20th Century Girl

Set in the year 1999, a coming-of-age story unfolds in the shape of "20th Century Girl," a South Korean romantic comedy-drama that delves into the complexities of friendship and love. The film masterfully weaves a narrative that resonates across different timelines, where three girls grow and learn the intricacies of the human heart. The story begins with an older protagonist, which is introduced in the later parts of the movie and is revealed to be Tae-Ok, who narrates the events that occurred in the late 1990s. Tae-Ok reminisces about the days when she and her two closest friends, Choo-jin and Se-joon, hung out together and got into all sorts of trouble. The narrative then shifts to 1999, when Tae-Ok and Se-joon are part of an inextricable bond, their conversations candid and filled with laughter. They confide in each other about their deepest desires and dreams, giving shape to each other's identities. Choo-jin, on the other hand, has set her heart on Yoon Jong-suk, a boy at their school whose beauty is undeniable, and to her friend's knowledge. Se-joon, seeing her best friend's unrequited love for the boy, decides to keep tabs on Jong-suk on Choo-jin's behalf. As they observe Jong-suk, the trio falls into a pattern of regular, methodical surveys, gathering information and piecing together the story of his relationship alongside Choo-jin. The teenage years are unforgiving, with Tae-Ok's observations painting a rather clear picture of a budding romance between Jong-suk and a girl called Jin-hee. Jong-suk appears to be delighted by Jin-hee's presence, which becomes reason enough for Se-joon and Tae-Ok to be happy on Choo-jin's behalf – at least, that's what they hope for. They see both Choo-jin and Jong-suk at school events, and their observations strengthen their own trust in Choo-jin-Jong-suk bond. However, Tae-Ok begins to find it hard to look the other way as Jong-suk unwittingly grabs the attention of her own. A series of humorous, then poignant moments change the dynamics between Tae-Ok and Jong-suk. Her interaction with Jong-suk eventually makes her aware of the complexities of love, and leads her to navigate into the turmoil of her own feelings. In the process, Jong-suk discloses the complexity of his current situation to Tae-Ok, she finds herself wrapped up in the heat of romance and becomes the unintended subject of Jong-suk's unrequited love. Meanwhile, we're shown glimpses into the struggles Choo-jin goes through as she's smitten with Jong-suk. "20th Century Girl" deals with unrequited love by traversing multiple timelines as it raises questions about identity and human relationships. What emerges, though, is a deep connection and a tangible love story that evolves through unseen events. It's poignant that Choo-jin is heartbroken and unable to communicate her feelings to Jong-suk and yet Se-joon evolves alongside Tae-Ok in their journey of realising their own love towards the end of the story. While remaining faithful to the late 90s setting, the screenplay also takes care to weave the core messages gradually. Director Woo Ming-seok masterminds the gentle, rising tempo and striking tone, the cinematic balance that aligns perfectly with the unfolding narrative. At its core, "20th Century Girl" remains as a sympathetic exploration of both heartbreak and love, how intricate our human feelings truly are, and how delicate handling of friendship amidst love drama showcases we as human beings can grow much wiser we become.