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Snowball
Release poster
Hangul	최선의 삶
Hanja	最善의 삶
Revised Romanization	Choiseon-eui Salm
Directed by	Lee Woo-jeong
Screenplay by	Lee Woo-jeong
Based on	The Best Life by Lim Sol-ah
Produced by	Kim Hyung-dae Baek Jae-ho
Starring	Bang Min-ah Shim Dal-gi Han Sung-min
Cinematography	Lee Jae-u
Edited by	Han Young-kyu
Music by	Lee Minwhee
Production company	Milestone Co.
Distributed by	Atnine Film Co., Ltd.
Release dates	October 2020 (2020-10) (BIFF) September 1, 2021 (2021-09-01) (South Korea)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Box office	est. US$78,076

Snowball (Korean: 최선의 삶; Hanja: 最善의 삶; RR: Choiseon-eui; lit. Best Life) is a 2020 South Korean youth drama film, directed by Lee Woo-jeong and starring Bang Min-ah, Shim Dal-gi, and Han Sung-min. The film adapted from The Best Life by Lim Solah, tells the story of three high school best friends who run away to find answers to their perceived troubles. It was premiered at 25th Busan International Film Festival held from October 21 to 30, 2020. It was released theatrically on September 1, 2021.

Cast

• Bang Min-ah as Kang-i
• Shim Dal-gi as Ah-ram
• Han Sung-min as Yeon So-yeong
• Yoon Hye-ri

Production

On 30 October 2019, Bang Min-ah was confirmed to appear in the film based on the novel The Best Life by Lim Sol-ah. The novel has won the 4th Munhakdongne University Novel Awards in 2015.

Release

Snowball was premiered at 25th Busan International Film Festival held from October 21 to 30, 2020. It was invited at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival in the Next/Now section of the festival. The two-week festival was held from August 6 to 22, 2021 in New York. The film was screened at Beatrice Theatre, SVA Theatre on August 15, 2021.

The film was invited to 46th Seoul Independent Film Festival in New Choice section, 9th Muju Mountain Film Festival and the 23rd Seoul International Women's Film Festival in Discovery competition section. It was screened at Megabox Sangam World Cup Stadium 4 on August 29, 2021. It was released theatrically on September 1, 2021.

Reception

Box office

The film was initially released on 101 screens. As of September 27, 2021, it grossed US$78,076 from 10,508 admissions.

Critical response

Panos Kotzathanasis reviewing for HanCinema wrote that Lee Woo-jeong has directed the film with two main elements irrationality and violence. In his opinion Lee Jae-u's cinematography was average and pace of the film was slow due to editing. Kotzathanasis praised the performance of the main actors and ends the review as, "Snowball has its merits, with parts of the script, the acting, and a number of comments being well communicated. As a whole however, it does not make that much sense, with the sole "excuse" here being that it is Lee Woo-jeong's feature debut."

Lee Seon-pil of Ohmy News, rating the film with 3.5 stars out of 5 wrote, that the film has tried to communicate with the audience by delving into life of three high school girls, who broke the accepted social rules and expectations. He summed up the review as, " presenting a storm of complex emotions rather than easy sympathy."

Lee Han-lim of The Fact reviewing the film wrote that film began as autobiographical diary of the protagonist. He praised the actors for their performance, writing, "The performances of the actors stand out". Lee calling it, "A memorable independent art film" wrote, "The emotional change that Kang Yi feels toward the end of the film is extremely realistic and shocking."

Lee Joo-hyun of Cine21 reviewing the film appreciated the cinematography with handheld camera to "capture expressions and actions of teenage girls in a simple yet vivid way" and "creating cinematic moments under the influence of the original rather than escaping far from it". Praising the performance of lead actresses, Lee wrote, "All three actors in the movie give their best performances." Liking the setting of film plot in the early 2000s, Lee felt, "The low-saturation screen brings out the feeling of the past." As the film didn't actually show the physical violence, Lee appreciated "the intentional omission and distance from the film", and moving away of camera but capturing the "emotions before and after the event".

