xinya

You may want to take this recommendation with a grain of salt, because even I have to admit this may be a stretch. There are few clear similarities between these dramas in terms of story, relationships, or characters, but I finished rewatching Mr. Sunshine while Our Movie was airing and somehow I just felt there was some kinship there. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Probably the classic melodrama elements? Perhaps the rather reserved older MLs? Both are quite artfully made, though in somewhat different ways (for example, Mr. Sunshine uses visual motifs while Our Movie seamlessly edits in flashbacks and movie sequences). I think the writing also has some similarities—the scripts are not necessarily thematically profound but they can be somewhat poetic with foreshadowing or lines that make subtle call backs to earlier scenes. The stories have emotional poignancy and an old-fashioned romanticism.

Both center on the relationship between a married older woman and a younger man. These relationships begin entirely differently—Secret Love Affair begins with an intense attraction and passion, while Lost begins in an emotional kinship based on a shared feeling of despondency. What is similar in these relationships is how heart-wrenchingly real they feel, how brilliant the actors are, and the intimacy of their absolutely natural interactions. The characters are flawed, but still people you can come to understand. Both these dramas are very slow-paced and very willing to let the viewer sit in long moments of silence. The approach to telling these stories, the way the scenes were shot, etc. show considerable care and thought. Secret Love Affair has a more melodramatic storyline, but never in a way that feels over-the-top.

Both feature a younger, severely ill female lead with a bright personality and a calm, older, reticent male lead who gradually softens to her charms. Both have strong performances that really make the characters work and brings a lot of nuance to the roles. The Forbidden Flower has more of a sultry summer vibe with lush vibrant cinematography (at least when it’s not off doing pointless side stories with supporting characters). Our Movie has more understated visuals and atmosphere. It’s less striking, but overall stylistically more sophisticated and has artful editing. Both are contemporary takes on the classic melodramas of the 90s and 00s. Our Movie is also commenting on its own genre, because the characters are remaking a 90s melodrama.

From the first episode of My Dearest I was reminded of The Princess’s Man. Both are romance-centered historical dramas that begin with a light-hearted youthful feeling, but are set against the backdrop of serious historical events that darken the tone and bring the angst as the story goes on. Both take liberties with the time period, but not in a way that feels like the setting has been completely thrown out to just dress up a contemporary drama in period clothes. I even felt there were some similarities in certain scenes and aspects of the lead characters. The Princess’s Man is a beloved classic, though (so far) I think My Dearest surpasses it in the quality of the plot and depth of the story.

Both are poignant romantic melodramas set against the backdrop of foreign invasions. Both follow the stories of fictional characters who become involved in major historical events without being the main players (major historical figures appear as supporting characters). Mr. Sunshine is set at the turn of the 20th century in a period of transition — Westernization and modernization at the eve of the Japanese Colonial period. My Dearest begins just before the Qing invasion of Joseon in 1636. Although there are some significant differences in time period and style, memorable characters, stellar performances, gorgeous production, and moving portrayals of momentous and tragic events in Korean history make both of these dramas standouts of the genre.

Both depict the same historical event — the Qing invasion of Joseon in 1636 and the court besieged at Namhansanseong. The Fortress is entirely devoted to portraying the siege, while My Dearest is larger in scope, thus these events are only one element of the story. Certain scenes in My Dearest were extremely reminiscent of the The Fortress, not only in content but also in how they were shot. I do think the depiction of the siege and debates between the king and ministers is more effective in The Fortress (and one would hope so, as that is the entire focus of the movie), but My Dearest offers a broader perspective on the war that goes beyond the fortress walls. Both touch on themes such as the hardships of war, the relationship between leaders and their people, the confrontation of honor and ideals with a harsh reality. The Fortress is a slow-paced, dialogue-heavy historical war movie that is entirely somber in tone. My Dearest balances moments of levity with the darker aspects and integrates war with romance; its pacing is far less glacial.

The dynamic between the couple in The Forbidden Flower reminded me of the couple in Aishiteiru to Ittekure. In both dramas a youthful female lead with an outgoing, vibrant personality quickly falls for and pursues an older man with a quieter more reserved presence (in Aishiteiru to Ittekure the male lead doesn't speak because he's deaf; in The Forbidden Flower he's just a more introverted personality and man of few words). Both dramas stood out to me for the how natural the actors felt together, especially something about the physicality of their interactions. The storylines aren't particularly similar; The Forbidden Flower is more melo (and has an unfortunate sideplot that interrupts the main storyline) while Aishiteiru to Ittekure is quite uneventful through much of the drama (can border in boring); but both have mostly mellow, down-to-earth atmosphere.

There's a similarity I'm premise — the female lead is wealthy and sheltered, due to serious illness in her teenage years she's on the cusp of adulthood having never truly lived. She falls for a working class man and a quietly melodramatic romance (by which I mean the storyline is melo but neither the tone nor plot is over-the-top) ensues. The Forbidden Flower focuses less on the class difference and adds the additional element of a large age gap, with a middle-aged male lead.

In terms of atmosphere, there are some similarities and some differences. Both have moments of unrestrained youthfulness but also of moodiness and emotional poignancy. Tatta Hitotsu no Koi is more consistently bittersweet and melancholic in tone, while The Forbidden Flower has some unfortunate tangents into more typical contemporary C-drama romance territory with the secondary and supporting characters. It also has a sultry aspect that focuses on the physical attraction between the leads that Tatta Hitotsu no Koi lacks. I felt they had some kinship between these drama in visual language as well — waterfront scenery and vibrant sunsets, though The Forbidden Flower leans more into the vivid colors and Tatta Hitotsu no Koi is more urban.

First Love is a contemporary take on the classic melodrama with some similarities in storyline to Winter Sonata, including separated high school lovers. There's something shared between the dramas in terms of tone and scenery as well, though of course they were made 20 years apart, so they don't feel entirely alike.

Both are beautiful black and while films by director Lee Joon Ik focused on the lives of writers that paint an insightful picture of some aspect of the period they are set in. They are slow-paced, poetic, and create a sort of intellectual or emotional portrait of the historical figure on whose life they are based. They also focus on these writers' important relationships with the other leads, who function as foils and as major characters in their own right.

Both are romantic melodramas set amidst bloody political battles in a royal court. They both follow real historical figures but also take substantial liberties with the facts. Both these dramas stand out to me for their complex and compelling characters. I think they have a similar balance in terms of angst, romance, and politics. They also both happen to suffer from rushed third act, unfortunately.

Both of these films are rather slow-paced and have significant ideological conflicts at their centers. The clash of ideologies in The Fortress manifests as a political debate while the king and his ministers try to make decisions during a siege. The Book of Fish explores the value of different types of knowledge and learning by following the relationship between the two leads, who come from very different backgrounds, thus have different beliefs and mastery of different skills. Both are excellent historical films with great performances and beautiful cinematography. Though both have their uplifting and depressing moments, the Book of Fish has an overall more light-hearted tone, while The Fortress is more serious and bleak.