The Unseen Strings Of Fate
The Unseen Strings Of Fate: A 20th Century Girl Analysis
By Arya Meshram
20th Century Girl, a Korean production that premiered on October 6, 2022, managed to attain the global rank of seventh in Netflix's movie category a mere day after the film became available. A week later, it debuted at #2 on Netflix's global chart of the Top 10 non-English movies. But what exactly caused this film to be such a hit, not only in its homeland but all across the world, with the whispers of its melancholic ending and spoilers echoing amongst K-drama and movie enthusiasts of distant countries?
The answer lies in two words: bittersweet nostalgia. A persuasive undercurrent of 'bittersweet nostalgia' was prevalent throughout the entirety of the story. In its wake, a sense of persistent sadness and innocence was left, resonating even with those who hadn’t experienced that period firsthand.
The movie leaves the viewer with a somber feeling lingering, which could be attributed to various elements presented throughout the film, like growing pains, Na Bo-Ra's journey, deep-rooted affection, friendship, and even visual aesthetics.
The story begins with the backdrop of 1999 Cheongju, South Korea, a city that was chosen largely because of it being the director, Bang Woo-ri's hometown, which gave the movie a slight personal touch. The year 1999, too, holds significance, as the year held rumors that the world would end when 2000 arrived (this is an important idea in the film, as Na Bo-Ra, the main character, alludes to it throughout the plot via her email conversations).
As the plot begins to unfold, a faceless man by the name of Baek Hyun-jin captivates the heart of Na Bo-Ra's friend, Kim Yeon-du. In the air of teenage romance, Yeon-du, who is a frail girl suffering from a critical heart disease, has to depart to America for treatment, thus knocking down the first domino in the story. Though her treatment is necessary, she is reluctant to go once she realizes Baek Hyun-jin goes to the same school as her. To ease Yeon-du’s sorrow, Bo-Ra creates an email account for Yeon-du so her friend can experience the same teenage romance that every other girl their age feels. In short, Bo-Ra spies on Hyun-jin, filling her friend with all sorts of information about this apparent “Baek-hyun” to make her feel loved in the face of her troubles.
In order to get a closer examination of Hyun-jin, Bo-Ra auditions for the broadcast club that Hyun-jin was planning on joining. However, Hyun-jin ends up withdrawing his decision to join, leaving Bo-Ra alone in the club with Hyun-jin's best friend, Poong Woon-hoo. This is where the story is truly established. Though he starts off as a supportive friend of Bo-Ra’s, Woon-hoo gradually develops feelings for Bo-Ra, guiding his character arc to revolve around his unrequited love for her.
While each character carries their own problems, each personality is cleverly crafted with its own distinct attributes. Woon-hoo, for one, is characterized by his being smitten with Bo-Ra from long before she knew about him, his journey of heartbreak continuing when he sees his best friend as a romantic interest for Bo-Ra. His character, despite his young age, is an extremely mature one. Feelings aside, he is able to view situations from different perspectives, leaving his emotions out of his judgments. His empathic nature makes him a fan favorite immediately, especially after saying, "You told me something so personal, but then you forgot all about it like it never happened. Was it really me that you were talking to, or did you mistake me for Hyun-jin?"
Yeon-du and Bo-Ra's relationship, on the other hand, explores the fine line between friendship and love. Initially, Yeon-du is seen as a barrier in Bo-Ra's love story, as so much of Bo-Ra’s time is dedicated to her best friend’s romance instead of hers. Likewise, Bo-Ra's later interest in Woon-ho can be seen as a threat to Yeon-du’s love life, detracting from her ability to love and be loved.
Bo-Ra and Woon-hoo’s slow romance is nothing short of mutual affection, later restricted due to its own cause, in avoidance of hurting the feelings of someone they love.
Outside of characters, the soft aesthetics resembling those of actual memories give the story a necessary nostalgic effect. While the pacing of the movie is slow, it is far from sluggish, allowing the viewer to savor the quiet moments between action and dialogue.
After watching 20th Century Girl, I feel it is safe to say Kim Yoo-jung's character Na Bo-Ra shines as she captures the essence of vulnerability and youthfulness with her common and relatable reactions to the complexity of teenage friendship. Byeon Woo-Seoks, who played Woon-hoo, successfully delivers a charming performance, showcasing emotional maturity and quiet intensity. Yeon-du's compassionate and honest character is given life by Roh Yoon-seo, the actor of Kim Yeon-du, and Park Jung-woo brings Hyun-jin greatly deserved charm.
20th Century Girl has made thousands cry at its ending due to its beautifully crafted storyline that resonates with people of all ages. Emphasis is given to the inevitable passage of time and quiet seasons of life where we lose something and gain something. The movie reminds audiences that the invisible strings between destined people and tragedy are something that cannot be controlled by one individual alone, let alone two. Thus, Solemn reflection might be the only option at their disposal.
