This Netflix romantic drama perfectly captures the magic of first love

There is nothing more bittersweet than the feeling of nostalgia. Think back to a time when life was less complicated and relive that flood of emotions, especially when you think of your first love. Teen crushes in the media are usually tailored to the teenage target audience, but Girls of the 20th century – one of the best Korean movies on Netflix – uses the strong feeling of nostalgia to tell this timeless love story for young peoplemaking the excitement of first crushes accessible to all generations. The film perfectly captures the lighthearted and overly dramatic moments of first love by drawing on small, relatable habits and creating tantalizing chemistry between the cast. Although the film is set in the 90s, the awkward teenage protagonist and the world-ending teen drama are nostalgic enough to put anyone in a state of reminiscence. Nostalgia becomes the film’s defining tool, allowing it to skillfully lead us through a rollercoaster of weird emotions all the way to the unexpected ending.

Girls of the 20th century

In 1999, a teenager with a heart of gold begins keeping a close eye on a popular classmate in order to please her lovesick best friend.

Release date

21 October 2022

Pour

Kim Yoo-jung, Park Jung-woo, Roh Yoon-seo

Duration

1 hour 59 minutes

director

Bang Woo-ri

Authors

Bang Woo-ri

Studio

Netflix

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“20th Century Girl” captures the nostalgia of a first crush

Girls of the 20th century opens briefly with an adult Na Bo-ra (Kim Yoo-young) prepares to return home to Korea and quickly delves into the past, when Bo-ra was still in high school. The year is 1999 and Bo-ra’s best friend’s heart is pounding wildly, not because of the heart disease that she wants to cure with an operation outside the city, but because she has met a boy. When Kim Yeon-du (Roh Yoon-seo) prepares to leave the city, She makes Bo-ra promise to investigate every detail about this mysterious boy named Baek Hyun-jin (Park Jung-woo), as he will be going to the same school as her. As a loyal and protective best friend, Bo-ra agrees, and so the almost sinister stalking that every high school girl is guilty of, but somehow justified by youth and true love, ensues.

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And now the first unexpected twist: While Bo-ra carefully studies the object of her friend’s desire, She eventually gets drawn into her own puppy love story with Hyun-jin’s best friend Poong Woon-hoo (Bye Woo-seok). Every plot in the film is full of nostalgic moves that we can almost empathize with: secretly finding out what your crush is interested in, pretending to be interested in those hobbies, maybe joining the same clubs to get closer to them, or getting a lump in our throat when they’re in the same room as you. Even the abundance of plot twists becomes relatable, as each discovery is met with an overly dramatic reaction and questionable decisions that we know all too well from our youth. It’s very easy to get lost in the frivolity and nostalgia of the film’s atmosphere, making us forget the mature tone at the beginning and thus leaving us vulnerable to the ending.

Kim Yoo-Jung masters the role of the likeable teenager in “20th Century Girl”

There is no better person to guide us through this nostalgic story than a protagonist who embodies both the lovable and embarrassing qualities of a teenager. Bo-ra’s excitement at having a crush on someone is palpable, from her initial reluctance to like someone who is aloof and slightly rude to happily slipping into lovesick bliss as she looks out the window of her parents’ shop in Woon-ho. On the other hand, if She finds out devastatingly that Yeon-do actually likes Woon-ho, not Hyun-jin, She makes the well-intentioned but completely infuriating decision to lie to her best friend about her feelings. Although she eventually learns that Yeon-do is perfectly capable of making her own decisions, her protectiveness makes her misguided actions seem heartwarming nonetheless. The idea of ​​making ridiculous plans over trivial things fits in with how teenagers generally try to gain independence and adhere to ethical rules by making these confusing decisions, making it uncomfortable but still ridiculously relatable.

The fast pace Girls of the 20th century also enhances identification with Bo-ra as a teenager, especially since Yoo-jung’s portrayal quickly shifts from one emotion to the next, as each brisk plot twist comes every ten minutes. It mimics the way we’re likely to remember our adolescent past, in quick snapshots circling all the major events and seminal emotions, rather than in one cohesive flow. Yoo-jung handles each changing moment effortlessly, with wild expressions on her face to dramatize the teenage experience as exaggerated as we’re likely to remember it.

“20th Century Girl” keeps the 90s within reach

Since the film is set in 1999, you can’t help but find ’90s paraphernalia and references to iconic Korean pop culture lying around the set. Video recorders, pagers and outdoor telephone booths delight the screen, adorned with references to the millennium crisis this was a hot topic at the turn of the century. Of course, this mise-en-scene contributes greatly to the film’s nostalgic atmosphere, as some of us grew up in this very environment. This is also due to the rich and vibrant hues of each scene, with saturation and contrast cranked up to create the Technicolor nostalgia of a whirlwind first love. It is also this clarity that makes us forget that we are merely witnessing Bo-ra’s memory, and emphasizes how she is essentially reliving each cascade of emotions and drama.

Despite the obvious 90s setting Girls of the 20th century does not feel limited to those who grew up in this era, and still feels open to all generations. Although this is largely attributed to the timeless romance of the first crush, the cinematography also plays a role. The camera becomes an extension of Bo-ra as we relive her memory. Consequently, the camera is just as in love with Woon-ho as Bo-ra is, and often lingers on his indefinable expressions just as gently and tenderly as Bo-ra does. Another memorable moment is the Wide shot of the silhouettes of Bo-ra and Woon-ho against the bright blue sky during the Cherry Blossom Festival. This marks the point where Bo-ra realizes her feelings for Woon-ho while teaching her how to film. The wide shot makes the touching moment float in time, capturing it almost like a snapshot. It’s the emotions packed into these images that make the film timeless and accessible, allowing anyone to indulge in the nostalgia of feeling those butterflies for the first time.

The romantic chemistry between the actors is nostalgic

Nostalgia is also created by the chemistry between the cast, especially in Bo-ra’s relationships. Bo-ra and Yeon-do perfectly embody the bonds between girls and adolescents, from the playful and obsessive conversations about crushes to the more mature discussions about boundaries that we all inevitably face. Then we also have the pleasure of watching Bo-ra’s frustrating arguments with Hyun-jin as she resolutely fends off his advances and eventually builds a tentative friendship with him. And we must not forget that our two romantic protagonists whose petty banter gradually turns into loving gestures and romantic intensity under a plum tree. Their relationship exudes a tenderness and gentle innocence that fits seamlessly into Netflix’s growing catalog of wholesome love stories and lets us revel in their cozy chemistry.

As such, Girls of the 20th century uses nostalgia to rein in our emotions, taking full control of them to lead us to a conclusion that has been a source of debate among critics. The film was panned for its “incompleteness” as details about the future of many characters were left out. But it was also praised for its ambiguity, with critics claiming it reflected the final stages of a coming-of-age story where life takes everyone down separate paths. Either way, The film really manages to leave us completely unprepared for the unexpected surprise in the finale.emphasizing the power that nostalgia and memories can have on the audience, making us remember our own first love.

Girls of the 20th century is currently available to stream on Netflix in the US

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