Love in the Big City

"If obsession isn't love, then I have never loved before"

The film stars Kim Go eun as Jaehee, a bold and free-spirited woman, and Noh Sang hyun as Heungsoo, a young gay man struggling to accept his identity in conservative Seoul, navigating their unusual and unique friendship.

Jaehee, who often misunderstood and misjudged by others, finds comfort in Heung-soo's company, while Heungsoo learns to embrace himself with Jaehee's help. The film beautifully balances heavy themes with lighthearted moments, all thanks to the strong chemistry between the leads.

>>Comparing the movie to the series:
The series showcased ML's bold lifestyle in different stages of life and his journey towards love, heartbreak and acceptance, on the other hand the movie emphasized one of his important part of life i.e his friendship with the FL, we did see a bit part of her in the series. Both versions stayed true to the main storyline but differ in their execution.

Both Lee Soo Kyung/Nam Yoon Su and Kim Go Eun/Noh Sang Hyun are different genre of same kind. Please don't try differentiate between the series and movie as both has its own charm. I enjoyed both of them very much.

Overall, it is a touching tale of friendship, self-discovery, and acceptance, making it a must-watch for fans of heartfelt romances.

Read More

Exceptional queer movie with realistic approach

Hi, I am late to the party, but I should write a review, because this is one of the exceptionell queer movies of 2024. If you do expect a BL you will be disappointed, it's a queer movie and the romance of a BL is not the focus of this movie.

It's a story of gay man who struggles with the society he lives in and a girl who also had go through some hardships. They both meet at university and the grow closer together, overcome hardships together and accept each other for what they are. Both discover who they are and what they want.

Cinematography, direction, acting are also exceptionell.

This is one of the best queer movies ever made which does not focus on the gay aspect per se. It's part of the story but the main part is the development of a deep friendship between a gay man and a straight woman. Regardless if you are straight, bi, gay or inbetween or nothing of that, regardless which gender identity you have, it's a powerful story and a wonderful movie and you should watch it!

Read More

Don't Shy Away From Being Yourself ❤️

Life becomes a little easy - when you find people who accept and love you for who you truly are. This message is exceptionally narrated in this movie through the main leads who are deemed "different" by society but manage to hold on to each other and fight through prejudices/biases of society, friends, family and their own self to eventually loving and accepting themselves for who they truly are.

From the moment we're born, society judges us for our looks, height, skin color, skills, sexual orientation, behavior, and more. Biases and prejudices are ingrained in people’s minds upon first meeting us, and while some may change with understanding, many remain. Despite progress, there’s still a long way to go to eliminate these judgments in today's world. "Love in the Big City (2024)" is a commendable step in the right direction, and I applaud the cast, crew, and original novel creators for this remarkable film.

The movie powerfully portrays the challenges of "being different" through a heartfelt narrative that evokes a range of emotions—smiles, tears, and everything in between. The female lead is someone I've admired for a long time, but this was my first time seeing Steven Noh in action. Known from "Pachinko," his portrayal, even within a limited emotional range as his character demanded, showcased his immense talent. The main leads bond together on the common ground of being labelled outcasts and the movie progresses from their 20s to early 30s showing us how they fight the societal prejudices, missed chances at love, inner fear of showing their true self, facing their family, overcoming failed relationships to ultimately accepting their own true self, and being proud of it.

The line "How can being yourself be a weakness?" resonates as the film’s strongest message. Personally, as someone who has faced various judgments from young age from strangers/close relations alike movies like this offer a solace of sorts - a feel-good factor that reinforces the importance of learning to love your true self, before seeking it elsewhere.

The film does not come across as preachy - but rather resonates with me (and am sure others) because it does not shy away from showing the good/bad and ugly side of journey towards self-acceptance. Profound, Powerful, Engaging - from start to finish, would highly recommend it as a must watch ❤️

Read More

This movie left me with a hole in my heart because I don't have the kinda friendship they have.

Story
I personally felt that the plot was a little bit fast faced and we were rushing to complete it. I know there is a drama version of this and haven't watched that yet, but I wish we could have this cast in the series instead because man I really loved the relationship of jae hee and heung su.
I got to know that this movie only covered the first part of the novel 'Love In The Big City' by park sang young(there was a little foreshadowing in the movie lol). And that made sense because we kinda got very less back story of jae hee and I will like to know it. I also wished to see more of jae hee's love story rather than directly jumping into the marriage.
I really wish they complete the other three part of the novel too.

