Youth of May (2021)

Meraviglioso

Uno dei grandi pregi di Youth of May è stato quello di farmi scoprire il libro “atti umani” della scrittrice neo premio nobel Hang Kang.

Youth of May è un K-drama coreano ambientato durante il tumultuoso periodo della Rivolta di Gwangju del 1980, (in quegli anni una spietata giunta militare guidava il paese) una delle pagine più tragiche della recente storia coreana. Questa serie racconta la struggente storia tra due giovani, Hee-Tae e Myung-Hee, che impareranno a conoscersi e ad amarsi in un terribile contesto di violenza e brutalità storica.
Hwang Hee-Tae è un brillante studente di medicina figlio di una famiglia benestante in cui il padre é un importante membro della polizia segreta coreana.
Kim Myung-Hee invece è una giovane infermiera che lavora duramente e vive in condizioni modeste con l’ambizione di andare in Germania per studiare ed ottenere una specializzazione.
Le loro vite si incrociano per caso, grazie a un appuntamento combinato che Myung-Hee accetta di fare al posto della sua migliore amica appartenente ad una famiglia ricca di Gwangju.
Myung-Hee, per lealtà verso l'amica e in cambio di un aiuto economico, accetta di prendere il suo posto, dando vita a una serie di incontri apparentemente fortuiti ma destinati a cambiare le loro vite per sempre.
Sebbene inizi con il più classico dei cliché la serie cresce notevolmente riuscendo a mantenere un equilibrio tra sviluppo dei personaggi, narrazione sentimentale e quella storica facendo percepire gradualmente ma inevitabilmente l’addensarsi della tempesta.
Giustizia sociale, sacrificio, perdita e l’inevitabilità del destino, sono alcuni dei temi trattati e che affiorano prepotentemente soprattutto nelle ultime puntate.
Molto probabilmente il fatto di aver reso la serie concentrata in sole 12 puntate (anziché le solite 16/20 standard) ha senz’altro influito sul ritmo mantenendolo incalzante.
Una menzione particolare anche alla fotografia i cui colori pastello riescono a rendere bene la sensazione del passato, è il racconto di una primavera che appassisce, ma nella sua dissolvenza lascia fiori immortali.
Una serie straconsigliata e una delle migliori serie coreane viste quest’anno.

“Che il cuore torni a pensare a quel maggio, è normale. Quando perdi un ombrello che ti piaceva tanto, pensi a quell’ombrello ogni volta che piove. Figuriamoci quando torna la stagione in cui hai perso le persone a te care…è normale che il cuore riviva quei momenti. Come se fosse successo ieri.”

“Fu il nostro maggio, il primo, l’unico”

Voto 10

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Youth Of May does a fantastic job of bringing its story to life via our characters, their experiences, and their relationships.

A rollercoaster of emotions that’s not easy by any means, but that’s completely worthwhile. The leads were amazing and so were the supporting characters. I loved how they showcased different points of view; from the soldiers, police, college students as the protestors, nurses and doctors, and the commoners.

Youth Of May is both sweet and bright, and at times reminds of the traumatizing past in a subtle way. It probably might be the best underrated drama of 2021.


My Rating : 8/10

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Aquel mayo que quedó enjaulado

Sería difícil encasillar este drama en un solo género porque todas las capas que lo componen logran formar una historia que encuentra su valor en esa variedad de temas. La historia política y la lucha contra el abuso de poder se desarrolla a niveles que logra interesar al espectador sin llegar a abrumarlo, un balance que se intensifica con el correr de los episodios y que vuelve al drama una historia creíble y emocionante. Bajo esas condiciones se desenvuelve una historia de amor que brilla intensamente a pesar de su brevedad y que sufre las consecuencias de un contexto político donde prima el horror, donde la democracia peligra y que lo único que no pudo detener fue la elección de seguir adelante de los dos amantes.

El guion puede ser flojo en algunos momentos, aunque, desde un punto de vista general, construye una historia que se sostiene y se acompleja gradualmente. Lo que en un principio pareciera una historia repleta de clichés (falsa cita a ciegas, matrimonio arreglado, viaje próximo) pronto sorprende al sumar elementos políticos y familiares que vuelven el drama uno mucho más cautivador. Personalmente, tenía muchas ganas de ver el drama por confiar en otras reseñas, pero esa complejidad gradual podría ser un motivo por el que pudiera haber dejado de verlo al segundo episodio, es un arma de doble filo.

Me hubiera gustado conocer más sobre el gran villano ya que creo que se pierde un poco el motivo de su accionar, especialmente para aquellos que no sepan cómo funcionaban aquellos centros de inteligencia ilegales y tal vez no hayan logrado entender del todo la seriedad del asunto. También la historia de Heetae, como hijo extramatrimonial, podría haber sido explicada mejor desde su pasado porque, aunque el trato que se le da dentro de la casa alcanza para entender que no es querido en la familia, no me fue suficiente para comprender qué tan importante fue para él crecer allí. En general, hay algunos cabos sueltos en lo que respecta a la historia previa a la década del 1980 y eso es lo que me impide ponerle 10 estrellas.

