20th Century Girl
Promotional poster
Hangul
20세기 소녀
Hanja
20世紀 少女
Revised Romanization20segi Sonyeo
Directed byBang Woo-ri
Written byBang Woo-ri
Produced bySyd Lim
Starring
CinematographyJo Yeong-jik
Music byDalpalan
Production
company
Yong Film
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • October 6, 2022 (2022-10-06) (Busan)
  • October 21, 2022 (2022-10-21)
Running time
119 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean

20th Century Girl (Korean: 20세기 소녀; RR: 20segi Sonyeo) is a South Korean romance drama film written and directed by Bang Woo-ri in her feature film debut, starring Kim Yoo-jung, Byeon Woo-seok, Park Jung-woo, and Roh Yoon-seo. The film depicts the friendship and freshness of first love against the backdrop of 1999.[1] It was released on October 21, 2022, on Netflix.[2]

Plot

Set in 1999, the story revolves around Na Bo-ra (Kim Yoo-jung), a seventeen-year-old high school student with a bright personality. Bo-ra's best friend, Yeon-du (Roh Yoon-seo), who has been preparing to visit the US for heart surgery, suddenly declares that she cannot leave as she has fallen in love with a boy from their school whose name she knows as Baek Hyun-jin (Park Jung-woo). Bo-ra promises that she will follow Baek Hyun-jin, find out everything about him, and email what she discovers. Reassured, Yeon-du departs.

At school, Bo-ra starts to follow Hyun-jin. One day, she overhears that Hyun-jin and his best friend Poong Woon-ho (Byeon Woo-seok) will join the broadcasting club at school, so she successfully auditions to join the club. While Woon-ho joins the club, Hyun-jin does not. Bo-ra tries to get close to Woon-ho in order to observe Hyun-jin. 

Hyun-jin, mistaken that Bo-ra is interested in him, asks her to date him only to be rejected by her. Meanwhile, Bo-ra realizes that she has fallen in love with Woon-ho, who has developed feelings for her as well.

When Yeon-du returns to Korea after successful heart surgery, they realize that Bo-ra has been following the wrong boy, and that the real 'Baek Hyun-jin' whom Yeon-du loves is actually Poong Woon-ho, a confusion caused by the boy wearing his friend's school jacket bearing his name tag. Loyal to her friend, and protective because of her health condition, Bo-ra conceals that she loves the same Woon-ho. Then Bo-ra starts to avoid Woon-ho so that their blossoming relationship will end, but through Hyun-jin, Yeon-du learns that Woon-ho and Bo-ra like each other. A tearful Yeon-du tells Bo-ra that she can give up Woon-ho for the sake of their friendship. 

Meanwhile, Woon-ho prepares to move back to New Zealand to resume life with his mother and younger brother. On the day of his departure, with the help of Yeon-du and Hyun-jin, Bo-ra arrives at the train station just in time for them to confess their feelings before separating. They maintain contact while Woon-ho plans to attend university in Seoul. Without explanation, Woon-ho stops answering Bo-ra's emails; she never hears from him again. Heartbroken, confused, and angry, Bo-ra tries to get over him.

Time passes as Bo-ra attends university and matures. In 2019, she receives an invitation to an art exhibition from a person named Joseph, who turns out to be Woon-ho's younger brother, from whom she learns that Woon-ho died in some kind of an accident all those years ago. Joseph thanks Bo-ra for remembering Woon-ho and says that the happiest moments in Woon-ho's short life were spent in her company. As the film ends, Bo-ra views a video made by Woon-ho that depicts their time together.

Cast

Main

Seventeen-year-old high school student, a Taekwondo practitioner, and a member of the broadcasting club at her school.
Bo-ra’s classmate and a member of the broadcasting club.
Woon-ho’s best friend, a popular man who is liked by his classmates.
Bo-ra’s best friend, who has an unrequited love for Hyun-jin.

Supporting

  • Kim Sung-kyung as Bo-ra's mother[8]
  • Jeong Seok-yong as Bo-ra's father
  • Lee Cheon-moo as Na Ba-da, Bo-ra's younger brother
  • Yoon Yi-re as 'Madam', Bo-ra's classmate[9]
  • Jeon Hye-won as 'Darn it', Bo-ra's classmate[10]

Special appearance

Production

Development

Director Bang Woo-ri wrote the script based on her personal experience of exchanging diaries with her friend. The film is set in Cheongju, the director's hometown.[14]

Filming

Filming took place in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province from October 2021 to January 2022.[15][16]

Release

The film was invited to 27th Busan International Film Festival and premiered at 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section on October 6, 2022.[17][18] It was released on Netflix on October 21, 2022.[19]

