20th Century Girl Review: Heartfelt Friendship With Sad Nostalgic Love

Netflix’s teen romance movie 20th Century Girl (20세기소녀) is here and we have witnessed a beautiful first love whose magic never fades with time. Directed by Bang Woo-ri, the film stars Kim Yoo-jung, Byeon Woo-seok, Roh Yoon-seo, Park Jung-woo, alongside other cast members.

20th Century Girl follows the story of a beautiful friendship that makes the path for a heartbreaking love story as four teens relearn the meaning of friendship and love. And this is a lesson that they carry on to the 21st century.

Netflix’s synopsis of the film reads:

In this heartfelt romantic comedy, a high school student navigates love and friendship in the year 1999.

-20th Century Girl Review contains Mild spoilers-

20th Century Girl starts with our protagonist Na Bo-ra receiving a memory from the past that takes her back to her hometown and the days which have been etched in her memory forever. The scene then changes and brings us to when it all started- the day her friend Yeon Du told her about a crush.

This movie starts off like any other teen movie and gives us a look into the silliness of youth that reminds us all of some fun yet embarrassing days. Following Bo-ra in her struggles to find everything about a guy whom her friend has a crush on gives us a lot of lighthearted comic moments. On the other hand, her relationship with Pong Woon-ho slowly blooms into love is a beautiful experience for us all.

20th Century Girl Review
20th Century Girl Kim You-jung as Na Bo-ra in 20th Century Girl. Cr. Seo Ji Hyung/Netflix © 2022

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However, these stories can never be this simple and a messed-up love story is sure to happen. But unlike many other stories, this one shows the strong friendship that exists between Bo-ra and Yeon Du which really touches our hearts. And with this comes a love story that also succeeds along with friendship.

But let me tell you, this is all an illusion to make sure that this story will break your heart in the end. This brings me to the performance of the cast who have not disappointed us. Be it Kim Yoo-jung as young Bo-ra or Han Hyo-joo as adult Bo-ra, both have done justice to this character and their expressions of innocence and love has been a pleasure for us all.

20th Century Girl Review
20th Century Girl (L to R) Noh Yoon-seo as Kim Yeon-doo, Park Jung-woo as Baek Hyun-jin in 20th Century Girl. Cr. Seo Ji Hyung/Netflix © 2022

The actors are all a pleasure to the eyes and the notalgic touch that the director has given to the many scenes really takes us back to the end of the 20th century when things were much simpler. While the story may follow the typical storyline, it is the beautiful effects that the actors and people behind the camera have put together that make this film so heartwarming to watch.

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Summing Up: 20th Century Girl

This movie will bring you pure and innocent love that breaks the barrier of time and brings back a feeling that can never be forgotten. Pong Woon-ho has left behind a love that Bo-ra carries from her teens to her twenties and these feelings prove to be everlasting.

Altogether, this is a movie that you should not miss because everything from the cast to the cinematography will bring the magic of love fit to bring you a nostalgic feeling that will need some tissues. Yes, please do keep some tissues with you because you will need them at the end.

So do check out this heartwarming teen romance and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Watch 20th Century Girl on Netflix.

Also Read: Hello Remember Me Review: Silliness in the Name of a Thriller

REVIEW OVERVIEW

Overall

SUMMARY

20th Century Girl is a heartfelt story of love and friendship that will bring you to the nostalgic days of your youth that have been lost in time.
Riya Singh
Riya Singh
Riya Singh has a Bachelors in English and a Masters in Psychology. She's a K-drama enthusiast and has a writing experience of more than 2 years.

5 COMMENTS

  1. 21st Century Girl was touching and very beautiful, although it followed a typical storyline. I enjoyed the twist and turns in the film (I wasn’t able to predict some of the things that happened in the movie.) Which made it fun! I enjoyed the fact that the themes; love and friendship where prominent in the film and let’s not forget the feeling of nostalgia the film was able to evoke!
    If I was to rate this film… I’ll give it an 8.5/10 (85%)

  2. I love the movie, despite its bittersweet ending. I fell in love with Woon Ho during the entire film, but fell in love with him even more at the end I can only wish for my own Woon Ho. Na Bora is very lucky to have found her Woon Ho. This would really make it to number 1. People will surely fall in love with the 20th Century Girl. Thank you for this wonderful movie.

  3. I absolutely enjoyed this movie , but why the sad ending? No explanation as to what happened to Woon Ho 🙁 . Overall though a great K – movie to remind us of our youthful days. Will watch again when my heart has healed a bit from the ending 🙂

  4. Yeah, how did Woon ho die? Why Bo Ra didn’t have his address to mail him? Well at least watching the 3/4 of the movie is really fun though.

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20th Century Girl is a heartfelt story of love and friendship that will bring you to the nostalgic days of your youth that have been lost in time.20th Century Girl Review: Heartfelt Friendship With Sad Nostalgic Love