Maps of Movies

Secret Sunshine (2007)

Where Secret Sunshine says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A widow's new start in a small southern city, and the ordinary Miryang places the story passes through

Scenes and places

The car that breaks down on the way in (2007)

Shin-ae and her young son Jun arrive in Miryang to start over. Her car breaks down at the edge of town and she waits by the roadside, with only a stranger's help between her and a place she does not know.

Set in The road into Miryang (Route 20 near Route 58, per the dialogue) — Where Shin-ae's car breaks down as she and her son arrive.

Miryang is the late husband's hometown, so the city itself is the film's first character.

The mechanic who will not leave her alone (2007)

A local mechanic, Jong-chan, fixes Shin-ae's car and keeps helping her open a piano school and look for land. He insists he is only being a Good Samaritan.

Set in Kim Jong-chan's car repair shop — A Miryang mechanic fixes her car and keeps turning up.

A working garage in a small provincial city, run by the one man Shin-ae meets first.

A piano school nobody asked for (2007)

Shin-ae opens a piano academy and introduces herself to the neighbouring shopkeepers. She is polite and a little too direct, and she tells people she moved here for her late husband's dream.

Set in June Piano School (Shin-ae's piano academy) — The shopfront where Shin-ae opens her piano academy.

A small shop-front school on a busy Miryang street; the set was removed after the shoot, according to a Korean press report.

The pharmacist's gift (2007)

Just outside her home, Shin-ae meets a pharmacist who says belief in God is the answer to her troubles. Shin-ae is skeptical but takes the scripture anyway.

Set in The pharmacy in Miryang — The pharmacy where a pharmacist presses a scripture on her.

A neighbourhood pharmacy that, according to the Korean press, still looks as it did during shooting.

Home with Jun, and a brother from Seoul (2007)

At home Shin-ae and Jun play a game where she pretends not to find him. Then her brother arrives from Seoul and asks why she is living where her husband cheated on her.

Set in Shin-ae's home in Miryang — The house where Shin-ae and Jun play, and where her brother visits.

An ordinary home interior; the sources do not say where it was filmed.

The night the phone rings (2007)

Shin-ae comes home late from a party and finds Jun missing. She takes everything from her bank account in cash and leaves it where she is told, then admits the land purchase was a lie to look rich.

Set in Bank and drop-off point — The bank counter and the place where Shin-ae leaves the money.

A town bank branch and an unnamed drop-off point; the sources give no address for either.

The reservoir (2007)

Police officers take Shin-ae to a reservoir, and her life stops there. A man connected to Jun's daycare is arrested soon after.

Set in A reservoir near Miryang — The reservoir the police take Shin-ae to.

A reservoir drained for cleaning; the sources do not name it.

The prayer meeting for the wounded soul (2007)

Shin-ae follows the pharmacist's invitation to a prayer meeting. She gives in to faith and says she has found peace, while Jong-chan trails after her to church.

Set in A downtown church in Miryang — The church where Shin-ae joins the believers.

A real Miryang church; a real Daegu pastor appears as the film's pastor, but the sources do not say where it was filmed.

The visit to forgive him (2007)

At her birthday party Shin-ae announces she will visit Do-seop in prison to forgive him. Jong-chan doesn't understand why she needs to, but he goes with her.

Set in A prison (Do-seop's visit) — The prison where Shin-ae goes to forgive Do-seop.

A prison visit room; the sources give no filming location.

The hair salon (2007)

On the day Shin-ae leaves the hospital, Jong-chan takes her to a salon to have her hair done. The girl who once peered into her school is now working there, and Shin-ae leaves in the middle of the cut.

Set in A beauty salon in Miryang — The salon where the girl from the neighbourhood now works.

A real Miryang hair salon; the sources do not say where it was filmed.

Characters

• Shin-ae — A widow who moves with her son to her late husband's hometown and opens a piano academy.
• Jong-chan — A Miryang car mechanic who helps her settle in and keeps showing up.