11.17 - Review of Miss Granny

Today, we’ll be discussing the movie Miss Granny, the hit Korean film starring Shim Eun-kyung as Oh Doo-ri, Na Moon-hee as the older Oh Mal-soon, Park In-hwan as Mr. Park, Sung Dong-il as Ban Hyun-chul, and Lee Jin-wook as Han Seung-woo. We discuss:

The songs featured during the recap, including One More Time and Raindrop, both performed by Shim Eun-kyung, as well as If You Go to Los Angeles by Rose Motel and Shim Eun-kyung, and nostalgic covers like White Butterfly and Crying in the Night.
How the movie blends humor and poignancy, diving into themes of aging, regret, family sacrifice, and how older women become invisible in society.
The magical photo studio where Oh Mal-soon transforms back into her 20-year-old self, adopting the name Oh Doo-ri after her favorite star, Audrey Hepburn.
The generational conflicts and multigenerational living arrangements, especially the tension between Oh Mal-soon and her long-suffering daughter-in-law Ae-ja.
The cultural commentary on Korean society’s reverence for elders, contrasted with the modern obsession with youth and beauty.
The hilarious and touching portrayal by Shim Eun-kyung, whose physical comedy, mannerisms, and singing won her multiple Best Actress awards, including a Baeksang.
How Oh Doo-ri's youthful appearance sparks new attention—from young men on the bus to a budding flirtation with the charming music producer Han Seung-woo.
The layered dynamics between Oh Mal-soon, her son Ban Hyun-chul, her grandson Ban Ji-ha, and Grandpa Park, who has loved her since childhood.
The memorable musical performances, especially Raindrop, filled with longing and life experience, and how Shim Eun-kyung did her own singing in the film.
How the movie reflects on women’s worth across the decades, through metaphors comparing women to different types of balls—and the critique of society's gaze.
The heartfelt scene when Oh Mal-soon sacrifices her youth to save her grandson by donating blood, embracing her true self and familial love.
How Miss Granny touches on themes of parental sacrifice, fulfillment of dreams, and the bittersweet opportunity to "start over"—even if only temporarily.

References

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K Drama Chat is a weekly podcast where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode. K Drama Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

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