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A Brand New Life (Yeo-haeng-ja)

Based on Korean-French filmmaker Ounie Lecomte’s own story, A BRAND NEW LIFE is quietly heart-wrenching. Little Jin-hee, age nine, loves spending time with her dad. She hangs onto him as he pedals through the streets of Seoul; she laughs as they shop together; she sleeps next to him at night. One day dad and Jin-hee go on a special outing; he makes sure she dresses in her best clothes, and they buy a beautiful cake. As their bus comes to a halt, the girl finds herself standing before the iron gates of a large institution, smiling nuns bidding her welcome. Without explanation, Jin-hee’s beloved daddy leaves her at the orphanage. In deep shock at first, the girl refuses to talk or eat. As weeks pass and the likelihood of his return becomes more remote, she resentfully participates in daily routines, attending Mass and doing chores. Eventually Jin-hee finds a new friend, Sook-hee. Together they try to help an unhappy disabled girl and care for a tiny flightless bird. When Sook-hee is adopted by foreigners, Jin-hee suffers fits of rage. But one day a black car pulls up in front of the iron gates and her own name is called. (In Korean with subtitles) – B.B.