Imagine falling in love with the same person every day, only for them to look at you like a stranger the next morning.
Released Feb. 3, an exclusive South Korean Netflix film tells the story of Han Seo-yun (Shin Si-a), an optimistic and cheerful high school girl whose memory resets every day. She is joined by Kim Jae-Won (Choo Young-woo), a quiet high school boy who focuses on filling Seo-yun’s memories with happiness, along with their two close friends, Seo-Yun’s best friend Choi Ji-min (Jo Yoo-jung) and Jung Tae-hun (Jin Ho-eun).
Based on author Ichijo Misaki’s 2020 Japanese romance novel, this film is the second remake of the novel, the first being the Japanese original adaptation “Even if This Love Disappears from the World Tonight” produced in 2022.
The cinematography was gorgeous. While watching the film, I appreciated the refreshing and dreamlike vibe the movie bestowed. The movie felt like watching a memory of someone’s first love – cinematic lighting, pastel colors and a soft glow throughout. In addition to these choices, the soundtrack is truly beautiful, giving a light, airy feeling that embodies a sense of longing and sadness.
With a runtime of about an hour and forty-seven minutes, the pacing was slow during the middle of the movie, showing her daily routine. On the other hand, the scenes towards the end of the movie that I had hoped were longer were cut short and felt rushed. I was also disappointed that we’re never able to see Seo-yun’s past, a crucial and significant factor, although they mention the reason why she lost it, I would’ve enjoyed a couple of scenes showcasing the accident.
Between the relationships and friendships of all the characters, I wished they were more developed and emphasized. Other issues should’ve been resolved, while other things could’ve been fully expressed. I enjoyed Ji-min’s character. She was a caring, loyal and great friend to Seo-yun, and well-written.
While some movies include crying scenes that are meant to evoke emotion, they feel fake and overly exaggerated to the point that it’s obvious acting, but for this film, it felt natural.
Even with its faults, the story unfolds naturally, showcasing love, sacrifice, youth and a plot that connected with me. Although I’m not able to relate entirely, I felt the love the two main leads had for each other.
The film is one of those “bring-your-own-tissues” movies. It brought me to tears. However, it fell short, grazing past a storyline that ended abruptly and pieces of the story that felt crucial.
