Netflix continues to produce love stories that leave an imprint on our hearts. This time through the eyes of three emotionally troubled youth in the beautifully titled piece Pavane.
Starring Go Ah Sung, Byun Yo Han and Moon Sang Min, the movie encapsulates the wild emotions of youth when it comes to love, discovering its meaning, and defining it with not only words but also actions. Based on the novel Pavane for a Dead Princess, the film is a thought-provoking romance that isn’t necessarily an emotional rollercoaster but more of a mature growth pacing through love in a gentle manner. It isn’t a game full of complex misunderstandings but rather emphasizes how love aligns with hope and uplifts others.
Pavane follows three young people who have learned to shut themselves off from the world, only to slowly rediscover life’s joys and love through one another. Similar to feel-good dramas like Dr. Slump, the story is rooted in personal growth and shows the characters overcoming their personal traumas by mending them with the love they have for each other and make for themselves, because not all healing can happen by itself.
Go Ah Sung’s character Mi Jeong is very raw, unpolished, and honestly not glamorous. She is everything you wouldn’t see in a K-Drama, but not in a cliche way. She’s simply herself, not hiding behind a mask, but seems openly wounded and unloved by others. She doesn’t put up a front to combat her loneliness and merely keeps to herself. However, she is a person who enjoys whimsy and is capable of love like any other character. Moon Sang Min’s character, Gyeong Rok, recognizes this, while Byun Yo Han’s character respects that belief by telling Gyeong Rok not to pursue her if he doesn’t mean it.
Moon Sang Min’s character Gyeong Rok has a way of making your heart flutter with his naive sincerity. He has genuine care for Mi Jeong, even when she’s called a dinosaur and seems distant from others. The more Gyeong Rok watches over Mi Jeong, the more he is drawn to her, and they blossom into a very heart-warming relationship. While MBTI is more popular in Korea, this film seems to explore love languages and acts of kindness through Gyeong Rok.
Gyeong Rok does for Mi Jeong. He holds her hand gently without underlying intentions. He brings her out from the dark to see a rainbow during the workday to remember the beauty standing beside her, waiting to be seen. They build a connection over music and commonalities that reflects the kind of love viewers are familiar with from early 2000’s dramas and that nostalgia factor makes the love story more refreshing.
Byun Yo Han’s character of the same name is also a joy to see on screen as he portrays himself as wise, poetic and hopeful, but his writings are complex and show he battles with his beliefs at times as well. Despite playing the role of a more experienced and reliable character, he learns a lot about love from Gyeong Rok’s current experiences with Mi Jeong. The movie has a lot of quotes that leave a deep impression on the viewer’s hearts.
The scoring is well done and gives literal goosebumps. There are so many moments where viewers can feel a surge of energy as the scoring makes you smile with the characters and tear up over their concerns. A favorite scene is when Gyeong Rok and Mi Jeong gather around the cake and are all smiles for once. The actors capture this blissful moment, and it takes you away from their melancholy life. When all three gather together, it often feels at home and peaceful. The movie effortlessly conjures up feelings to form a para-social bond unexpectedly.
In the end, Pavane is a slow and steady love story that is neither bland nor spicy. Each character is significant to the story and feels fleshed out and complete. Without spoiling much, the ending reaches a satisfying point, and the journey to it is like a walk in the park where something beautiful and unexpected is waiting to be remembered. If you’re a fan of melo-drama and longing for emotionally rich storytelling, Pavane will delight and maybe be an unforgettable new age piece. (8/10)
>> Netflix’s ‘Pavane’ Debuts Poster and Trailer, A Poetic Youth Melodrama About Love
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