Edited by Hwang Hong Sun
Translated by Eungee Joh
Love in the Big City is a film that beautifully captures the friendship between a free-spirited woman and her closeted gay friend as they navigate life together. Based on Park Sang Young’s short story Jae Hee, the movie offers a witty and heartfelt look at the ups and downs of youth. Kim Go Eun, as Jae Hee, and Noh Sang Hyun, as Heung Soo, share irresistible chemistry that’s absolutely captivating.
Kim Go Eun brings a new level of charm and authenticity to her role as Jae Hee. She portrays the character’s carefree nature with such magnetism while also conveying Jae Hee’s unspoken struggles with depth, making it easy for viewers to connect with the character. It’s clear Kim Go Eun is fully immersed in the role. Her remarkable performance makes it hard to imagine anyone else portraying the character so brilliantly.
Noh Sang Hyun sheds his Pachinko persona to deliver a mesmerizing performance as Heung Soo. While Jae Hee drives much of the action, Heung Soo is the steady hand that guides the film’s flow. His understated but powerful portrayal breathes life into a rarely-seen gay character in mainstream Korean cinema. And his surprise moment near the end is one of the highlights of the film.
Set in the 2010s, the movie follows the two friends from their fearless college days into their early 30s as young professionals. Tapping into the current retro trend, the film adds a layer of authenticity to the story by bringing back nostalgic details, from early smartphones to the fashion of that era.
The dialogue also offers plenty to think about. In one scene, Suho (played by Jung Whee) delivers a line to Heung Soo that challenges our understanding of love: “If obsession isn’t love, then I’ve never loved anyone.” And Jae Hee’s words to Heung Soo, who’s revealed his secret, “How can being yourself be your weakness?”, offer a heartening message to those questioning their identity.
Love in the Big City is a delightful coming-of-age film that stays true to the genre’s familiar beats, but with characters rarely seen in mainstream Korean cinema. It shows love and support for those facing prejudice and discrimination, telling a story we can all relate to—one that makes us cry, laugh, and root for these characters beyond just their unique challenges. (8/10)
>> Kim Go Eun Gets Candid About Her Love Style in ‘Love in the Big City’ Interview
Editor Hwang Hong Sun: A Korean movie buff who wishes that the warm messages in good works will warm up this world at least by one degree Fahrenheit.
