Synopsis

A fire brings misfortune to a happy family of seven children. With their father bedridden, their mother takes a job as a pianist and semi-classical singer in a parlor, and the children help out around the house by delivering newspapers, being egg collectors, tutors, and doing menial labor. One day, a chance encounter with a violin teacher leads to the children performing at the sarong, and their mother collapses in shock. But the family, united by love, travels across the country to perform a charity concert for their mother's cancer treatment.

Program Note

“For the first time in world cinema, this is an ode to the life of one family - seven children and their parents - based on a true story.” These opening words are the best way to describe the movie A Small Star. The movie, which has been called “Korea's Sound of Music,” stars all the members of the musical family, from the late director Kang Moon-soo to the youngest, Kang In-bong. The film is filled with songs and performances from the family, and its neo-noir narrative of the family's suffering due to the mother's illness is unique in Korean cinema, with an overall sense of energy, speed, and excitement compared to the static rhythm and pace of Korean films of the time. At the heart of it all lies the power of music, which can only be delivered by a real family band cast. (Meng Soo-jin)

Director

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  •  Gang Mun-su