20th Century Girl
Details
Seoul in 1999 is a city trembling on the threshold of a new millennium. Cassette players line the streets, whispers linger in school corridors, and everything feels both exciting and fragile, as if it might change at any moment. The story that Bang Woo-ri places within this magical atmosphere manages to capture the spirit of such a period in its purest form. Bora, a seventeen-year-old girl, finds herself caught in the middle of a momentary decision that unexpectedly changes her life at the request of her best friend. This plan, which initially seemed innocent and clumsy, eventually turns into a completely different journey that confronts Bora with the feelings of both herself and the people around her. Loving, losing, and unknowingly hurting someone... All of this is conveyed through the eyes of a young girl grappling with emotions she cannot yet name. Kim You-jung brings such natural energy to the character of Bora that the feeling of watching a real person on screen never leaves you. This performance, which carries the contradictions of youth, loyalty to friendship and the strange, staggering weight of first love, single-handedly keeps the emotional backbone of the film afloat. The players next to him don't disrupt this equation either; on the contrary, they create a cohesive unit that preserves that delicate balance. In the film, the 90s aesthetic is not merely used as a nostalgic backdrop. The colors, music, and daily rhythm of the era are woven into the emotional fabric of the story. Those years, when the Internet has not yet entered the center of life, when every information is experienced with an effort, every feeling is experienced face to face, remind us how intense and lasting traces youth can leave. This story, built on unrequited love, the price of friendship, and the pain of realizing too late, gradually draws the viewer in. It progresses not through grand dramatic scenes, but through small glances, silent lines, and an inner-growing sadness. It's hard to hold back the tears at the end, but these tears come not just from sadness, but from remembering again that strange beauty that we all once experienced. A film that will feel familiar to everyone who grew up during the changing centuries.
KR

Yong Fil...

CJ ENM S...

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Reviews
badelf
December 07, 2023
7/10
This is not the most brilliant script in the world. On the other had, as rom-coms go, it was put together beautifully, and well worth watching. My wife didn't think it was very good at the beginning - too sophomoric, I imagine. By the end, she was into it. Our problem, not being Korean, it took us near half the movie to figure out which boy was which. Kim Yoo-jung is absolutely adorable, and the triumvirate of leads are all handsome.
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Frequently Asked Questions
20th Century Girl was released in 2022.
20th Century Girl has a runtime of 1 hr 59 min (119 minutes).
20th Century Girl belongs to the following genres: Romance, Drama.
20th Century Girl has a rating of 8.2/10 from 820 votes on TMDB.
In the United States, 20th Century Girl is available to watch on: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.