Areum is an unusual boy, in many different respects. Born with Progeria Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic condition which causes premature aging, he is only 16 in calendar years, but his body has aged to the extent of an 80-year old. When he goes outside, he wears sunglasses, gloves and a hat so that people don’t stare at his wrinkled skin. Despite having only 16 years of experience on this earth, his body is already moving towards the end of its natural life. “What does it feel like to be young?” he asks his parents one day, in all seriousness.
His parents, meanwhile, are perfectly healthy, but they too feel as if they are living compressed lives. Having given birth to Areum when they were only 17, they are in their early 30s by the time their son is reaching old age. There is a curious dynamic between them; the parents sometimes act in childish ways, and often Areum seems to be the wisest and most experienced of the three. But as his condition grows more severe, he acts more like a frightened young child, and his mother and father are forced to grow up quickly.
My Brilliant Life is based on a 2011 novel by Kim Ae-ran that broke out to become a bestseller, due to its heartbreaking and thought-provoking story. The film rights were acquired by producer Eugene Lee, who in recent years has enjoyed considerable success with the film remakes All About My Wife (2012) and Cold Eyes (2013). For My Brilliant Life, she made an atypical choice for director, bringing in E J-yong, who in recent years has been more focused on low-budget works like The Actresses (2009) and Behind the Camera (2014) that play with the real-life personas of their stars. Director E apparently took some convincing, since this project was more commercial in orientation than any of his past works. But in the end he agreed, and though it feels different from his other films, it still bears his stamp.
My Brilliant Life is slightly contradictory in the sense that we usually associate tear-jerking melodramas with overstatement and obvious gestures. But this film is quite subtle in its presentation – at the same time as it makes it almost impossible not to cry. But the film ‘earns its tears’ with strong acting performances, a focused script and a story filled with meaningful details. It hits you hard, but still leaves you with plenty to think about.
The 13-year old child actor Jo Seong-mook, appearing in his first film, was given quite a challenge with this role. Apart from acting in many difficult scenes, he had to spend up to five hours in makeup each shooting day in order to recreate the look of a boy with Progeria Syndrome. Nonetheless he pulled it off surprisingly well, which is fortunate because the work could have suffered greatly with a less capable performer in that role.
The actors who headline the film are Song Hye-kyo (John Woo’s The Crossing) and Kang Dong-won (Haunters), two major stars known for their stunning looks, appearing slightly more ordinary here. They are natural and believable in their roles as parents (a first for them both), especially in the middle and later sections of the film. Song Hye-kyo’s slightly raspy voice, and weary but determined expression are effective in conveying the distress she feels, and the strength she has found within her to deal with it. Kang Dong-won’s character Daesoo is less grounded and focused, but his instincts usually end up leading him to the right place.
For a film where the ending looms like a storm cloud in the distance, there for all to see, there are several unexpected turns and surprises. These, together with the strong performances and smooth direction, make this a work that sticks in the memory.