Other than all this, loved the story. It was wholesome. Them fighting and then switching to caring each other, man that was so wholesome. I cried like a baby in the scene when jae hee was being assaulted by jae seok (that bastard) and how instantly heung suu knew what happened. The way both of them helped each other be truly themselves, loved it. After jae hee broke up with ji seok, she started to feel more like herself and went back to her carefree self because heung suu said so. Heung suu coming out because jae hee pushed him a bit. Loved all these moments. It was a comforting watch to see wholesome friendship moments.

Judging purely on the basis that it was a movie and might not have other parts, I will give it a 7.

Acting/Cast
Do I even need to say anything? Ugh, another kim go eun banger perfomance. I have been meaning to watch her whole filmography and this just makes me want to binge watch her. Steve noh was so good too. The cast was perfect, no complaints.

10/10 rating, without a doubt.

Music
Nothing much to say but the french songs were good to hear. So I will not use it to rate the movie.

Rewatch Value
I will definitely rewatch this! This movie left me with a hole in my heart to find a friendship like theirs, so pure and supporting. I will rewatch this just to cry that I lack a friendship like theirs for sure.

Oh a definite 10/10.

Read More

the power of friendship

Overall: some of us are lucky enough to have at least one friend who supports us, tells us like it is, who loves us and who we learn and grow with on our life's journey. This movie tackles several heavy issues that plague our world and yet it isn't depressing, because there is joy in the friendship between Jang Heung Su and Koo Jae Hui. Aired on Viki www.viki.com/movies/40843c-love-in-the-big-city Make sure to watch to the very end.

Content Warnings: suicidal thoughts, unwanted outing, homophobia, sexism, cyberbullying, bullying, vomiting, voyeurism, beaten up, hate crime, drugging, rape off screen, past attempted suicide off screen, abortion off screen, blood, intimate partner violence

What I Liked
- acting (I cried several times which rarely happens)
- their friendship/bond thru the highs and lows
- tackled real world issues in a realistic way without feeling preachy
- production value

Room For Improvement
- the flash forward to start
- voice over towards the end
- wished there was more time to delve deeper into the issues brought up

Differences between the movie and the series (besides different actors)
- the movie has them as equal protagonists with shared screen time whereas Jang Heung Su is the protagonist in the series and it's about his life journey
- the movie centers on their friendship whereas it plays a role in the series, but is not the core of the series

Is it BL?
- there is m/m romance in it but Jang Heung Su is not in a relationship at the end, it does end on a hopeful note though

Read More

I cried.. I Laughed...Im Anxious

I'm watching this movie because of kim go eun (koo jae hui)... And Also i had waited for Noh Sang Hyun (jang heung su) other project after watching him at pachinko.... i didnt read the synopsis before watching it.. at first I thought that he felt for her... but he's A gay... then I thought I might stop watching .. but i kept on watching .. Noh sang hyun so attractive in this movie... their friendship made me envy so that I wish I had A Gay Friend like him... A complicated relationship of JH because of her personality so other took advantage of it... HS afraid to coming out because of society's view and his mother...
they help and support each other.... they fight but always be there for each other problem.... I cried just watching their friendship value... I Cried JH dance with HS at the end... although this is not some sad movie.. I hoped that Noh Sang Hyun got other project after this....

Read More

"Why is being you your weakness?"

~~Crazy bitch meets gay.

"REALISM AT ITS FINEST" ~as some1 here said. YES! TRULY!!! A MASTERPIECE WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!!!!

