Madame Jung’s Last Week

A retired, somewhat eccentric literature professor named Madame Jung receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. Instead of succumbing to despair, she decides to spend her remaining days reflecting on her life and relationships. She revisits old haunts, reconnects with former students, and contemplates the choices she has made, all while grappling with the inevitability of her mortality.

Madame Jung's Last Week was met with critical acclaim, particularly for its sensitive portrayal of aging and mortality. Reviewers praised Youn Yuh-jung's nuanced performance and Lim Dae-hyung's understated direction. The film was lauded for its quiet emotional depth and philosophical reflections on life.

• A poignant and deeply moving exploration of life, death, and memory.

• Youn Yuh-jung delivers a masterclass performance, capturing the complexities of a woman facing her end.

• Lim Dae-hyung's direction is subtle yet powerful, allowing the emotional weight of the story to unfold organically.

Google audience: Audiences were moved by the film's sensitive treatment of end-of-life themes and appreciated the strong central performance. Many found it to be a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant experience, with some highlighting its introspective nature.

Nominated for Best Film at the Blue Dragon Film Awards; Youn Yuh-jung won Best Actress at the Jeonju International Film Festival.

Director Lim Dae-hyung was inspired to write the film after witnessing the quiet strength of his own grandmother as she faced illness.