South Korean movie “Poetry” has been selected one of the best 10 movies of 2011 by CNN.

“This South Korean film about a grandmother looking for grace in the midst of a sea of trouble is one of those slow-burners that stays with you,” reported the broadcaster about the film directed by Korean director Lee Chang-dong.

Starring actress Yun Jung-hee as the heroine, the movie “Poetry” tells a story of an elderly lady who finds happiness in learning poetry for the first time, while a harsh reality forces her to suffer from guilt and fear. Written by the director himself, the story has drawn rave reviews with emphatic insight into crimes and redemption.

The film swept numerous awards including the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival in May, 2010; the Best Film, Best Actress, Best Scenario and Best Supporting Actress prizes at the 47th Daejong Film Awards in October 2010; and the Best Actress Award and Best Achievement for Directing Awards at the 4th annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards in December 2010.

Other films selected by the CNN include Martin Scorsese’s 3-D movie “Hugo,” Kenneth Lonergan’s second film “Margaret,” Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Duncan Jones’ “Source Code,” Nicolas Winding Refn’s action thriller “Drive,” Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia,” Patricio Guzman’s “Nostalgia for the Light,” Jeff Nichols’ “Take Shelter” and Paul Feig’s “Bridesmaids.”

Meanwhile, CNN selected “Sucker Punch,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” “Cowboys and Aliens,” “Your Highness” and “The Beaver” as five worst movies of 2010.

By Park Min-young (claire@heraldcorp.com)