A breakdown to put SIMPLY why it's a 💎 ;

~ A FRIENDSHIP I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD NEED AND WOULD PUT ME INTO SO MUCH WITH DEEP ADMIRATION. *spoiler ahead* the scene where they were running (JaHeui to the police station, and Heung running amidst the traffic going to JaeHui captured with such an amazing scenery is both heartwarming and breathtaking) is one thing that really sticks to my mind and is only one among my favourite scenes.
~ REALITY AT ITS FINEST! telling this for the 2nd time. I'll let you discover the reason behind this through watching the movie🤭

~PERFECT CASTING!!! I MUST SAY! 🤘
KimGoEun, as always didn't fail to display a powerful emotions with her acting, proving how promising actress she is and could really be.
SteveNoh, for my very first-time discovery of him through this, also did a really really great great job on this movie that his acting click very well along with Kim Go Eun. He really did a great job for his role with his in-depth portrayal as a gay👏 (further detailed explanation awaits you on movie😉)
& LeeSangYi of course! even given with a short screentime for his role, I knew it! the moment he appeared on my screen. I have this gut feeling that he would able portray and put such enthusiasm on his character. *another spoiler* Those stares that's still clear in my mind, that he put towards Jae-Hui (kim go-eun) in the rooftop gave me assurance that he could gave justice to his role.

~~~to be continued <📽️>

Read More

A Different Perspective

This is exactly that, a different perspective but with the same ingredients. They meet in college. Weather the rumors as they move in together. Classed as a romance, this is definitely a drama with a very serious take on the prejudices of being different. In contrast with the later released 'in your feelings' series, this is the thinking version. With equal screen time, both sides of the relationship is revealed between a gay man and a fearless woman who refuses to cower to her male counterparts.

In both their relationships, at one time or another, they both deal with the consequences of not using a condom. In the pursuit of love and happiness, they both act unwisely. Their fierce bond tested from the fallout, they separate. One beaten by her jealous abusive lover, the other waking up too late to recognize what he had. They can only call each other. No one knows them as intimately as they know the other. Life has it's way, maturity comes and permanent choices are made.

This deserves the same level of awareness as the later released version. The acting is superb. On a smaller budget, the story is engaging, entertaining and very intense. His admission of losing an important love and the ensuing breakdown is felt. Had this been released much earlier, my belief is that this adaptation would have garnered more praise for the different perspective.

Good watch.

Read More

A Place to Be

Love in the Big City is warm, witty, quietly heartbreaking, and emotionally messy in the best way. It tells the story of Koo Jae Hui, a free spirited woman, and Jang Heung Su, a closeted gay man, two misfits who gradually become each other’s safe place. As they navigate loneliness, prejudice, identity, messy relationships, and the growing pains of adulthood, the movie becomes less about finding the perfect life and more about finding a place where you can finally be yourself.

What I appreciate most is how genuine the story feels. It never tries too hard to make a statement, nor does it romanticize the characters’ struggles just to squeeze tears out of the audience. Tragedy exists because tragedy is part of life, but so do laughter, desire, bad decisions, insecurity, friendship, and all the wonderfully complicated things in between. The movie simply lets its characters live through them. At times, it felt less like watching a movie and more like quietly witnessing the lives of two people trying to figure themselves out. Raw, imperfect, and very human.

I also really liked how the movie treats Jae Hui and Heung Su’s relationship. It never forces their bond into romance, yet somehow they feel like soulmates. Not the romantic kind, but the platonic kind. They have each other’s backs, tease each other, bicker, playfully hit each other, and somehow remain each other’s person even after the ugliest arguments. There were moments when they could have a huge fight and then, one second later, immediately worry about each other. That kind of friendship feels incredibly precious. Who says a soulmate has to be a lover?

Kim Go Eun was fantastic as Jae Hui. I have never doubted her performance, and she brings so much life into this character. While some people might see Jae Hui as a misfit, I honestly found her refreshing. She says what she thinks, owns who she is, and when she decides to make a statement, she makes it with her whole chest. Girl, slay! More than anything, I found myself rooting for her because there is something liberating about watching someone refuse to shrink herself just to fit into other people’s expectations.

And then there is that crying scene. My goodness. Script aside, Kim Go Eun’s performance alone broke me. The way she cried while trying to speak, gasping for air, choking on her words, and struggling to get everything out felt painfully real. It was as if years of pent up emotions had finally found the exit and came rushing out all at once. I especially appreciate that she did not try to make the crying pretty. It was messy, ugly, and completely human. I cried with her.

