Birthday (2019 film)
# Birthday (2019 film)

Birthday is a 2019 South Korean drama film directed by Lee Jong-un, starring Sol Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon. The first South Korean film to explore the tragic sinking of the MV Sewol Ferry, it opened the 21st Far East Film Festival on 26 April 2019.

## Plot

Ripped apart by the loss of their eldest son Su-ho (Yoon Chan-young) to the Sewol Ferry tragedy on 16 April 2014, Jung-il (Sol Kyung-gu) and Soon-nam (Jeon Do-yeon) struggle to keep their family together. No longer able to communicate with each other, they must still bring up their surviving daughter Ye-sol (Kim Bo-min).

## Cast

* Sol Kyung-gu as Jung-il
* Jeon Do-yeon as Soon-nam
* Kim Bo-min as Ye-sol
* Yoon Chan-young as Su-ho
   * Choi Hyeon-jin as young Su-ho
* Kim Soo-jin as Woo-chan's mother
* Lee Bong-ryun as Jung-sook
* Park Jong-hwan as Yeong-joon
* Kwon So-hyun as Eun-bin
* Sung Yu-bin as Seong-joon
* Bang Jae-ho as Birthday party boy
* Tang Joon-sang as Woo-chan
* Kim Gye-seon as Hyeong-woo's mother
* Sun Wook-hyun as Hyeong-woo's father
* Kim Hyun as Geon-jae's mother
* Shin Mun-sung as Geon-jae's father
* Kim Min-jae as Immigration officer 1 (special appearance)

## Production

Principal photography began on April 10, 2018, and wrapped on July 6, 2018.

## Reception

### Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on seven reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10.

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2019 | 55th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated |
| 2019 | 24th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated |
| 2019 | Balinale | Best Feature Film | Birthday | Won |
| 2019 | 28th Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Nominated |
| 2019 | 28th Buil Film Awards | Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Won |
| 2019 | 28th Buil Film Awards | Best New Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated |
| 2019 | 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Nominated |
| 2019 | 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Nominated |
| 2019 | 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated |
| 2019 | 6th Korean Film Producers Association Awards | Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Won |
| 2019 | 19th Director's Cut Awards | Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Nominated |
| 2019 | Women in Film Korea Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Jong-un | Won |
| 2020 | 56th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Nominated |
| 2020 | 56th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Nominated |
| 2020 | 56th Grand Bell Awards | Best Planning | Birthday | Nominated |
| 2020 | 56th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | Lee Jong-un | Nominated |
| 2020 | 56th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress | Jeon Do-yeon | Won |