Kang Hyo-jin of Spotify News reviewing the film wrote, "..in this work which focuses on emotional changes rather than the story", the portrayal of protagonist was "not easy to interpret and express as she has to show dramatic changes". Kang lauded the performance of lead actresses Bang Min-ah and said, "Bang Min-ah, who has grown into an actress did a great job in the lead role." Kang felt that the ending of film was abrupt and " may lead to different likes and dislikes in terms of 'empathy'." She opined, "It meticulously captures fragments of emotions and memories that anyone who has spent their school days should feel at least once."

Igor Fishman reviewing the film, opined that the director Lee has focused on generally felt teenage estrangement, as engrossing and basic as James Dean’s quivering breakdown in Rebel Without a Cause. Igor praising the performance of Bang Min-ah, the protagonist, said, "Much like the Nicholas Ray classic, the film’s effectiveness is tied wholesale to the performance of its lead, with Bang Min-ah’s finely tuned expressions of inner turmoil bringing Lee’s (director) world to life."

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) SNOWBALL The Box office 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
2. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office of Korean films (2021)". KOFIC. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
3. "Snowball - (Korean Movie, 2021, 최선의 삶)". HanCinema. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
4. Jo Ji-young (August 3, 2021). ""올해 최선의 캐스팅"…'최선의 삶' 방민아X심달기X한성민, 3人3색 캐스팅 비하인드 공개" ["Best casting of the year"... 'The Best Life' Bang Min-ah X Shim Dal-gi X Han Seong-min, 3 people 3 colors cast behind the scenes revealed]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
5. ^ Frater, Patrick (September 13, 2020). "Busan Film Festival to Shrink, Open With 'Septet: The Story of Hong Kong'". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
6. Jung Yoo-jin (August 20, 2021). ""반말 쓰며 친해져"…방민아·심달기·한성민, 원작 찢고 나온 '최선의 삶' [N현장](종합)" ["Writing half-words and becoming close"... Min-ah Bang, Dal-gi Shim, and Seong-min Han, 'Best Life' (Comprehensive)]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
7. Kim Bo-ra (July 14, 2021). "방민아x심달기 '최선의 삶', 8월 개봉…티저예고편 공개 [Oh!쎈 예고]" [Bang Min-ah x Shim Dal-gi 'The Best Life' opens in August... Teaser trailer released ]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
8. Kim Ye-eun (August 20, 2021). "'최선의 삶' 심달기 "폭력적인 일 당한 캐릭터, 상상으로 연기"" ['The Best Life' Shim Dal-gi "A character who suffered a violent incident, acting with imagination"]. Export News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
9. Kang Min-kyung (October 30, 2019). "방민아, '최선의 삶'서 불완전한 청춘 그린다..파격적 변신 예고 [공식]" [Bang Min-ah draws incomplete youth in 'The Best Life'.. Unconventional transformation notice ]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved August 22, 2021.
10. MacDonald, Joan (July 20, 2021). "20th New York Asian Film Festival Screens Several South Korean Films". Forbes. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
11. "The 46th Seoul Independent Film Festival New Choice: Snowball". SIFF (in Korean). November 28, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
12. Jo Ji-young (July 16, 2021). "[공식] 방민아 주연 '최선의 삶', 서울국제여성영화제 국제 장편 부문 경쟁 초청" [ 'The Best Life', starring Minah Bang, invited to compete in the international feature section at the Seoul International Women's Film Festival]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
13. Baek Seung-hoon (August 4, 2021). "방민아 주연 '최선의 삶', 9월1일 개봉" ['The Best Life', starring Minah Bang, will be released on September 1st.]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
14. Kotzathanasis, Panos (August 15, 2021). "[HanCinema's Film Review] "Snowball"". HanCinema. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
