I Am Love

In the South Korean film I Am Love, Oh Sa-rang, a pharmacy assistant in her late 30s, has become increasingly enamored with a regular customer, Chol-su. Every day, he stops by the pharmacy to purchase digest-aid and an energy drink, and Oh Sa-rang, while going about her duties as a salesperson, catches a glimpse of him. Oh Sa-rang is drawn to Chol-su's quiet, unassuming demeanor and subtle charm. Over time, his routine visits to the pharmacy provide her with a sense of excitement and purpose in her daily routine, something that her mundane job often seems to lack. Despite their lack of direct interaction, Oh Sa-rang develops strong feelings for Chol-su, and it begins to affect her life outside the pharmacy. As she becomes more and more infatuated with the seemingly elusive Chol-su, Oh Sa-rang starts to experience an emotional transformation. Her mundane life is suddenly turned upside down by the mere possibility of connecting with him. This growing obsession serves as a catalyst for re-evaluating her current life circumstances and relationships, including her own unfulfilling romantic relationships and the expectations placed upon her by her employers. One day, Oh Sa-rang's fixation on Chol-su reaches a boiling point when she finally finds a chance encounter with him outside the pharmacy. However, when she tries to communicate her feelings for him, she's left disappointed and embarrassed. This crushing realization forces her to come to terms with the impossibility of winning Chol-su's affections and the limits of her own social status in relation to him. In a final act of defiance, Oh Sa-rang starts dressing stylishly and confidently, shedding her old life as a pharmacy assistant, and taking a stand to re-assert her own desires and identity. This newfound self-empowerment comes at a time when her mundane routine no longer satisfies her emotional needs, allowing her to confront her shortcomings and begin taking steps towards building a more purposeful life. As the film concludes, Oh Sa-rang's emotional makeover and growth, although still ongoing, are palpable. The realization she has finally undergone, about the futility of fixating on someone who is out of her reach, will allow her to move forward from the shadows of a unrequited obsession and cultivate a healthier understanding of herself. With this self-awareness, Sa-rang embarks on a new and transformative journey, away from the confines of her unfulfilling routine, and towards a life that offers more possibility and promise for growth, even if she'll never get to be with the elusive Chol-su.