Sonagi

This movie is an exquisitely beautiful film that deeply moved me. The music is emotionally powerful, and the young actors deliver exceptional performances, capturing the innocence of young love with authenticity and sensitivity.

The film resonated with my own childhood experiences of fleeting crushes and unfulfilled affection. Now, as a 30-year-old single man, I often feel a sense of melancholy and longing for a meaningful connection, having never dated any of the women I admired. Watching "Sonagi" brought tears to my eyes, reminding me of those past emotions and moments of rejection. As an aspiring filmmaker, "Sonagi" inspires me to create a film that portrays the innocence and beauty of young love.

A young, pure, innocent love in elementary school. It's one of the romance stories that I always try to find, yet it is always in vain and if I had found one, it always ends up in disappointment because of its unrealistic elements. However, Sonagi, or more popularly called 'The Shower', is one of those rare gems that truly depict the love story that most, if not all, had experienced as a kid.

Adapted from a short story written by Hwang Sun-won (also titled Sonagi), it highlights the event of a boy named Suk-ie (Lee Young-soo), who lives in a countryside, and Yeon-ie (Jon Yun-suk), a girl who just moved from Seoul in a middle of a road. Through what seems like fate, they both developed a rivalry that slowly blossoms into an innocent love story.

This is not a story where misunderstanding took place, competition with others to win the girl or a final realization that set the main character to chase their romantic interest to disappear forever. NO! There is no made-up scenario to raise the stakes and tension. Instead, it just presents a plain, yet amazingly realistic love story. The characters here just performing their daily routines every day; going to school, playing at the lake, doing chores, etc. And coincidentally the main character just found someone that made the character's heart pound and how it changes the character's daily routine.

The characters are also what made the film flow perfectly. They are not fabricated to stand out in the crowd, but instead, to be relatable to the audience and their daily lives. Suk-ie, for example, is short-tempered; however, spending time with Yeon-ie pacified him because he does not want to look bad in front of her. This is something we've done before when we're in love, becoming someone that's not our true-self (or the opposite sometimes) and how Young-soo and Yun-suk innocently perform these scenes are very subtle that will make us chuckle, reminiscing our own experiences.

Technical wise, Sonagi had achieved near perfection on its era This is notably thanks to cinematographer Lee Seong-chun, who perfectly captures the countryside beautifully with its perfectly composed framing and color. Furthermore, the movie did not forget to capture that warm and fuzzy love feeling between Suk-ie and Yeon-ie through its simple yet sincere moments. Director Go Yeong-nam also managed to make the coming-of-age film filed with metaphoric imagery. There are many visuals Yeong-nam included related to the story foreshadowing scenes but also offer in-depth meanings to the movie. Notably the shower scene, which symbolizes the short but memorable moments of love; it became one of the best scenes in romance film thanks to all of these aspects.

Sadly, the movie is not without its flaws. I felt the characters are too hard to be relatable at first. Yes, they are kids and it is hard to understand their thoughts (which perhaps was the intention). However, the characters could grow annoying sometimes with their repetitive childish act that are quite rarely being found in reality. Then, without spoiling anything, I believe there's one moment that really ruins the film. For me, it just ruins the tone and momentum the film holds as a whole.

So, is it the best romance film of all time for me? Yes, if only that moment being modified. But do I enjoy it? Obviously. It's been so long since I've felt a heartfelt romance film that could shake my heart. Even with its flaws, I highly recommend you, readers, to watch this film. You could search it on Youtube with the channel name of Korean Classic Film. Seriously, It's those rare gems that modern romance film lose their essence in these days.

Within two years I have watched three times this beautiful and intense Korean film. Wow is spectacular, really good this film. After a third run I feel also obliged to speak my mind: Then the film in question personally I can consider one of the best Korean film 70 years and above for the best film by the director. Here we have the right guys and well chosen ingredients. The really wonderful and beautiful rural settings that are first frame the story and at the same time make us empathize spectators, is in fact echoing sweet and unforgettable memories of adolescence (I am one of the lucky ones who lived carefree summer vacation in the countryside with relatives ), then we have the sweetness and innocence of these two children, who have been able to interpret their characters and then not unimportant thing the film has a light texture but at the same time and well represented sobering although some breakers them I consider highly unlikely (and I refer to the end of the film). "Sonagi" also presents the symbolism that the viewer look definitely will not escape and there is even a hint of sexuality, nothing too extravagant means (a part of the scene in the mouth by mouth ball that frankly a little upset me) . A large film thickness! Recommended!