blindmaterial

So... I went into this completely blind. Haven’t read the novel, haven’t watched the 2022 Japanese adaptation, didn’t even really know what I was getting into. I just hit play on a whim (while I was suffering from a really bad stomach flu), so honestly I didn’t have any of the expectations that a lot of viewers probably came in with. Thankfully, I ended up being pleasantly surprised.

To give my own self credit, I watch enough films to usually have a decent sense of where things are heading as I'm watching a show in realtime, and for most of the first half for this movie, I thought I had the entire story figured out. Then the third act dropped and… yeah, I absolutely did not see that coming. That sudden emotional hit was what really sold the film for me. I like being proven wrong as a viewer, and this did exactly that.

There’s this constant, soft melancholy throughout the movie. Even though the setup is quite specific and circumstantial, it never pushes into full fantasy territory. It still feels like something that could exist within reality, which makes everything hit harder. At its core, the film is really about appreciating the ability to remember, to live in the moment, and to enjoy what you have, because I guess not everyone gets to do that.

We always say you can’t change people, but sometimes change happens without anyone noticing. You pick up habits, ways of thinking, or ways of caring because of someone’s presence, and only later do you realise how much they’ve shaped you. The film really taught me that.

I think this echoes in other reviews: As the film moves into its more emotionally demanding moments, the gentle tone established earlier starts to work against you in the best way possible. The shift makes the emotions hit deeper without ever feeling forced. Instead of pushing for tears, the story treats love and sacrifice with restraint, quietly raising the question of how much someone is willing to give up for another person’s happiness - and then leaving you to sit with that weight on your own.

Performance-wise, I wouldn’t say the cast completely blew me away, but everyone was solid.
Shin Shi Ah stood out the most for me. Her character wakes up each day disconnected from her own life, and Shin Shi Ah conveys that sense of disorientation with a lot of subtlety. The vulnerability feels real and grounded, never slipping into melodrama or turning the character into someone defined by pity. Choo Young Woo is steady and believable (I already know this watching him in Trauma Code). Jin Ho Eun also surprised me. I initially thought his character would be hard to like - especially since he’s so loved in Love in the Big City. But once again, the plot pulled the rug out from under me. He’s not really a villain at all. Jo Yoo Jung also held her own well, even though I haven’t seen her in anything before. She fit in naturally with the rest of the cast, and fared well in her solo scenes.

What I liked
- Simple, back-to-basics romance with lots of small, shy, sweet moments that don't feel overly trope-y
- The third act genuinely shocked me
- The music was well used and emotionally on point
- Nice attention to detail in terms of continuity and production

What didn’t quite work
- Jo Han Chul felt underused, especially given how strong a veteran actor he is
- The father–son relationship felt awkward and underdeveloped, with several ideas introduced but never fully explored
- The film felt a bit short; slightly better pacing or a longer runtime could’ve helped

In the end, it’s a film that draws you in gently and leaves you carrying a lingering emotional heaviness. One that hurts, but in a way that feels unexpectedly soothing.

I'll probably rewatch again one day if I'm snuggling in on a rainy weekend.

P.S. Keep tissues nearby. I don’t cry easily during films, but this one got me.