[Ishani's Picks] "Miss Granny" Is the Perfect Wholesome Movie to Watch With Your Family

Have you ever been scrolling aimlessly through Netflix's roster of amazing titles and yet found yourself having nothing to watch? If so, you must have overlooked one of the sweetest, most heart-warming movies the platform has to offer: "Miss Granny".

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Starring Na Moon-hee and Shim Eun-kyung in the leading roles, "Miss Granny" is a fantasy slice of life drama that focuses on the essence of what makes life worthwhile, whether that be for a spirited twenty-something year old or a whiny grandmother.

74 year old Oh Mal-soon (played by Na Moon-hee) is irritable and hot-tempered on the surface but holds a deep, unaddressed resentment against the world on the inside that manifests itself in unsightly ways. Having been widowed at the ripe age of 30, with a new born in her arms, Mal-soon has faced the world at its cruelest. Now, at 74, with privilege cushioning her next generation, she finds it hard to let go of control and caution.

Mal-soon's one and only son, Hyeon-cheol (played by Sung Dong-il) is a Professor at a national university, with expertise in issues of the elderly. His wife, Ae-ja (played by Hwang Jung-min-I), has ailments of the heart, which is nonetheless relegated to stress from her mother-in-law and his kids are yet to establish themselves in life. As tensions reach a peak with Ae-ja being hospitalized, the family decides to send Mal-soon off to a senior care home.

Now aware of the fact that she might be a nuisance to her own family, Mal-soon resigns to her fate. However, intrigued by an Audrey Hepburn portrait displayed on the show window of a photo studio, Mal-soon walks in for one last shot. The camera flash goes off, filling the screen with bright light and out emerges a young, rosy-cheeked Mal-soon, back in her 20 year-old body.

What follows are the colourful adventures of Mal-soon, or Oh Doo-ri, as she calls herself now (in a nod to her favourite actress, Audrey). From chasing her dreams to falling in love, Doo-ri does it all in the span of a few days, reclaiming her lost youth. Yet, her time is cut short as maternal ties call her back home.

Without spoiling the story further, suffice to say that "Miss Granny" is one of those movies that can bring a family together in laughter and in tears. From unforgettable characters that you'll be able to identity in your own vicinity to the idealistic "Roman Holiday"-esque getaway we all dream of, "girl meets world" tropes and iconic cameos to tickle your fancy, "Miss Granny" is a complete package. Na Moon-hee is excellently nuanced in her portrayal of Mal-soon whereas Shim Eun-kyung is like lightning in a bottle: brilliant, multifaceted, complex yet elusive. To portray a 74 year old who desperately wants to live up to her twenty year old self and nurture her inner child the one chance she gets, is not an easy feat yet Shim Eun-kyung fulfills it incomparably.

By the end of it all, you're left with a warm, fuzzy feeling and a newfound understanding for the elderly. If you're looking for something to watch on family movie night, "Miss Granny" is right up your alley!

By Ishani Sarkar

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"Miss Granny" is directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, and features Shim Eun-kyung, Na Moon-hee, Park In-hwan, Sung Dong-il, Lee Jin-uk, Kim Hyun-sook. Release date in Korea: 2014/01/23.