Keys to the Heart
2018 South Korean comedy-drama film by Choi Sung-hyun
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Keys to the Heart (Korean: 그것만이 내 세상) is a 2018 South Korean comedy-drama film directed by Choi Sung-hyun.[2] The film stars Lee Byung-hun, Youn Yuh-jung and Park Jeong-min.[3][4] The English translation of the original film title is That's my World.
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| Keys to the Heart | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 그것만이 내 세상 |
| RR | Geugeonmani nae sesang |
| MR | Kŭgŏnmani nae sesang |
| Directed by | Choi Sung-hyun |
| Written by | Choi Sung-hyun |
| Produced by | Ju Seoung-hwan Yoon Je-kyoon |
| Starring | Lee Byung-hun Youn Yuh-jung Park Jeong-min |
| Cinematography | Hong Seung-hyuk Kim Tae-sung |
| Edited by | Kim Sun-min |
| Music by | Hwang Sang-jun |
Production company | JK Film |
| Distributed by | CJ E&M |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$25.8 million[1] |
Plot
The film follows the emotional journey of two estranged brothers as they reconnect and find healing through music and family.
The story centers on Jo-ha (played by Lee Byung-hun), a washed-up boxer who has spent most of his life on the fringes of society. Down on his luck and with nowhere to go, Jo-ha reconnects with his long-estranged mother In-sook (Youn Yuh-jung), whom he has not seen in over a decade. To his surprise, she is now caring for Jin-tae (Park Jung-min), his younger half-brother, who has savant syndrome and is a gifted pianist with an extraordinary musical talent but limited ability to navigate the world on his own.
Forced to live under the same roof, Jo-ha initially struggles to adapt to his new environment and feels awkward around his intellectually disabled brother. However, as time passes, he begins to soften and form a bond with Jin-tae, discovering both the pain and beauty of family connections he had long rejected. As Jo-ha confronts his own failures and lost dreams, he becomes inspired by Jin-tae’s innocence, resilience and musical passion.
Cast
- Lee Byung-hun as Jo-ha
- Park Sang-hoon as young Jo-ha
- Youn Yuh-jung as In-sook
- Park Jeong-min as Jin-tae
- Han Ji-min as Han Ga Yool
- Choi Ri as Soo-jeong
- Hwang Seok-jeong as Department Head Kang
- Jo Kwan-woo as Moon Seong-gi
- Oh Hye-won as Bok-ja's entourage
- Baek Hyun-jin as Dong-soo
- Moon Sook as Bok-Ja (Special Appearance)
- Kim Sung-ryung as Madam Hong (Special Appearance)
Production
Reception
Critical reception
The film explored themes of forgiveness, reconciliation and the power of family, using heartfelt performances and moments of humor to tell a moving story about second chances. With a strong emotional core and standout performances, especially from Park Jung-min as Jin-tae, the film was well received for its sincere portrayal of disability and familial love. It became a moderate box office success in South Korea and contributed to ongoing conversations about neurodiversity in mainstream cinema.
Yoon Min-sik of The Korea Herald called the characters and plot "generic and predictable" but praised the acting performance of the film.[7]
Shim Sun-ah of Yonhap News Agency praised Choi Seong-hyeon for handling family relationships with the utmost sensitivity and drawing good performances out of his actors.[4]
Box office
According to figures provided by the Korean Film Council, just 3 weeks after its release, the film had surpassed 3 million viewers.[8]
Awards and nominations
| Awards | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd The Seoul Awards | Best Actor | Lee Byung-hun | Nominated | [9] |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Sung-ryung | Nominated | ||
Music pieces
The following music pieces appeared in the film:
- Mozart Piano Sonata No.11 in A major 'Rondo Alla Turca' K.331
- Beethoven Piano sonata No.14 in C sharp minor 'Moonlight' Op.27-2 3rd Movement
- Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor Op.11 3rd Movement
- Brahms Hungarian Dance No.5 in G minor
- Tchaikovsky : Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
