K-DRAMA FIRST LOOK: “Our Movie” – kdramadiary
In a poignant story about love, life, and choices, a gifted director crosses paths with an aspiring actress who has little time left—a cathartic encounter that will profoundly impact their lives.
Hitting a slump after a successful debut, our male lead prepares for his comeback movie. And hoping to leave a legacy behind, our heroine wishes to star in that movie. While spending time together, they will get drawn to each other, and a heart-melting romance is bound to blossom. Let’s brace ourselves for the melodrama ride.
Bunny S. watches Our Movie on Disney+
Opening Week Ratings:
Our Movie Opening Week Story
“Sometimes, just when we think the ending is here, that is when life begins.”
Meeting our male lead, Director Lee Je-ha (Namgoong Min), he is celebrating the success of his debut movie, which was critically acclaimed. Je-ha is also a writer and has received Best Director and Best Screenplay awards for his movie. But just then, Je-ha hears the tragic news of his father’s death. We don’t know if it has to do with his father’s death or not, but Je-ha hits a slump and holes himself up in his house, not doing another project or even meeting anyone.
5 years later, Je-ha still struggles with his next project. His friend, Producer Bu Seung-won (Seo Hyeon-woo), coaxes Je-ha out to attend the screening of his new project. The lead actress, Chae Seo-young (Lee Seol), starred in Je-ha’s debut project. They dated in the past but broke up after rumors spread about them. Seo-young wanted to admit to it, but Je-ha denied it all, letting her down. Understandably, the mood is awkward. And it gets worse when Je-ha gets into a verbal sparring with a director who feels inferior to Je-ha and endlessly provokes him.
Seung-won persistently tries to persuade Je-ha to do a remake of his late father’s masterpiece movie, Love in White. (It was Je-ha’s father’s last movie. Then he stopped working and piled up a lot of debt that Je-ha spent the last five years paying up.) But Je-ha is strongly against it, claiming he wants to make his movie and not a remake. But it is an excuse. Je-ha loathes that movie in particular. And it has more to do with his father working on that project shortly after his mother’s death than Je-ha’s claim that he isn’t interested in melodrama.
Running into the movie’s lead actress (who was rumored to have had an affair with Je-ha’s father), she urges Je-ha to read the first draft, as it will help Je-ha understand his father’s motives for making that movie. Surprisingly, the movie was originally written by Je-ha’s mother, not his father. Probably, Je-ha’s father jumped into that project to honor his late wife’s last work. But why did he keep it a secret from Je-ha?
“I am your consultant, the terminal patient, Lee Da-eum.”
This new intel, along with the concern that the inferior director from before might take on the project and turn it into a mess, Je-ha has a change of heart. He will adapt the script to fit modern times. (He will be in charge of writing and directing.) But first, he needs a consultant for depression and terminal illnesses, as the movie narrates the story of a terminally ill woman who finds love in her latter days.
Enter our female lead, Lee Da-eum (Jeon Yeo-bin), an aspiring actress who was diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease and has little left to live. Despite her condition, Da-eum remains optimistic and sneaks out of the hospital as much as she can, holding a camcorder to film the scenery and things she likes in case she can’t get to see them again in person.
Through flashbacks, we learn that Da-eum’s mother was sick too and passed away when Da-eum was a child. In fact, Da-eum’s condition is hereditary. Yet just like she inherited her mother’s illness, Da-eum also took after her mother’s cheerfulness and her attempts to find joy even when things get too tough.
Knowing her time might be limited, Da-eum wanted to be an actress, since it would help her experience different things. But sadly, she collapsed while auditioning and had to be hospitalized. The only thing that helps Da-eum get by is the filming hobby that she took up when she was a child, accompanying her mother at the hospital.
Earlier, Je-ha and Da-eum ran into each other briefly, and he even got caught on her camera. Then, they met at the movie theatre screening Love in White. Yet, we get the feeling they might have met way before that. Either way, conducting some research, Je-ha comes across Da-eum, who introduces herself as his consultant.
Je-ha finds Da-eum a bit peculiar, but she also piques his curiosity. Interestingly, Da-eum reveals Love In White is her go-to movie, and she watches it like therapy, getting touched by how the heroine finds love even when sick. If one can find true love, then nothing else matters.
“I failed the audition, but you still want to consult me.”
Meeting Da-eum helps Je-ha overcome his writer’s block and make progress on the script. The male lead is already cast, so only the female lead remains. Seung-won wants to bring Seo-young on board since this will attract investors. But Je-ha wants to hold an audition.
At the audition, Je-ha is unimpressed until one familiar face enters the room, Da-eum. It takes her only a few minutes to blow everyone away. Despite being awed by her interpretation of the role, Je-ha looks hesitant about casting Da-eum. But she is nothing but persistent.
Even if she died while filming, it is better to die trying than to regret not trying at all. Da-eum is serious about it and is willing to put her life on the line as long as she can do this movie. A terminally ill actress playing a terminally ill character will draw attention. Je-ha will make a comeback, and Da-eum will get closure. So, it is a win-win situation, Da-eum argues. But she can’t seem to convince Je-ha.
After hallucinating about her for a bit, Je-ha heads to see Da-eum for a consultation about dreams. She wants to leave a legacy behind for her father, who will be all alone after her death. They chat about Da-eum’s acting career. And by then, Je-ha seems to have made up his mind.
Luckily, Da-eum passes the first round, getting her ecstatic. She wants to get discharged and visit the hospital as an outpatient. But her father won’t allow it. Like her mother, Da-eum hates being stuck at the hospital, but her father, being a doctor himself, can’t risk his daughter’s life.
Going against her father’s words, Da-eum leaves the hospital in secret. In the second round. Je-ha doesn’t want Da-eum to act or explain her analysis on the character, arguing he only wants to chat casually with her. Yet he puts her under stress. As we end this week, Je-ha says he has one condition. He wants Da-eum to live and not die. Hopefully, this means Da-eum got the role. Can’t wait for next week.
Our Movie Opening Week Musings
This was an intriguing premiere, introducing the characters and setting the stage for what is yet to come. The writing seems tight, and the directing is deft. We also like the cinematic vibe the drama has and the compelling dialogue and voiceover.
The characters are layered and don’t feel like stereotypes. Jeon Yeo-bin breathes life into her character, emphasizing Da-eum’s bright side while also not undermining her pain. We appreciate that Je-ha has more going for him than a talented director experiencing a slump. He is also a hurt kid who lost his mother at a young age and was raised by a busy father who didn’t show him enough care. Namgoong Min is killing it as usual and has great chemistry with Jeon Yeo-bin.
Interestingly, Je-ha wants to cast Seo-young for a secondary role, arguing it suits her better. Seo-young wants to working with Je-ha again. But will her stance remain the same after learning she won’t play the lead role? Or will she turn nasty and claim a stake on the lead role?
Da-eum is a big fan of Seo-young and was excited to run into her and film a short video together. So, we wonder how things will turn out now that they are rivals. Honestly speaking, the drama has enough tension going on as it is. So, a nasty second female lead is the last thing thing we want to see. Instead, we want the drama to explore the differences between our two actresses and hopefully we can get a compelling sismance on top of an enchanting romance.
Photos and Videos: SBS Drama
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