A new teen romance film has been released on Netflix. As a movie centered on adolescent teenagers, it's only natural to expect something fresh and youthful. As the title suggests, this film reminds us once again just how crucial the act of "confession" is. The fluttering excitement, awkwardness, and budding emotions that come with adolescence unfold just as expected, yet they gently stir and awaken certain memories dormant within our hearts. Through the meeting of a boy and a girl, the film humorously and warmly portrays the meaning and history of "confession"—the most decisive milestone in the development of a relationship.
The most central keyword of the film is, without a doubt, "confession." We often forget the fact that no matter how deeply we like someone in our hearts, those feelings mean nothing if they are not expressed. Of course, feelings of affection can be vaguely conveyed to the other person through various signals—a subtle gaze, small acts of kindness, or a comfortable atmosphere when together. These things might make the other person wonder, "Do they like me?" However, this "hunch" can never lead to certainty. It remains in the realm of vague and hazy speculation, like a fog, lacking the power to clearly define a relationship.
Ultimately, a confession serves as a definitive punctuation mark on an uncertain relationship and a milestone announcing a new beginning. Without a direct verbal expression like "I like you," it is nearly impossible to cross the ambiguous boundary between friend and lover to develop into a genuine romantic relationship. It is only upon hearing a sincere confession from the other person that one can finally feel the assurance and relief of "This person feels the same way I do." As such, a confession is more than just the act of conveying feelings; it is an important ritual of confirming mutual emotions and promising responsibility for the relationship. A relationship that skips a confession is like a house built without a solid foundation, inherently containing an instability that could cause it to shake at any moment.
The film <The History of Confession> is set in the beautiful port city of Busan. Thanks to this setting, a rich and friendly dialect is featured throughout the movie, adding a cute and lovely charm to what could have been ordinary scenes. The role of the protagonist, Park Se-ri, is passionately played by actress Shin Eun-soo. Having previously shown mostly calm and static roles, she reveals a completely different side in this work. The character of Park Se-ri—lively, energetic, and at times quirky and playful—fits Shin Eun-soo like a glove, proving the breadth of her acting spectrum.
Shin Eun-soo's transformation into a completely different character, which she portrays more naturally and charmingly than ever, is one of the film's major highlights. The other main character, Han Yoon-seok, is played by actor Gong Myung. While he still boasts a fresh and youthful appearance, there are some who feel he now looks a bit too old to be playing a high school student. In particular, some viewers noted a sense of disconnect from the more mature characters he has played in recent projects, which could hinder immersion. However, the charm of the character himself and the actor's stable performance sufficiently compensate for these minor concerns, anchoring the story effectively.
The protagonist, Park Se-ri, has a painful past of confessing to people she liked multiple times, only to be met with poor results. She firmly believes the cause of her failures is her uncontrollably frizzy hair and puts immense effort into achieving sleek, straight hair. In the midst of this, she develops a crush on the most popular boy in school, Kim Hyun (played by Cha Woo-min). She wants to gather the courage to confess to him, but it's not easy to even approach him, as he is the object of affection for countless female students. Se-ri's heart wavers complicatedly between her fluttering feelings for Kim Hyun and the trauma of her past.
Then one day, a male student named Han Yoon-seok transfers from Seoul. On his very first day, he gets into an accident, falling into the sea, and is saved by Park Se-ri, who happens to be passing by. This accident leaves Yoon-seok on crutches for a while, and it turns out he is an "ace" character who is not only the top student in school but also an all-around athlete. Meanwhile, Se-ri discovers that Yoon-seok's mother runs a hair salon. She makes a deal to help Yoon-seok adjust to school life in exchange for his mother straightening her frizzy hair. Thus begins the slightly special and quirky relationship between the two.
As promised, Park Se-ri helps Han Yoon-seok adjust to school life, and the two naturally end up spending a lot of time together. Although their relationship began as a "deal," feelings deeper than friendship begin to sprout as they laugh, talk, and listen to each other's worries. Ironically, as Yoon-seok actively helps Se-ri plan her confession to her crush, Kim Hyun, their hearts begin to turn towards each other instead. Under the pretext of helping a friend, the boy and girl hide their true feelings and, without even realizing it, slowly begin to permeate each other's lives.
Frankly speaking, Taiwan has traditionally shown strength in fresh and vibrant youth romance films, while Japan has excelled in poignant and heart-wrenching melodramas. The Korean film industry has also produced many outstanding romance films in the past, but it's true that the genre has felt somewhat lacking in recent years. However, <The History of Confession> showcases new possibilities for Korean-style youth romance. Viewers who were impressed by director Namkoong Sun's previous work, <Ten Months>, will be able to feel her signature delicate and warm directorial touch in this film as well. Furthermore, the portrayal of Park Se-ri's friends, who genuinely support and help with her confession, injects delightful energy into the movie and makes us reflect on the meaning of true friendship.
Thanks to these charms, <The History of Confession> received a tremendous response immediately after its release. It quickly topped the charts on Netflix in Korea, overtaking <K-Pop Demon Hunters>, and made it into the TOP 10 in 73 countries worldwide, even ranking number one in 17 of them. This is perhaps a testament to the fact that the "Korean content" brand has now established itself as a "must-watch" genre for global audiences. The film asks us: Are you hiding your true feelings? In the end, it doesn't matter who confesses first. The film warmly conveys the message that what truly matters is the act of courageously and honestly expressing one's heart.
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