Some friendships are worth waiting six decades to see on screen. Legendary actress Kim Hye Ja returns in “Still Shining,” a deeply personal drama that just dropped its first poster and teaser — and it’s already tugging at heartstrings ahead of its Busan Film Festival premiere.
Kim Hye Ja and Cha Mi Kyung: Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Title | Still Shining |
| Lead Cast | Kim Hye Ja, Cha Mi Kyung |
| Supporting Cast | Lee Se Young, Choi Ju Eun, Park Seo Kyung, Moon Seong Hyun |
| Genre | Drama, Friendship |
| Festival Selection | 31st Busan International Film Festival (Korean Cinema Today – Panorama) |
| Release Window | October 2026 |
What “Still Shining” Is About
At its heart, the film tells the story of Soon Ok (Kim Hye Ja), who reunites with her childhood best friend Jung Im (Cha Mi Kyung) after 60 years apart — a friend with whom she once shared the most brilliant, unforgettable moments of her youth. The newly unveiled poster captures this beautifully, showing Soon Ok’s warm gaze alongside an image of her younger self with a young Jung Im (played by Choi Ju Eun), quietly conveying decades of memory and longing.
The teaser opens on a bittersweet note, with Soon Ok reflecting in voice-over on how slowly individual days pass, yet how quickly decades disappear. The two women, thrilled to be reunited, prepare to travel to Seoul together to chase a shared childhood dream: competing in a singing competition. But the emotional weight of the story reveals itself as Soon Ok watches Jung Im gradually lose her memory, hinting at the deeper themes of aging, loss, and enduring love that the film seems set to explore.
Flashback sequences show the two women as children, spending carefree days by a stream with a third childhood friend, Doo Young (Moon Seong Hyun). One quietly devastating moment — young Jung Im tearfully promising “I’ll be right back” — foreshadows the hardships that shaped their decades-long separation. Adding another emotional layer is Ji An (Lee Se Young), Soon Ok’s granddaughter, glimpsed watching the unfolding events with visibly mixed emotions.
Why This Reunion Matters
Kim Hye Ja remains one of South Korean cinema and television’s most respected veteran actresses, known for decades of work that has shaped Korean screen storytelling. Seeing her reunite on-screen with Cha Mi Kyung after such a long real and fictional gap gives “Still Shining” an added layer of authenticity — this isn’t just a story about friendship, it feels like one.
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