Ah, to be young and carefree! We recently watched the Korean remake of the beloved Taiwanese romance film “You Are the Apple of My Eye”, and it truly stirred up a wave of nostalgia.
Set against the backdrop of everyday school life, the film leans heavily into nostalgia and relatability. The characters feel like people we all encountered during our own school days: classmates who are infatuated with the opposite sex, others obsessed with K-Pop idols, those who show up just to pass time, and the diligent top students who look down on their frivolous peers. One particularly amusing scene that had us in stitches was the scene where the students were taking their exams: one student carefully filling in each multiple-choice answer, while another playfully shading their answers to form the shape of a heart.
The story begins in high school, where the boys in class are all captivated by the beautiful honor student Sun-ah (Dahyun) and the carefree, aimless Jin-woo (Jinyoung), who is more interested in goofing off than anything else. After being assigned seats together, Jin-woo and Sun-ah strike up an unexpected friendship. Sun-ah even finds herself in trouble when she stands up for a classmate who is unfairly accused by the teacher. As she faces punishment outside her classroom, she sheds tears of embarrassment but ultimately smiles, knowing she did the right thing. Jin-woo, watching her, finds himself noticing how beautiful she looks at that moment. As their relationship grows, they navigate the sweet innocence of first love.
As their bond deepens, Sun-ah goads Jin-woo into studying harder, and he successfully gains admission to a university in Seoul. However, Sun-ah makes a mistake and messes up her exams. Faced with a crying Sun-ah, awkward and unsure Jin-woo doesn’t know how to console her. Instead, he clumsily shields her from the falling snow with his hands.
As they transition into adulthood, their paths diverge. They end up in different parts of Korea, missing each other’s calls due to conflicting schedules. Jin-woo, still immature, joins a mixed martial arts club thinking he’ll impress Sun-ah, but all she sees is him getting beaten up. Their inability to communicate their feelings leads to misunderstandings, and they eventually drift apart, each living their own life.
The film stays true to the original Taiwanese version while incorporating distinctly Korean elements, like the characters’ fascination with K-Pop and a comedic seafood food fight at a pocha (a tented food stall common in Korea). This is Dahyun’s commercial film debut, and she does a commendable job portraying the role of a rule-abiding, innocent character. Jinyoung, too, plays his part well as the immature high school boy navigating his first love. Fans of the original will enjoy this version, though it’s worth noting that the Korean actors bring a different style to the roles compared to their Taiwanese counterparts, particularly in portraying high school students.
At its core, the film captures the essence of puppy love, showing how people grow and change over time. When we look back, we realize that we’re often very different from the people we once were. While someone may always hold a special place in our hearts as the ‘apple of our eye‘, they might not be our fated one. Despite that, we still wish them happiness, even if it’s not with us.
This is a heartwarming coming-of-age film, whether it’s striving for a bright future, experiencing a sweet, innocent infatuation with a classmate, or the unwavering loyalty between friends, many moments in the film will resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced the bittersweetness of growing up.
Check out “You Are the Apple of My Eye” now in cinemas!
