20th Century Girl Review

I will forever be in love with 20th Century Girl.

This poignant drama gained popularity on TikTok when it was first released. I wanted to know about it, so I ended up watching it in one sitting, and now it remains one of my all-time favorite movies.

Honestly, watching it made me emotional, laugh, and kick my feet in joy.

It’s probably one of the earliest Korean films I watched, and reliving it gives me the same feelings all over again.

The story centers around Na Bo-ra (Kim Yoo-jung) and her closest friend Yeon-du (Roh Yoon-seo), who is getting ready to travel to the U.S. for a critical heart operation.

However before she leaves, Yeon-du confesses that she’s developed a crush on a classmate she believes is named Baek Hyun-jin (Park Jung-woo), and can’t bear the thought of going without knowing more about him.

Bo-ra promises to keep an eye on the boy, gather as much information as possible, and keep Yeon-du updated through emails. Comforted by Bo-ra’s plan, Yeon-du heads overseas.

Back at school, Bo-ra sets her mission into motion by quietly observing Hyun-jin.

She eventually finds out that he and his best friend Poong Woon-ho (Byeon Woo-seok) are planning to join the school’s broadcasting club.

Seeing her chance, Bo-ra tries out and gets in.

Surprisingly, it’s Woon-ho, not Hyun-jin, who ends up joining the club.

Bo-ra, still focused on her task, uses the opportunity to spend time around Woon-ho, hoping it will lead her closer to Hyun-jin.

Things get complicated when Hyun-jin misreads Bo-ra’s actions and assumes she likes him. He confesses his feelings, only for Bo-ra to turn him down.

During her missions, she comes to a realization: it’s not Hyun-jin she’s drawn to — it’s Woon-ho. And luckily, he feels the same.

If you ever need a Korean film that will make you feel so many things at once, this is it.

It’s the story of first love.

Director Bang Woo-ri has spoken about the nostalgic elements she wanted to include in the movie.

Speaking to Korea Times, she said she wanted to “capture an ordinary girl’s extraordinary moments from 1999” and wanted viewers to “relate to their own memories of first love and travel back to the end of the century.”

The film felt just like that — it featured pagers, camcorders, and videotapes.

Although I didn’t live through that time, it felt as though I did. It was a beautiful experience.

The film’s cinematography is breathtaking, especially in its use of saturated colors.

This is one of my favorite movies, and I could recommend it to you over and over again.