The Tricky Art of Using Luck: A “K-Fantasy” Perfect for Families! [Review]

※ This review contains some spoilers for the movie ‘The Strange Candy Shop Zenitendo’.

Not many people would turn down a bit of luck. When times are tough or our minds are cluttered, we naturally look for a stroke of fortune. While everyone wants luck in different shapes and sizes, one thing is certain: it is never easy to get. Some blame their failures on bad luck, while others call their hard-earned success “just luck.” Everyone has a different attitude toward fortune.

One of the things we naturally realize as we navigate life is that luck does not always lead to happiness. Of course, the moment luck arrives, we are swept up in an indescribable joy. But in that dazzling emotion, the other side of luck is easily hidden.

“Opportunities for luck are fair. Luck finds everyone.” (Hong-ja, owner of Zenitendo)

Opening on the 29th, ‘The Strange Candy Shop Zenitendo’ is a fantasy drama that looks into the flip side of this ‘luck.’ Based on the children’s fantasy novel of the same name by Japanese author Reiko Hiroshima, the story begins as customers with lucky coins visit ‘Zenitendo,’ a candy shop that grants wishes.

One day, a girl following a stray cat discovers a mysterious candy shop. This is ‘Zenitendo,’ where candies that grant wishes are sold. When Hong-ja tells her she can buy any candy she wants, the girl says, “I want to be a doctor who treats sick people.” In response, Hong-ja gives her the ‘Doctor Honey-Jam Set.’ Returning home with a bag of honey, the girl first gives honey-made medicine to her sick mother.

Will the girl’s wish to heal the sick come true? And how will she choose to use the ‘cure-all’ in her hands?

The movie uses an omnibus format to tell the stories of various characters with their own wishes, including the girl who wants to save her mother, a student wanting to escape bullying, and an entrance exam student who wants to play the piano well. From the candy shop that appears out of nowhere to mysterious treats like the ‘Doctor Honey-Jam Set,’ ‘Monster Drink,’ and ‘Rainbow Tea,’ ‘The Strange Candy Shop Zenitendo’ blends high-fantasy settings and fairy-tale direction with a realistic question and a heavy lesson: ‘What choice does a person make when they hold luck in their hands?’

For example, an elementary school student who is a victim of violence and bullying drinks ‘Monster Drink’ and uses the power he gains for revenge and further violence. He justifies his actions, saying, “I can’t make what happened to me disappear.” But if one person’s luck leads to another’s misfortune, can that really be called a happy ending? Hong-ja’s sharp warning wakes him up: “The moment you find joy in hurting someone, you are no longer human. You become a beast.”

The prices for the candies at ‘Zenitendo’ vary. Hong-ja sometimes asks for a 100-won coin, a 100-yen coin, or even 1 baht (Thai currency, approx. 50 won). Each time, customers miraculously pull out coins from their pockets that they have likely never seen in their lives to pay. While the currencies differ, the cost is never an extravagant one.

How to use the luck that comes without a great price is entirely up to the individual. However, no one can guarantee what the result of that choice will be. “Luck can quickly turn into misfortune if you aren’t careful.” The movie’s message is intuitive and clear: luck alone does not complete true ‘fortune.’

Ra Mi-ran takes on the role of Hong-ja, the owner of ‘Zenitendo.’ With her white hair tied up and wearing a Hanbok, you can see the production team’s effort to interpret the original work’s atmosphere in a Korean way. Ra Mi-ran anchors the story with her signature acting, being kind yet firm, and occasionally adding a sly smile.

At a recent press conference, Ra Mi-ran introduced the film, saying, “I thought I absolutely had to do this because it’s a movie full of such beautiful and warm stories. It’s a story about emotions and desires that people all over the world can relate to, and a work that both adults and children can empathize with.”

Lee Re plays Yomi, the owner of ‘Hwaang-dang,’ who also appeared in the movie ‘It’s Okay! It’s Okay! It’s Okay!’ (2025). She is Hong-ja’s rival and the only villain in the movie. Lee Re said, “I wanted to capture a feeling that was like a cute troublemaker but also somewhat chilly. I wanted a sense of anxiety to be felt whenever this character appeared.”

However, the conflict between Hong-ja and Yomi is not given much weight in the movie. This leaves a question as to whether this setting is truly necessary within the overall message the film aims to convey. This is partly because the movie was produced with a series in mind. The series is expected to be released after the movie’s opening.

With its mysterious atmosphere, manga-like settings, and a cast of children at the center of the story, this is a movie that children and teenagers can enjoy without hesitation. It feels like reading a fairy tale filled with meaningful dialogue. Opening on the 29th. Rated for all ages.