# Three Sisters (2020 film)

Three Sisters (Korean: 세자매; RR: Sejamae) is a 2020 South Korean drama film, written and directed by Lee Seung-won. Starring Moon So-ri, Kim Sun-young and Jang Yoon-ju, the film revolves three sisters who seem to live an ordinary life but lives in their own different ways, but memories shook everything. It had its premiere at 25th Busan International Film Festival in October 2020 and was released theatrically on January 27, 2021 in South Korea. The film has won 12 awards at different award ceremonies.

## Cast

* Moon So-ri as Mi-yeon
* Kim Sun-young as Hee-sook
* Jang Yoon-ju as Mi-ok
* Jo Han-chul as Dong-wook
* Hyun Bong-sik as Sang-joon
* Kim Ga-hee as Bo-mi
* Lim Hye-young as Hyo-jeong
* Jang Dae-woong as Seong-woon
* Lee Bong-ryun as Supermarket lady
* Cha Mi-kyung as Mother

## Release

Three Sisters had its premiere at 25th Busan International Film Festival in October, 2020 and was released theatrically on January 27, 2021 in South Korea.
The film was invited at 20th New York Asian Film Festival in Frontlines section. It was screened on August 18, 2021 at Lincoln Center. It was also part of 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival in 'Gateway' section, where it was first screened in October 2021. It was also screened at 10th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt on October 24, 2021.

### Home media

The film was made available for streaming on IPTV (KT olleh TV, SK B tv, LG U+TV), Home Choice, Google Play, TVING, Naver TV and KakaoPage. It is also available through KT SkyLife and Cinefox platforms from February 23, 2021.

## Reception
### Box office

The film was released on January 27, 2021 on 569 screens.
As of December 26, 2021 it is at 25th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$593,270 and 83,678 admissions.

### Critical response

Panos Kotzathanasis reviewing for HanCinema praised the performance of Kim Sun-young, Moon So-ri and Jang Yoon-ju. Kotzathanasis appreciated the cinematography and in conclusion wrote, "Three Sisters communicates its messages about the consequences of trauma convincingly, while not many faults can be found neither in direction and acting, nor to the production values. The only thing that actually prevents the film from becoming great is the transition, which could have been handled much better. As a whole, however, definitely deserves a watch."
Jung Yu-jin of News 1 praising the performance said, "the three actors, Moon So-ri, Kim Seon-young, and Jang Yoon-joo, is unparalleled." Jung praised the direction saying, "the director's detailed directing ability, which portrays the universal and mundane subject of domestic violence in a sympathetic way through the lives of three sisters who seem ordinary and unusual." Rhythm Zaveri reviewing for Asian Movie Pulse appreciated the cinematography saying, "cinematography makes some interesting choices, giving each sister a distinct look with the lightning and lensing". He criticized the way transition between flash back and present, he opined, "more precise directorial vision in this matter, or even a more thought-out edit [was required]." Concluding Zaveri praised the performance of ensemble of Kim Sun-young, Moon So-ri and Jang Yoon-ju and wrote, "Outside of these small niggles, Three Sisters certainly has its merits and deserves a watch, specially to marvel at the performances from its three excellent female leads and the subtlety with which it manages to encompass complicated themes into the narrative effortlessly."

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress (Film) | Moon So-ri | Nominated |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Film) | Kim Sun-young | Won |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actress – Film | Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated |
| 2021 | 15th Asian Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated |
| 2021 | 26th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Nominated |
| 2021 | 26th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Nominated |
| 2021 | 26th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Actress | Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Director | Lee Seung-won | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Seung-won | Nominated |
| 2021 | 41st Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Won |
| 2021 | 41st Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actress | Moon So-ri | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Director | Lee Seung-won | Nominated |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Seung-won | Nominated |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Jang Yoon-ju | Nominated |
| 2021 | Golden Cinematography Awards | Jury's Special Award | Jang Yoon-ju | Won |
| 2021 | 8th Korean Film Writers Association Awards | Best Screenplay | Lee Seung-won | Won |
| 2021 | 8th Korean Film Writers Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won |
| 2021 | Female Film Writer of the Year Award | Best Actor Award | Moon So-ri | Won |
| 2021 | Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Kim Sun-young | Won |
| 2021 | 2021 Women's Film Festival | Best Actor Award | Moon So-ri | Won |