Reception

Viewership

A day later after its release, 20th Century Girl ranked 7th globally on Netflix's movie category.[20][21] Subsequently on 24 October, it ranked 5th in the same category.[22] Within three days of its release, it debuted at 2 on Netflix's global chart of Top 10 non-English movie category for the week of October 17 to 23, with eight million hours viewed.[23]

Critical response

Claire Lee, reviewing for Variety, praised the director for capturing "the feeling of devoted teenage friendships ... while acknowledging how they are inevitably meant to change ... as time goes on," as well as Kim Yoo-jung's portrayal as convincing and delightful Bo-ra, but stated, "the film leaves some of its key characters surprisingly unexplored, despite its two-hour running time." Lee concluded, "Though its potential is not fully realized, '20th Century Girl' does manage to add to the timeworn theme of first love by providing a moving examination of what makes certain moments and certain people unforgettable."[24]

In his review in South China Morning Post, James Marsh praised the performance of Kim Yoo-jung as a "dazzling central turn," and described the movie as a "genuinely heartwarming comedy of youthful errors." Giving 3 stars out of 5, Marsh criticized the appearance of adult Bo-ra, stating "[it] gives the film a heavy-handed and wholly unnecessary tragic coda, somewhat takes the wind out of the sails of what is for the most part a genuinely heartwarming comedy of youthful errors."[25] Writing for India Today, Bhavna Agarwal gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, praising Bang Woo-ri's use elements of the 90s to successfully teleports the audience to the last century, her screenplay which keeps the audience hooked, and the charismatic screen presence of Kim Yoo-jung and Byeon Woo-seok.[26]

Kim Kyung-hee of MBC appreciated Kim Yoo-jung's portrayal of Na Bo-ra, which undergirds the cute narrative and comic elements without ruining the overall romantic atmosphere. She stated, "this work has a charm that makes you smile as if it were a memory of your own first love," and [the film] "will be imprinted on the audience as "Korea's representative first love movie."[27]

