'Meeting you is a miracle.'
With each character having a clear role, Do Kyung-soo undoubtedly carries the film. Most of the advantages that differ from the original are achieved by him. However, the chemistry with his father (Bae Seung-woo) stands out more than with the female lead, making it a Korean version of 'A Secret That Cannot Be Told' (directed by Seo Yu-min).
The film begins with a miraculous moment when Yu-jun and Jung-ah accidentally meet in a university campus practice room where the secrets of time are hidden, capturing a fantasy romance. It is a remake of the Taiwanese film of the same name released in 2007.
Pianist Yu-jun (Do Kyung-soo) comes to Korea as an exchange student for wrist treatment during his studies in Germany. On his first day at school, he is drawn to a mysterious piano melody and encounters Jung-ah (Won Jin-ah) in the practice room, and the two fall in love at first sight.
Unlike Yu-jun, who moves forward without hesitation, Jung-ah is hard to read. She often skips classes, and when he asks for her contact information, she says she doesn't have a phone. Their meetings keep missing each other, making Yu-jun frustrated.
Misunderstanding Yu-jun's feelings, In-hee (Shin Ye-eun) suddenly confesses one day, which deeply wounds Jung-ah. After that day, Jung-ah disappears, and as Yu-jun searches for her, he uncovers an unbelievable secret.
The work maintains the essence of the original while varying the characters, settings, and atmosphere to reinterpret it with contemporary sensibilities. It keeps a more dynamic and brighter tone. The male lead Yu-jun is more masculine (than in the original), while the female lead Jung-ah is a clear and cheerful character, and In-hee is a cool lovely girl.
Unfortunately, the overall background, including the campus, does not fully realize the intended vision. The youthful energy feels somewhat awkward, and the ages of the surrounding characters seem uneven. The distinction between the present and the past is also unclear, lacking in detail.
In particular, the 'piano battle' scene, which is the highlight of the film, feels quite disjointed. While the music itself is flawless, the two performers' shots do not match well. The friends watching and cheering do not effectively capture the genre's thrill of fantasy romance and the color of time warp throughout the climax and ending sequence.
The two main themes of the film, like the original, are music and romance. In terms of music, there is a significant differentiation from the original. Only the most famous song, 'Secret,' is retained, while almost everything else has been changed. Familiar classical pieces, newly composed OSTs, and nostalgic pop songs are cleverly arranged, showcasing the effort put into it.
On the other hand, the romance is a half-success. Do Kyung-soo shows a clear difference from the original and strongly completes his character, while Won Jin-ah does not come across as vividly as intended. The chemistry between the two is not bad, but it is just okay.
Shin Ye-eun has a unique bouncy energy, but her character is too flat, and the depiction and narrative of the 'love triangle' are too shallow, lacking tension relative to her screen time. Her visuals are almost wasted. The father-son chemistry with Bae Seung-woo is quite good, effectively serving as a seasoning role.
The fresh and poignant emotions unique to a first love story are adequately preserved. The climactic sequence leading to the ending maintains tension. Do Kyung-soo's energy, transformed into the "Flame Man," plays a role beyond expectations, completing the unique color of the Korean version. Nevertheless, it falls short of capturing the 'legendary grandeur' in terms of lingering impact, detail, harmony of genre thrill, and emotional depth. The greatest harvest is the discovery of Do Kyung-soo's eagle-eyed character.
Releasing on the 28th. Rated for all audiences. Running time 103 minutes. The break-even point is about 800,000 viewers.
