Kim Tae Ri is often praised for her genius acting skills and gorgeous, elegant beauty.
Among the Korean actresses born in the 90s of the current generation, many viewers are especially impressed with Kim Tae Ri, who has recorded remarkable achievements in both theatrical films and dramas, even though she did not undergo any professional acting classes. Let’s take a look at the Top 5 best films and TV series starring the most sought-after “muse” of the Korean entertainment industry that you should not miss.
The Handmaiden
Inspired by the novel Fingersmith (2002) by British writer Sarah Waters, the film’s setting is changed from the Victorian era to Korea in the 1930s, under Japanese colonial occupation.
Sook Hee (Kim Tae Ri) is an orphaned pickpocket, hired by Fujiwara (Ha Jung Woo) – a Korean con man pretending to be a Japanese nobleman, to be a maid for a Japanese heiress – Lady Hideko (Kim Min Hee). Fujiwara’s plan is to seduce Hideko and persuade her into marrying him in order to take her inheritance. However, things gradually become complicated when the two women begin to develop feelings for each other.
Directed by the famous director Park Chan Wook (director of the hit Oldboy), the feminist thriller Handmaiden has completely impressed the viewers and critics with its daring, erotic but also mesmerizing footage about same-sex relationship.
The Handmaiden is an important turning point in Kim Tae Ri’s acting career when she not only excellently surpassed 1500 people to be cast in her first leading role in a motion picture, but also won Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Little Forest
Little Forest tells the story of Hye Won (Kim Tae Ri) – a young girl who is tired of the city life and decides to go back to her hometown in the countryside to live. She then begins her journey to heal her soul by growing vegetables and fruits in the garden, enjoying the fresh nature, preparing a variety of delicious meals and enjoying them with her close friends.
Through the poetic footage throughout the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, along with the slow pace, the movie brings a sense of peace and tranquility. Little Forest is like a car that takes us away from the hustle and bustle of the city to find the simple beauty of nature surrounding rural life.
Space Sweepers
The timeline in “Space Sweepers” is set in 2092, when the Earth has been seriously polluted to the point that it is nearly uninhabitable. The UTS Corporation, operated by Sullivan (Richard Armitage) has created a new habitat for people on Mars with the most modern civilization. However, only the wealthiest and the most intelligent people are allowed to live here.
Meanwhile, captain Jang (Kim Tae Ri), Tae Ho (Song Joong Ki), Tiger Park (Jin Seon Kyu) and the robot Bubs (Hae Jin Yoo) work as space sweepers, who collect and sell space debris to get money. One day, they accidentally find out Dorothy, a wanted robot that contains an unexpected power, and this has become their turning point.
Although “Space Sweepers” was praised for its magnificent visual effects created by a budget of 24 billion won, the viewers were still disappointed with the storyline. They said the movie wanted to deliver too many messages, and the characters’ background stories were not described in detail. That’s why “Space Sweepers” didn’t meet their expectations.
However, there were still many good points about this movie, such as the great acting and the funny collaboration between the actors, the meaningful scenes about their friendship, family love, and the message about protecting the environment. Therefore, if you are interested in science-fiction movies, you can try this one.
1987: When The Day Comes
Based on the true story that happened in Korea in 1087, this movie begins with the death of a 21-year-old college student Park Jong Chul (Yeo Jin Goo). His body was quickly cremated in order to cover up the crime of the authority.
However, after the media discovered the truth, Park Cheo Won (Kim Yun Seok), a commissioner in charge of investigating suspected communists, reported his death as a heart attack. After that, numerous protests for democracy blew up in all regions of the country.
By telling the true story, “1987” successfully drew the picture of brave people during war times with many characters who give inspiration.
Starring many veteran actors, such as Kim Yun Seok, Ha Jung Woo, Lee Hee Joon, Yoo Hae Jin, Kang Dong Won, etc., this movie was awarded the Daesang at Baeksang Arts Awards 2018 and the Best Film at the 39th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Mr. Sunshine
“Mr. Sunshine” centers around Choi Yoo Jin/Eugene Choi (Lee Byung Hun), who was born during the Joseon dynasty but escaped to America. Later, he becomes a Marine Corps officer and returns to Joseon for a mission. Then he meets and falls in love with an aristocrat’s granddaughter, Go Ae Shin (Kim Tae Ri).
Written by the ‘golden’ screenwriter Kim Eun Sook, “Mr. Sunshine” was praised as a well-made drama, from the story, the acting to the music and images. Although it was a 24-episode drama, the story didn’t have any wasteful details. Moreover, every character was well-developed and their emotions caught the attention of the viewers.
Especially, Lee Byung Hun and Kim Tae Ri’s chemistry brought a completely different feeling compared to other drama couples. Without too many romantic scenes, the audiences still feel the love they have for each other.
Kim Tae Ri once again took over a new image and she did it excellently. This role also brought her the nomination for the Best Actress at the 2019 Baeksang Arts Awards.
Above are the 5 outstanding productions that have helped Kim Tae Ri make a name for herself and are absolutely well worth the watch. At the age of 31, despite having a modest filmography, Kim Tae Ri is already one of the leading actresses in Korean cinema. With her classic beauty and top-notch acting ability, she promises to deliver even more impressive performances in the future.
Source: Dienanh
