiliar face.
Shin Ae's children were kidnapped and their votes torn apart due to inadvertently revealing their wealth. Before the weight of suffering crushed her completely, her religious neighbor brought God's gospel to her side.
Then we saw the power of faith. With the support of her faith and the help of her church colleagues, Shen Ae's inner wounds are slowly healing bit by bit. At one point, Shin Ae and we all wanted to believe that she was redeemed and had the power to forgive.
"God taught us to love our relatives, and more importantly, our enemies." Under the guidance of faith, Shin Ae made a major decision. She went to prison to visit the murderer of her son and told him that she had forgiven her. he. Surprisingly, the murderer also believed in God and was redeemed after he was imprisoned. "Every morning I beg devoutly and repent for the crimes I have committed... My heart is peaceful and peaceful..." Listen As the other party calmly recounted her religious experience, Shen Ae's long-dormant pain mixed with anger swept through her and completely defeated her, "Before I forgive, God actually forgives him!?" Love can't accept anything.
The edifice of faith collapsed, and Shin Ae turned from love to hate for God. In order to retaliate against God, she made a series of astonishing actions: seduce the pastor to cheat, threw stones at the church members who prayed for her all night, and disrupted the church's Gospel Mass meeting...
At this time, Shen Ai's heart was full of inability to channel and resolve The pain of this huge pain is like the turbulent waves of the sea, and the anger is more like an endless wave, hitting this woman's weak heart defense wave after wave. When the pain and anger reached their peak, Shin-ae burst into the church and slapped the table to death with both hands. She came to God's place and used this trip to declare her dissatisfaction, pain, and anger.
There are two reasons why Shin Ae hates God. First, if everything is the will and arrangement of the Lord, why did he let his lovely son die tragically? He was so young, innocent and pathetic! Was it for the wicked to be subsequently forgiven by God as a show of mercy? Second, if I want to forgive the murderer, I must forgive me. I forgive first. Why does God want to forgive me before me? Why use my pain to show your kindness?
As a result, Shen Ae's attitude towards God experienced a process from unbelief to belief, and then from belief to complete unbelief. At this time, the abundant sunlight of Miryang seemed so pale and out of place. What the sun shines and burns is the deepest and most secret pain in this woman's heart.
All the roads that seemed to be able to relieve her pain were now impossible, and Shin Ae fell into deep despair. On a dark night, Shin Ae slashed her wrist in tears.
Many people think that the theme of "Miryang" is to discuss beliefs, but I think that this film of Li Cangdong has nothing to do with beliefs. What he really wants to express is only one thing, that is, how people should face pain. Li Cangdong has no intention of using this story to satirize and criticize belief, which is not what he is really interested in. Pain is the normal state of life, but happiness is abnormal. Li Cangdong has a deep understanding of this point. Therefore, facing the pain and discussing how to deal with it is what he really focuses on and exerts his strength on.
Many people think that the protagonist of the film is Shin Ae, yes, but Shin Ae is only one of the protagonists. In addition to Shen Ai and Zong Can, the real core characters of the film can even be said to be Zong Can. Almost all of Li Cangdong's attitudes and emotions are poured into this loyal and kind uncle who is still single at the age of 39. He has no faith, and it doesn't matter whether he believes or not. He lives happily in his own simple and simple worldview.
Whenever Shen Ai can yell at Zong Can like a dog, as long as Shen Ai is in need, Zong Can will always appear by her side without any regrets. In the dazzling Miryang, Zong Can is like the shadow of Shen Ai, following in the footsteps of his beloved woman at any time, no matter where she goes, no matter whether she falls or not; it is because Zong Can has a firm belief in love in his heart, so he She is willingly stepped on Shin Ae's feet like a shadow at any time.
Shen Ai's car broke down, Zong Can came to fix it; Shen Ai wanted to rent a house, Zong Can contacted everywhere; Shen Ai's son was cremated, Zong Can silently accompanied him; Singing the gospel and doing mass; Shen Ai was hospitalized, Zong Can accompanied him throughout the whole process; Shen Ai was discharged from the hospital, Zong Can delivered flowers as soon as possible... In Shen Ai's every joy, sorrow, and sorrow, Zong Can's faint figure accompanied her.
At the end of the film, Shin Ae trims her hair in the yard, and Zong Can smiles as always and helps Shin Ae carry the mirror. At this time, the camera slowly descended, and finally stopped at an open space beside Shen Ae's feet. There are weeds there, there is sewage overflowing there, but it doesn't matter, the corner is full of sunshine.
This is the ultimate answer given by Li Cangdong, about how people should face pain.
Miyang, which means "secret sunshine". For Shin Ae, who has suffered tremendously, Jong Chan, who has been silently smiling by her side, is her "secret sunshine".
I believe that if there really is a God, then Zong Can must be an angel sent by God to protect Shin Ae. Ha, you see, it turns out that God has already planned everything.
Thank you, the secret sunshine in my life!
PS: "I don't believe in happiness." Li Cangdong once said. As a fan of his, please allow me to add a sentence for him, "But that doesn't stop us from longing for and pursuing happiness."
PSS: Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho gave great performances in the film, the former won the Cannes of the year with this film After the movie, well deserved.
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