Noh Sang Hyun was equally impressive as Heung Su. He brought so much nuance to a character carrying layers of complicated emotions about his identity. His love life could be frustrating because he has genuine people interested in him, yet he keeps pushing them away. But honestly, I understood him. Before he can commit to someone else, he needs to figure himself out first. He has not even found the courage to tell his own mother, a person who clearly holds enormous influence in his life.

I also read Heung Su’s reluctance to come out as partly rooted in the fact that he does not want his identity to be treated as something abnormal. He wants to live somewhere where it simply is not a big deal. This is why his argument with Jae Hui about why her identity gets to be considered normal while his requires a coming out felt especially meaningful. Noh Sang Hyun delivered all of that uncertainty, frustration, fear, and vulnerability so convincingly that Heung Su never felt like a character designed to represent an issue. He simply felt like a person trying to live.

That brings me to one line that really stayed with me: “How can being yourself be your weakness?” It is such a simple question, but it hit hard. I have always felt that being different should not automatically make someone lesser, although I understand why Jae Hui and Heung Su are considered misfits within the world they live in. I feel fortunate to have grown up exposed to different kinds of people and perspectives, because it taught me to be more open minded. Still, seeing the characters constantly negotiate with a world that wants them to be more acceptable made that line resonate deeply.

The movie also made me think about how subjective the word “misfit” really is. Sometimes the problem is not that we do not belong. Sometimes we are simply standing in a room that has not learned how to make space for us yet. Jae Hui embraces who she is more openly, while Heung Su spends much of the story trying to understand whether he can do the same. Their journeys are different, but ultimately they are both searching for the same thing: somewhere they do not have to apologize for existing.

The visuals are pretty normal. Nothing particularly breathtaking, but nothing distracting either. The OSTs are similar for me. They work, but I was so invested in the characters and their story that I barely paid attention to anything else. And honestly, that is probably a compliment. The story itself was enough to hold my attention.

The ending felt a little rushed, especially when it came to Heung Su’s mother. I wish the movie had explored their relationship more because her shift from approaching his identity through a strongly religious perspective to seemingly trying to accept it felt a little too sudden. There was room for more emotional development there. Still, the ending works. It feels less like a conclusion and more like the opening of another chapter. The characters get their closure, and somehow, so did I.

By the end, Love in the Big City felt like a warm embrace or a gentle pat on the back. We have all been misfits in our own way. Some of us embrace it, some hide it, and some spend years trying to figure out what it even means. This movie does not promise that being yourself will always be easy. It simply reminds us that it should never be a weakness.

And perhaps that is what touched me most. Beneath all the messiness, humor, heartbreak, and growing pains, Love in the Big City is ultimately a story about finding someone who makes you feel at home while you are still learning how to make a home out of yourself.

Read More

REALISM AT ITS FINEST!

This movie brough me to tears.. I absolutely loved every aspect of it.

This is my first review because I just felt like this movie just deserves the best. The acting was amazing, the story too. I loved how the story tackled the harsh reality that a lot of people face in relationships where it be gay relationships or straight ones. I loved that this story focused more in the story aspect, the girl faced challenging stereotypes that society likes to place on people who are being themselves, society hates people being different.. Since Korea is a conservative country its good that this story showcased the struggles that many gay people face, where it be choosing to embrace themselves or please their parents.

This story hit a nerve especially when they showcased the homophobia and hate that the LGBTQ+ community faces, the scene where our main character was being hit by a group of mobs made my heart ache and I could feel the pain.. I also like the aspect of showing casing the difficulties of straight relationships and straight ones, the best friend, the girl (I don't remember their names) but she conveyed feelings of being naive and dumb, in the dating aspect.

The best friend showcased the hardships of dating in straight couples. We learned that she is actually a lover girl and has this tough exterior to protect herself. I also liked the fact they did not shy away from showing us the name calling and misogyny men do, they tend to name call women 'sluts' and playing women like a sport.

I liked how the ex of the main character did not end up with him, because I just think that its good that the main character learned the hard way and learned to, love himself and accept himself, and coming out to the world which I loved and finally being free. So its good that he ended up learning that love is not always going to wait for you to finally accept them, they will eventually seek it somewhere else. I thought it was touching when the main character finally bought gucci shoes for his ex, and I feel like the gucci shoes represented acceptance, closure and finally putting their romance behind them but still remembering it still happened.

Anyways this was a fantastic movie! I recommend this to everyone who wants to watch something that tackles real life problems.

Read More