Loved this beautiful tale of a love that remains a dream. A perfect balance in the portrayal of both the lead characters and the tale of their coming together told with so much authenticity, underscoring what true love feels like, in an earthy yet soaring-to-the-sky way.
12 Reviews
All we are is dust in the wind!
fatmas-438644 March 2020
Nice movie
luongthanhanhduc18 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is about the childhood friendship of five teenagers. The memory comes back as the radio man read an unexpected letter from an audience, which turns out to be the diary of his best friend. In retrospective, he recalls all nice memories of his long lost friendship. They had had fun time together - spending time in the beach, talking about future plans, rushing to local singing competition, and even stealing the boat to go to nearby island. The twist of the story happened as Soo OK, the girl with paralysis on one of her legs, longed too much for a surgery that could possibly cure her leg. Her relation with a local doctor who gives prescription for her paralyzed leg also affected the relationship with her friends. From that time, their friendship experienced complications with misunderstanding and heated arguments. The story eventually reach the climax when Soo OK finally followed her mother to leave her friends forever. I particularly like the main actor and actress in the movie. They act so well that I can even feel their inner emotional aspects in the film. The story about a long lost friendship in childhood is also appealing to me as it makes me remind my childhood with silly acts and having fun time with friends. For more movies in this category, people can watch "You are the apple of my eye (2011)" or "So Young (2013)".
Good enough
PennyReviews17 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The story circles around five friends, with a tender note of coming of age and young first love in it. The setting of the grown up radio star, who finds himself reading his old friend's diary and goes back in time is just there to give the movie some breathing time and maybe some structure. Though that could have been used as a riddle for the audience to find out what happened to the young characters afterwards, by guessing whos who. However, it never develops successfully enough to serve as that. But for the main story, the first half is a little plain, as it resembles all the coming of age movies. However, the best part is yet to come. The drama climaxes from the outburst of the romance to the very distraction of its characters. And here the sweet teenager love movie gains the extra something that it needs to become a truly original movie. Most of its success is due, of curse, to the performances, that just hit the right key (especially if you consider that many of the actors weren't in their teens any more). On the contrary, the "grown up" version of their selves are not as good as the younger ones, and they reduce the drama somehow. Key scene is also the kiss scene, that makes the twist even bigger and more unexpected.
The water is wide
heniekb10 December 2018
I can't cross over... how beautifully Karla Bonoff's song fits this little gem. It's a coming of age story of five friends tested how strong is their friendship. The action takes place by the sea side therefore water is wide both literally and metaphorically. Their idyllic holiday time slowly shows cracks as they are unable to speak openly with each other being too young and too insecure. Especially that one of them who permanently lives in the seaside town is physically impaired. However I loved the way the cracks are revealed, how slowly they build up so you feel like a part of the movie. And what a wonderful acting by the young actors, you share their innocence and painful growing up hoping for the best. With an Unforgettable kiss scene covered with water being the height. You just wish coming of age could be easier.
Grammar issues
mst90030 December 2018
Story engaging and entertaining enough, even though the storyline is cliched and predictable.
The writer apparently failed to pay attention in English class or suffered the fate of so many students nowadays due to the elimination of grammar class. He repeatedly misuses the pronoun I, when he should use me after prepositions. Also noted, the "word" alot in the email should be 2 words -a lot. The word nerd in me appreciated not hearing literally used or rather misused. So grateful for small things. Otherwise the movie kept me awake, and for this genre, it was a decent effort for a Saturday night viewing.
Thanks to Jin, D.O amazing actor
Yeppeun11 November 2020
I once saw something where jin(BTS) mentioned this movie and said cried many times while watching this and no wonder this movie is really too good. I cried watching it. I've watched D.O's drama and he's really a good actor. I loved this movie. Thanks to jin for this recommendation and thanks to the director, actors and other people who are part of this movie.
D. O is an Amazing Actor
binboon18 May 2021
An unforgettable story
soeprijo199 October 2021
This was the story of 5 friends: Beom Sil, Soo Ok, Gil Ja, Gae Dok and San Dol, who lived in a small fisherman village island in summer 1991. And also the story of their mature-self 25 years later. We will follow their touching journey of love and friendship along the movie, and believe me, this was an unforgettable story.
The story revolved around Soo Ok, a pretty girl yet has problems with both her legs since childhood. That's why she can't walk well. Fortunately she has 4 loyal friends to carry her around the island: Beom Sil, a boy who harbored love for her since childhood, Gil Ja, a brave young girl with a sharp tongue, San Dol who was the most athletic one, and Gae Dok, whose family owned a fishing boat. Soo Ok dreamt to be able to walk one day and she had high hopes for the doctor from Seoul who was assigned to the village.
The rest of the story would be better if you see it for yourself. It was a touching and beautiful story and it reminds us to appreciate every moments we spend with our love ones. And Soo Ok, yes, we all love you very much.
Definitely 9/10.
The story revolved around Soo Ok, a pretty girl yet has problems with both her legs since childhood. That's why she can't walk well. Fortunately she has 4 loyal friends to carry her around the island: Beom Sil, a boy who harbored love for her since childhood, Gil Ja, a brave young girl with a sharp tongue, San Dol who was the most athletic one, and Gae Dok, whose family owned a fishing boat. Soo Ok dreamt to be able to walk one day and she had high hopes for the doctor from Seoul who was assigned to the village.
The rest of the story would be better if you see it for yourself. It was a touching and beautiful story and it reminds us to appreciate every moments we spend with our love ones. And Soo Ok, yes, we all love you very much.
Definitely 9/10.
A summer holiday to remember forever.