15. Lee Seon-pil (August 23, 2021). "일탈 꿈꾸는 여고생 셋, 우정에 금이 가자 벌어진 일 :[미리보는 영화] <최선의 삶>" [Three high school girls dreaming of deviation, what happened when their friendship broke : <The Best Life>]. Ohmy News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
16. Lee Han-lim (August 26, 2021). "'최선의 삶', 소녀 강이의 현실적이고 충격적인 위로 [TF씨네리뷰]>" ['The Best Life', the realistic and shocking comfort of a girl Kangi ]. The Fact (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
17. Lee Joo-hyun (August 27, 2021). "[리뷰] '최선의 삶' 다른 곳에 닿고 싶어 하는 세 친구" [ Three friends who want to reach other places in 'The Best Life']. Cine21 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
18. Kang Hyo-jin (August 31, 2021). "[Cine리뷰]'최선의 삶', 우리가 기억하는 잔잔한 감정의 롤러코스터" [ 'The best life', a roller coaster of calm emotions we remember]. Spotify News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
19. Fishman, Igor (August 27, 2021). "Snowball, Lee Woo-jung". In Review Online. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
20. Noh, Jean (October 30, 2020). "'A Balance', 'Three' take New Currents awards at Busan film festival closing". Screendaily. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
21. Kim Kyung-hee (August 20, 2021). "[애프터스크리닝] 친구가 세상 전부였던 10대 시절의 자화상 '최선의 삶'" [ Self-portrait 'Best Life' of a teenager when friends were everything in the world]. IMBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
22. Kim Yu-jin (July 26, 2021). "최선의 삶' 방민아, 제20회 뉴욕아시안영화제 라이징 스타상 수상 "큰 기쁨"" [The Best Life' Bang Min-ah won the Rising Star Award at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival "Great joy]. Xports News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
23. Kim Nara (November 1, 2021). [제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식] [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category ]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
24. Han Hae-sun (December 11, 2021). "'최선의 삶' 방민아, 부산영화평론가협회상 신인여우상 수상" ['The Best Life' Bang Min-ah, Busan Film Critics Association Award for Best New Actress]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
25. Bae Hyo-joo (December 9, 2021). "올해의 여성영화인상' 대상 고두심·연기상 문소리[공식]" [‘Female Film Impressionist of the Year’ Grand Prize, Go Doo-shim, Acting Award Moon So-ri ]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
26. Ryu Ji-yoon (December 16, 2021). "[D:현장] 연대로 빛난 '2021 여성영화인 축제'…고두심, 올해의 여성영화인상 수상" [ The '2021 Women's Film Festival' that shines through solidarity... Go Doo-shim, Female Filmmaker of the Year Award]. Dailyan (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
27. "제 58회 백상예술대상" [58 Nominees · Works]. Baeksang Arts Awards (in Korean). April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
28. Ahn Byung-gil (April 11, 2022). "58회 백상예술대상 후보 공개…영광의 주인공은?" [58th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations revealed... Who is the hero of glory?]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
29. Kim Nara (August 26, 2022). "아이유X손석구, '신인상' 받을까…"춘사국제영화제, 후보 발표" [공식]" [IU X Son Seok-gu, will he receive the 'Rookie of the Year Award'... "Chunsa International Film Festival, Candidate Announcement" ]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
30. Nam, Yoo-jung (August 28, 2022). "헤어질 결심 브로커 둘 다 8개 부문 후보 올라" [Decision to break up and Broker both nominated for 8 categories] (in Korean). Busan Ilbo. Retrieved August 29, 2022 – via Naver.
31. Hicap, Jonathan (October 6, 2022). "Winners at 2022 Buil Film Awards in Korea". Manila Bulletin.

External links

• Snowball at HanCinema
• Snowball at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)

• 2020 films
• 2020s Korean-language films
• 2020 drama films
• 2020s coming-of-age drama films
• South Korean coming-of-age drama films
• Films based on novels
• Films set in Seoul
• Films about bullying