[Seoul] Beautiful Life(뷰티풀 라이프)

[Programs]
“A play that deserves ten stars!!!” “A whole life in 90 minutes!” These are some of the reviews of Beautiful Life posted on a theater booking website. You may have some doubts before seeing the show, but you may find yourself writing the same review afterward.

Beautiful Life won the “Fine Art Award” in the theatre/music category at the 2019 Korean Wave Awards. It is given to the work that best represents South Korea in the year, proving that the play is worthy of global acclaim and that people around the world can relate to.

Two lead roles, Chun-shik and Soon-ok, fall in love from the first moment they meet. They drift apart for a while but eventually start a family and grow old together as an old couple. One day, Soon-ok falls ill and decides to get a divorce for the sake of her husband, Chun-sik. The film moves back and forth between the couple’s present and past. You might expect the story to be depressing or sad, but it is both funny and touching, making you laugh and cry at the same time. The two actors are excellent in their performances. They play an old couple, their younger versions, and even extras. It’s hard to believe that this is a two-person play. It is a multicasting work, and writer Kim Won-jin and director Cho Joon also appear alternatively to play the role of Chun-sik.