Reno-Rangan24 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
'Tearjerker' is not a genre, but it has a special status in Korean films. Normally I like this kind of themes, though in some films they are excessive which spoils the watch. Not understanding that from the cultural point of view might be one of the reasons. Anyway, this film has a strong emotional conclusion that you will know from the first scene itself. Because of briefing the relationship between the friends were intentionally done.
It is also known as 'Pure Love'. From a new director with mostly fresh faces in the lead. Well, the narration has to two timelines. It opened in the present world and the remaining tale was a flashback that went back to around 25 years ago in the 90s. If you are a 90s kid, you will feel closer to it than anybody else. Especially for the setting of the tale, just like watching a straight 90s released film. It also feels like a rural version of 'Sunny', mainly because of the friendship, but not comparable in any other way.
It's about the five friends and four of them returns to their island village for the school summer break. The other one is a handicapped, so she's not following dreams like her friends. That's where the problem begins. She presses hard to get normal like everybody else, so she can fly like a free bird anywhere she wants. On the side of the tale, two of her best friends has a strong feeling for her. But realsing that and whom she's going to choose comes with a twist before the film enters its final stage.
❝Love is like marathon. You might feel behind now, but if you keep running you'll reach the goal.❞
The trends of the 90s, particularly in the rural, how kids responded was briefed so nicely. Like similar timeline films, the audio cassettes are among the popular things. But in the remaining film, everything else were shared without focusing on any particular thing. So you won't know what way it is heading. That's a good thing, but slightly goes off the track. Maybe you can call it a stretch to fill the screenplay. Still you won't feel any lagness in any part of the narration. Overall, everything looked at its places, so the film easily accomplishes its goal which is obviously a bit cliché.
Yes, the end is not something you are seeing it for the first time, though it worked. I think that's how it should be. In some films while trying to avoid it, they mess it up. But still my upset with this film is the crucial twist did not make much of sense. I could have written about it in detail, but that's a big spoiler. So I indirectly mention it that the boy easily accomplishes while the experts couldn't. But overall, that part needed a little more in detail to explain how it all happened. In another way, the shortness helped the pace to keep up and also avoiding too muchness usually work and it did.
So it could be easily a film for all ages. Particularly keeping in mind many things like the 90s kids who are in their adulthood now would anyway attracted to it and revolving around teenagers, brings them as well into the same coverage. Being sentimentally filled tale, the family audience won't feel they are left out. From the performances to the production, including the direction was appreciable. It is no masterpiece nor guaranteed that it would emotionally appeal everybody. Just a simple fine looking film, so watching it for once's worth. So now you know whom I'm going to suggest it.
8/10
It is also known as 'Pure Love'. From a new director with mostly fresh faces in the lead. Well, the narration has to two timelines. It opened in the present world and the remaining tale was a flashback that went back to around 25 years ago in the 90s. If you are a 90s kid, you will feel closer to it than anybody else. Especially for the setting of the tale, just like watching a straight 90s released film. It also feels like a rural version of 'Sunny', mainly because of the friendship, but not comparable in any other way.
It's about the five friends and four of them returns to their island village for the school summer break. The other one is a handicapped, so she's not following dreams like her friends. That's where the problem begins. She presses hard to get normal like everybody else, so she can fly like a free bird anywhere she wants. On the side of the tale, two of her best friends has a strong feeling for her. But realsing that and whom she's going to choose comes with a twist before the film enters its final stage.
❝Love is like marathon. You might feel behind now, but if you keep running you'll reach the goal.❞
The trends of the 90s, particularly in the rural, how kids responded was briefed so nicely. Like similar timeline films, the audio cassettes are among the popular things. But in the remaining film, everything else were shared without focusing on any particular thing. So you won't know what way it is heading. That's a good thing, but slightly goes off the track. Maybe you can call it a stretch to fill the screenplay. Still you won't feel any lagness in any part of the narration. Overall, everything looked at its places, so the film easily accomplishes its goal which is obviously a bit cliché.
Yes, the end is not something you are seeing it for the first time, though it worked. I think that's how it should be. In some films while trying to avoid it, they mess it up. But still my upset with this film is the crucial twist did not make much of sense. I could have written about it in detail, but that's a big spoiler. So I indirectly mention it that the boy easily accomplishes while the experts couldn't. But overall, that part needed a little more in detail to explain how it all happened. In another way, the shortness helped the pace to keep up and also avoiding too muchness usually work and it did.
So it could be easily a film for all ages. Particularly keeping in mind many things like the 90s kids who are in their adulthood now would anyway attracted to it and revolving around teenagers, brings them as well into the same coverage. Being sentimentally filled tale, the family audience won't feel they are left out. From the performances to the production, including the direction was appreciable. It is no masterpiece nor guaranteed that it would emotionally appeal everybody. Just a simple fine looking film, so watching it for once's worth. So now you know whom I'm going to suggest it.
8/10
Deserve to spend time.
sogandabdo12 February 2022
Love doesn't have to be together
rismawatiiputri8 August 2023
I've seen this film 2 times even though I know the end of this story, but I can enjoy certain moments. A loving male character and a weak but cheerful female character create a new season in a small village . An interesting and dramatic love story with a bit of romantic spice in it made me like it. At first I thought this film would be boring because it tells an old story but I like it The acting of Kim Sohyun and Do kyungsoo is perfect for being together, they are also like twins .
Love can't have forever, letting it go and leaving as a memory isn't bad either.
Love doesn't have to be together.
Love can't have forever, letting it go and leaving as a memory isn't bad either.
Love doesn't have to be together.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
