Main Cast: Kim Yoo-jung, Byeon Woo-seok, Roh Yoon-seo, Park Jung-woo
Summary
Set in 1999, 20th Century Girl, follows the story of Na Bora (played by Kim Yoo-Jung) navigating high school. The movie starts off with Bora’s best friend Yeon-du proclaiming that she’s met the love of her life, Baek Hyun-jin. However, Yeon-du has been preparing to travel to New York to receive treatment for her heart condition and devastated that she won’t return to school until next year. Being the ultimate best friend, Bora promises to keep close tabs and email Yeon-du about Hyun-jin’s personality and likes/dislikes.
While at school, Bora goes to extreme measures to follow and learn more about Hyun-jin. After eavesdropping on Hyun-jin and his best friend, Poong Woon-ho, Bora overhears that they are both joining the school’s broadcasting club. Bora follows suit and successfully joins the club. However, Bora quickly learns that although Woon-ho joined, Hyun-jin withdrew his application to make space for her. Determined to learn more about Hyun-jin, Bora attempts to befriend Woon-ho.
Given Bora’s constant questions and potentially obsessive observation efforts, Hyun-jin accidentally thinks that she likes him and tells her that they should start dating. Much to her surprise, Bora adamantly rejects him and embarrasses herself in the process. Later after drinking a little too much at an overnight school field-trip, Bora realizes that she is love with Woon-ho, who has also slowly begun developing feelings for her.
When Yeon-du returns, they realize that Bora has been tracking the wrong person. The real Hyun-jin Yeon-du was in love with was actually Woon-ho! Rather than seeing Yeon-du hurt, Bora swallows her own feelings and immediately ends her budding relationship with Woon-ho. Later in the film, Woon-ho moves to New Zealand to return to his mom and younger brother.
Thoughts
From the soundtrack and outfits to the slight fuzzy filter added to the drama, 20th Century Girl is the ultimate Korean 90s movie. The chemistry between Bora and Woon-ho is genuine and the viewer can immediately feel that these two characters are destined to be more than friends. The film also captures the complexity of balancing your friendships while navigating your first love. Rather than seeing Yeon-du hurt, Bora swallows her feelings and pushes for Yeon-du and Woon-ho to be together.
Although 20th Century Girl was the perfect 90s movie for a night in, I did wish there were a few clarifications. The end of the movie abruptly jumps forward in time and does not clearly define past from present. Also the ending reveals that Woon-ho did not respond to Bora because he unexpectedly passed away in 2001. As a viewer, I would have appreciated a little more background on what happened and how he planned to reunite with Bora. However, despite his untimely passing, Woon-ho kept his promise and met Bora in the 21st century through a heartwarming video.
