’20th Century Girl’ is one of the latest South Korean romance films, portraying four teenagers’ sweet and heart-wrenching love story. ’20th Century Girl’ was written and directed by Bang Woo-ri. The film, released on Netflix on 21 October 2022, is a sweet but sorrowful story about first love and its hardships.
Profile
- Movie: 20th Century Girl
- Genre: Romance
- Director: Bang Woo-ri
- Writer: Bang Woo-ri
- Producer: Im Sueng-yong
- Cinematographer: Jo Yeong-jik
- Distributor: Netflix
- Language: Korean
- Release Date: 21 October, 2022
- Country: South Korea
Cast
Main
- Han Hyo-joo as Na Bo-ra
A 17-year-old high school student. She is a member of the broadcasting club at her school club. She is a pleasant and positive personality who is skilled at taekwondo martial arts. - Byeon Woo-seok as Poong Woon-ho
a classmate of Na Bo-ra and also a broadcasting club member. - Park Jung-woo as Baek Hyun-jin
The favourite of his classmates and also the best friend of Poong Woon-ho. - Roh Yoon-seo plays Kim Yeon-du
The best friend of Na Bo-ra. She has a one-sided crush on Hyun-jin.
Supporting
- Kim Yoo-jung plays the childhood role of the lead character Na Bo-ra.
- Kim Sung-kyung as mother of Na Bo-ra.
- Jeong Seok-yong as the father of Na Bo-ra.
- Lee Cheon-moo as Na Ba-da, who is the younger brother of Na Bo-ra.
- Yoon Yi-re as ‘Madam’, who is the classmate of Na Bo-ra.
- Jeon Hye-won as ‘Darn it’, a classmate of Na Bo-ra.
Special appearance
- Lee Beom-soo- School teacher
- Park Hae-joon- Doctor of the school infirmary
- Ryu Seung-ryong- Poong Woon-ho’s father (voice)
- Gong Myung- Jung Woon-ho, blind date of Na Bo-ra
- Ong Seong-wu – younger brother of Poong Woon-ho
- Young Poong Jun-ho – Jung Min-joon
Synopsis
’20th Century Girl’ is a heartfelt and heartbreaking teen love story, which crafts the story of friendship and first love.The drama opens in 2019, where we can see Na Bo-ra, the lead character rewinding her highschool memories and her first love. It takes the audience into a flashback scene of a 17-year-old highschool student Na Bo-ra talking to her best friend Kim Yeon-du in 1999.
Kim Yeon-du, who is going to the USA for her critical heart surgery, does not want to leave the town as she comes across a boy named Baek Hyun-jin with whom she falls in love, even though she only knows his name. However, Kim Yeon-du finally leaves for the USA for her treatment after Na Bo-ra promises to update her everything about Hyun-jin.
Na Bo-ra starts keeping an eye on Hyun-jin and updates Kim Yeon-du everything that she finds about him through email. She even joins the broadcasting club to be with Baek Hyun-jin assuming that he will also get admission, but only she gets accepted. Poong Woon-ho, Baek Hyun-jin’s best friend becomes her broadcast clubmate. Taking help from Woon-ho to gather details about Hyun-jin, they start having feelings for each other.
Kim Yeon-du returns after surgery and meets Na Bo-ra. While the two of them talk, Na Bo-ra realises that, all this while, Kim Yeon-du’s actual Baek Hyun-jin was Poong Woon-ho. This happened because of a confusion caused by Poong Woon-ho wearing Baek Hyun-Jin’s jacket.
Thinking of her best friend’s health, Na Bo-ra does not reveal her emotions and decides to sacrifice her love, Poong Woon-ho, for Kim Yeon-du.
Na-Bo-ra avoids Poong Woon-ho in all possible ways, but it is not easy as he is in love with her. During the trip to an amusement park, Baek Hyun-jin tells Kim Yeon-du that Na Bo-ra and Poong Woon-ho like each other.
Kim Yeon-du blames Na Bo-ra for keeping her emotions for Poong Woon-ho from her. She supports Na Bo-ra for her love towards Woon-ho. Similarly, Yeon-du gives Poong Woon-ho the reason for Na Bo-ra’s denial.
Woon-ho informs Na Bo-ra about his return to New Zealand. Kim Yeon-du insists Na Bo-ra meet Woon-ho before he leaves for New Zealand.
Na-Bo-ra meets Woon-ho in the station and apologises to him for not reverting back. She confessed her love for him for the first time.
Poong Woon-ho hugs and consoles her and asks her to wait for him until he gets back. The two cry until it’s time for him to leave.
They maintain contact for a while, before Woon-ho stops responding to Na Bo-ra’s emails without any explanation. She is left heartbroken as she never hears from Woon-ho ever again.
As time passes, Na Bo-ra graduates from university. In the year 2019, she receives an invitation to an art exhibition from a person named Joseph. She tries to recall her memory but does not know anyone named Joseph. She decides to visit the art gallery only to find out that Joseph is Woon-ho’s younger brother. She learns from him that all these years Woon-ho has been dead, which is the reason he stopped contacting her. Joseph is grateful to Na Bo-ra for making his brother happy in his short life.
Later, Na Bo-ra views a video, which was made by Woon-ho, which includes their time spent together. With this, Na Bo-ra realises Woon-ho’s love for her, and finally gets a closure.
Theme
The theme of the film ’20th Century Girl’ is about young love and friendship. The film perfectly captures youthful bliss and sad nostalgic love.
Interesting Facts about 20th Century Girl
- The film was inspired by the director’s real life experiences.
- Actress Kim Yoo-jung drank alcohol to play drunk Na Bo-ra in the film.
- Poong Woon-ho’s father’s role was voiced by Ryu Seung Ryong.
FAQs
- Is “20th Century Girl” a sad film?
The ’20th Century Girl’ is a romantic movie which gives a bittersweet feeling.
- Is “20th Century Girl” based on a true story?
The story of ’20th Century Girl’ is based on the personal life experience of Director Bang Woo-ri.
- What is the moral of the film “20th Century Girl”
The moral of the film ’20th Century Girl’ is to be honest with oneself and to cherish
every moment with the one you love. - What are the Instagram ID’s of the lead actors?
hanhyojoo222 is the Instagram ID of Han Hyo-joo, byeonwooseok is the Instagram ID of Byeon Woo-seok, jjung_woo_ is the Instagram ID of Park Jung-woo and rohyoonseo is the Instagram ID of Roh Yoon-seo.