Accolades

Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards 2023 Best New Actor – Film Byeon Woo-seok Nominated [28]
Buil Film Awards 2023 Best New Actor Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Kim Ye-eun (September 1, 2021). "김유정·변우석·박정우·노윤서, 넷플릭스 영화 '20세기 소녀' 출연 [공식입장]" [Kim Yoo-jung, Byun Woo-seok, Park Jung-woo, and Noh Yun-seo to appear in the Netflix movie '20th Century Girl' [Official Position]] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Naver.
  2. ↑ Kim Na-ra (January 19, 2022). ""하정우 '수리남'→김유정 '20세기 소녀'"…넷플릭스, 올해 韓 라인업 25편 공개 [공식]" ["Ha Jung-woo's 'Suriname' → Kim Yoo-jung's '20th Century Girl'"... Netflix unveils 25 Korean lineups this year [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Naver.
  3. 1 2 Ham Na-yan (September 1, 2021). "김유정X변우석 '20세기 소녀', 제작확정 [공식]" [Kim Yoo-jung X Byun Woo-seok '20th Century Girl', production confirmed [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2021 – via Naver.
  4. ↑ Noh Gyu-min (January 26, 2022). "[공식] 한효주, 넷플릭스 영화 '20세기 소녀' 특별출연" [[Official] Han Hyo-joo to make a special appearance in Netflix movie '20th Century Girl]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022 – via Naver.
  5. ↑ Kim Bo-Young (October 6, 2022). "첫사랑 관찰 로맨스…김유정 '20세기 소녀', 메인포스터&예고편 공개" [First love observation romance... Kim Yoo-jung's '20th Century Girl', Main Poster & Trailer Released]. EDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Naver.
  6. ↑ Jeon Hyung-hwa (May 4, 2021). "[단독]김유정·변우석, '이십세기 소녀'로 멜로 호흡..넷플릭스 행보 주목 [종합]" [[Exclusive] Kim Yoo-jung and Byun Woo-seok, 'Twentieth Century Girl' to breathe melodrama... Pay attention to Netflix's move [Comprehensive]]. Star.mt (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ Choi Ji-eun (September 10, 2021). "박정우, 넷플릭스 '20세기 소녀' 출연 확정" [Park Jung-woo confirmed to appear in Netflix's '20th Century Girl']. Top Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  8. ↑ Hwang So-young (October 13, 2022). "김성경, 결혼소감 밝혔다 "축하 감사, 건강하게 잘 살겠다" [Kim Seong-kyung reveals her marriage feelings "Thank you for the congratulations, I will live a healthy life]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022 – via Naver.
  9. ↑ Shin Ji-won (October 25, 2022). "'욘더'→'20세기 소녀' 신스틸러 활약중인 "이 배우 대체 누구야?"" ['Yonder' → '20th Century Girl' scene stealer active "Who is this actor?"]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Naver.
  10. ↑ Hwang So-young (October 28, 2022). "전혜원, '20세기 소녀'·'슈룹' 세기 오가는 신스틸러" ['Jeon Hye-won, a scene stealer from '20th Century Girl' and 'Queen's Umbrella']. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via Naver.
  11. 1 2 3 Kim Na-yeon (October 19, 2022). "20세기 소녀' 김유정 "한효주와 세번째 인연, 신기해..너무 고맙고 아낀다" [20th Century Girl' Kim Yoo-jung "The third relationship with Han Hyo-joo is amazing. Thank you so much and I love you]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022 – via Naver.
  12. ↑ Yoon Hyo-jeong (November 23, 2021). "[단독] 공명 '20세기 소녀' 특별출연…12월 현역 입대 앞두고 '열일ing" [[Exclusive] Special appearance in '20th Century Girl' by Gong Myung... Ahead of enlistment in December, 'Yeol-iling]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2021 – via Naver.
  13. ↑ Kang Hyo-jin (January 25, 2022). "[단독]옹성우, 넷플릭스 영화 '20세기 소녀' 특별출연" [[Exclusive] Ong Seongwu to make a special appearance in Netflix movie '20th Century Girl]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022 – via Naver.
  14. ↑ Jo Hyun-na (December 11, 2021). "#BIFF 6호 [인터뷰] <20세기 소녀> 방우리 감독, 새로운 한국 청춘영화의 계보에 놓이기를" [#BIFF #6 [Interview] <20th Century Girl> Director Bang Woo-ri, I hope that he will be placed in the genealogy of new Korean youth films.]. cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022 – via Naver.
  15. ↑ Choi Beom-gyu (October 8, 2021). "'20세기 소녀' 등 촬영 청주 상당구 일부 도로 12~15일 부분 통제" [Partial control of some roads in Cheongju, Sangdang-gu, from the 12th to the 15th of the filming of ‘Girl of the 20th Century’]. No Cut News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2022 – via Naver.
  16. ↑ Jeon Chang-hae (December 12, 2021). "[청주소식] 14일 충북대 일대 통제…'20세기 소녀' 촬영" [[Cheongju News] On the 14th, the whole area of Chungbuk National University was controlled... Filming of '20th Century Girl']. Yonhap News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022 – via Naver.
  17. ↑ Lee Ja-young (August 31, 2022). "3년 만의 정상 개최 부산국제영화제, 새 섹션 '지석' 등 첫 선" [Busan International Film Festival held at the summit for the first time in 3 years, new section 'Jiseok' debuted] (in Korean). Busan Ilbo. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022 – via Naver.
  18. ↑ "BIFF 20th Century Girl - Special Premiere". www.biff.kr. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  19. ↑ Kim Da-eun (September 26, 2022). "김유정X노윤서 '20세기 소녀' 10월 21일 공개 확정" [Kim Yoo-jung X Noh Yun-seo's '20th Century Girl' to be released on October 21st]. Daily Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  20. ↑ "TOP Movies on Netflix on October 22, 2022". Fix Patrol. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  21. ↑ Kang Bo-ra (October 22, 2022). "김유정·변우석 '20세기 소녀', 넷 플릭스 7위...36개국 차트인" [Kim Yoo-jung and Byun Woo seok '20th Century Girl', Netflix 7th... Charts in 36 countries]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  22. ↑ Kim Na-yeon (October 23, 2022). "김유정X변우석 '20세기 소녀', 넷플릭스 글로벌 5위..韓·日서 1위" [Kim Yoo-jung X Byun Woo-seok '20th Century Girl', Netflix Global 5th... 1st in Korea and Japan]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022 – via Naver.
  23. ↑ Jonathan Hicap (October 26, 2022). "Korean film '20th Century Girl' debuts at No. 2 on Netflix chart; 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' in top 10 for 16 weeks". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  24. ↑ Claire Lee (October 22, 2021). "'20th Century Girl' Review: A Korean Teenager Navigates First Love and the Complexity of Female Friendship". Variety. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  25. ↑ Jamas Marsh (October 8, 2021). "Busan 2022: 20th Century Girl movie review – Netflix Korean romantic comedy starring Kim Yoo-jung is a heartwarming tale of youthful errors". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  26. ↑ Bhavna Agarwal (October 25, 2022). "20th Century Girl Review: Kim Yoo-jung and Byeon Woo-seok dish out a heart-achingly sweet youth romance". India Today. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  27. ↑ Kim Kyung-hee (October 10, 2022). "[애프터스크리닝] '20세기 소녀' 대표적인 첫사랑 영화의 간판 갈아치울 이름★★★" [[Afterscreening] A name that will change the signboard of the representative first love movie of '20th Century Girl']. MBC Entertainment (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022 – via Naver.
  28. ↑ Cho Yeon-kyung (April 7, 2023). "제59회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 최종 후보 공개" [59th Baeksang Arts Awards, TV/Film/Play Finalists Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
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