''The Harmonium in My Memory'' () is a 1999 South Korean film based on the best-selling Korean

semi-autobiographical novel An autobiographical novel is a form of novel using autofiction techniques, or the merging of autobiographical and fictive elements. The literary technique is distinguished from an autobiography or memoir by the stipulation of being fiction. Beca ...

''Female Student'' by Ha Keum-chan.

Plot

In 1962,

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...

. Kang Soo-ha, a 21-year-old teacher from

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...

, takes his first job at a village school in Gangwon Province. One of his older students, 17-year-old Yun Hong-yeon, develops a crush on him, though her efforts to catch his attention seem to go unnoticed. Meanwhile, Soo-ha has fallen for Yang Eun-hee, a fellow teacher at their school.

Cast

Lee Byung-hun Lee Byung-hun (; born July 12, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He has received critical acclaim for his work in a wide range of genres, most notably ''Joint Security Area'' (2000); ''A Bittersweet Life'' (2005); ''The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' ...

as Kang Soo-ha *

Jeon Do-yeon Jeon Do-yeon (; born February 11, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She won Best Actress at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, making her the second Korean actress to win an acting award at a prestigious film festival, and Best Performance by an Ac ...

as Yun Hong-yeon *

Lee Mi-yeon Lee Mi-yeon (born September 23, 1971) is a South Korean actress. Filmography Film Television series Variety show Music video Theater Discography Awards and nominations References External links * * * ...

as Yang Eun-hee *

Jeon Moo-song Jeon Moo-song (born September 28, 1941) is a South Korean actor. Jeon began his career on stage in the play 'Chunhyangjeon' in 1964 and has since been active in Korean theatre, film and television. In 1977, he performed as the title character ...

* Choi Joo-bong * Lee In-cheol *

Song Ok-sook Song Ok-sook (born August 14, 1960) is a South Korean actress. She has appeared in supporting roles in numerous television dramas, including ''Winter Sonata'', ''Beethoven Virus'', ''More Charming by the Day'', and '' Missing You''. Song is al ...

* Kim Seon-hwa *

Lee Dae-yeon Lee Dae-yeon (born November 13, 1964) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Theater Awards and nominations References External links Lee Dae-yeonat JR Entertainment * * * 1964 births Living ...

Shin Shin-ae Shin Shin-ae (; born June 3, 1959) is a South Korean actress and trot singer. She has been loved by the public by appearing in various media, including televisions programs, television dramas, movies, and theater plays. She is known for her re ...

as Sangju-daek

Release

''The Harmonium in My Memory'' was released in South Korea on March 27, 1999.

Awards

won Best Actress at the 1999 Blue Dragon Film Awards, 1999

Director's Cut Awards The Director's Cut Awards () is an annual awards ceremony for excellence in film in South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sha ...

, and 2000 Grand Bell Awards for her performance. The film won Best Picture at the 2000 Verona Love Screens Film Festival.

Musical theatre

The film was adapted into a musical ''Organ in My Memory'' (also known as ''Organ in My Heart'') in 2008, which focused on reviving the romantic atmosphere and literary sensitivity of the 1960s on stage as the film did. "The original novel was published in 1980s and the film was made in 1990s and now the musical rendition will be made in 2000s, showing the tireless energy of the work because of its pure and touching story," a public relations official of the production company Show Tic Communications, said. The musical featured visually catching pink-toned stage sets to exude a romantic atmosphere, along with modern music and choreography played by 21 actors to curry favor with the modern audience. The initial run at Hoam Arts Hall (July 22 to September 11, 2008) also drew attention from the public for the return of musical theater-turned-TV/film actor

Oh Man-seok Oh Man-seok (born January 30, 1975) is a South Korean actor. Best known for playing the titular transgender singer in rock musical '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', Oh's acting career spans theater, television and film. Career Theater beginnings ...

to the stage. At the 2008 Korea Musical Awards, it swept Best Original Korean Musical, Best Direction (Cho Gwang-hwa), Best Composition, Best Scenario, Best Stage Design and Best New Actor (

Jo Jung-suk Jo Jung-suk (born December 26, 1980) is a South Korean actor. He began his career in theater, starring in '' Spring Awakening'', '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', and the stage adaptation of '' The Harmonium in My Memory'', among many other musi ...

- Oh's alternate for the lead role). The musical had a second run on July 16 to August 28, 2011 at Hoam Arts Hall in Sunhwa-dong, central

, the star of the first run, returned this time as the director. Oh cast singer Tim and musical actor Kim Seung-dae to take over the lead role.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Harmonium in My Memory, The 1999 films South Korean romantic drama films South Korean coming-of-age drama films Films about educators Films set in Gangwon Province, South Korea 1990s Korean-language films 1990s teen romance films Films set in the 1960s 1999 romantic drama films 1990s coming-of-age drama films