Es una historia bonita, que no considero que sea para todo el mundo pero que, aun con el nivel de dramatismo que carga, es muy disfrutable y sin dudas voy a recordar por mucho tiempo.

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A beautiful love story story

A beautiful and touching love story that I've seen in a while.

The drama starts with a typical setup of a Rich boy and a poor woman. Generally, the story itself holds nothing unique, but the thing that makes it extraordinary, first of all, is the historical arrangement, this drama addresses a tragic incident in South Korea during a dictatorship period. The '90s decor incredibly summed up the charm of the drama.

Second, the acting just stole the show. There are only a few times when we get to see a perfect cast.

Lee do-hyun left me an open mouth with his acting and allure, and the way he fits into the character is making me lose at words for how to admire him.
He came to be my favorite character of all time.

Go misi, Queen ate it and left no crumb. She was a scene stealer in every bump.
Their chemistry was just insane.
Side characters also help to lift the drama additionally.

Now, let's bring up the ending, I knew from the beginning it was going to be an emotional and straining ride for me and regardless I took the risk and honestly I'm not regretting it. Trust me it was worthy of all my tears.

In conclusion, I would speak out even if you are not a fan of the sad ending, still give it a try cause actually the sad finishing off is itself satisfactory.

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One of the best

A stonking series but very sad!

The pacing is perfect and the romance feels sweet and natural. The historical backdrop is not overdone and the plot keeps you engaged throughout. Both Go Min-si and Lee Do Hyun do a great job balancing drama and humour in their exchanges. They are quickly becoming some of my favourite k-drama actors. This series is refreshing because it feels more adult than most. It does not rely on typical k-drama tropes and the element of danger feels genuine. The script is tight with less convoluted side plots and filler. It's also subtle and foregoes the usual 'I'm narrating what I'm thinking'. Hint to script writers - adult themes and 12 episodes are the way forward. It's no surprise that the ending is a tear-jerker but I think that is testament to the plot and actors. One of the best K-dramas I have watched yet.

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No tears left to cry... :D

Where shall I start? It is very hard to express my feelings in words.
Youth of May is a drama one of a kind. It is funny, aesthetical, shocking and sad.
I do not know if you would consider this a historical drama, but thinking of usual historical dramas they are set to play more than 500 years ago, at least. 1980 was 41 years ago, and this is why it hits that hard. The people are living just like we do now, just with less technical stuff.
Altogether, I wished there was some more background information about the happenings, which was apparently not needed for the intended audience but my international a$$ :D. But, after recruiting the internet on the topic, I understood the situation better.
Otherwise, it was a first slow and then very fast pacing story. We saw the relationships between the characters develop, the fundamental problems were explained and decisions were made, and I totally could understand why (of cause only on the civil side).
I really do not give away too much of the story, so I keep my thoughts short.
The cast acted amazingly, especially the kids.
For me, there is the need to talk about Lee Soo Ryun. She knew what she wanted and what she believed in. Of course, that made her ignorant at times, but she never forgot who her friends are. At parts, she absolutely blew me away.

I was really shocked about the happenings and cried many times through the drama.
It is really heavy but worth watching. You just need to be aware of it.

Why not 10 points? At parts, I found myself being on the phone, so it could draw my attention for an entire episode.

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An emotional rollercoaster

this kdrama was one of the most heartbreaking kdramas I've watched! I'm not one to know a lot about Korean history, but this kdrama made me research a lot about the Gwangju uprising!

I loved all the characters in this series, especially the main character Kim Myung-Hee! She's a really admirable women and I was really attached to her because of her selflessness. This series introduced me to the actor Lee Do-Hyun and I must say he's really good at playing male leads. I loved his character; Hwang Hee-Tae in this series. Even Lee Soo-Ryeon the main characters best friend captured my heart!

I'm a lover of historical dramas, especially when they are set in the 80s! So naturally, I really loved this kdrama. The first few episodes started of pretty simple with a trope that we see often a poor woman falling in love with a man with a rich family, but just when you think that the series will only revolve around this storyline, we get introduced to a bigger and more complex storyline about protesters, power hungry people, violence, injustices, and the beginnings of the Gwangju uprising. The couple is quite literally swept into it and the story grows more emotional and dark. I think anyone who's a kdrama lover should give this show a chance!

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Lindo e emocionante

Essa é uma das histórias mais lindas e tristes que eu já assisti, com certeza esse dorama entrou para minha lista de favoritos, amei do começo ao fim.
A atmosfera do dorama é pesada(parece que vai acontecer algo a todo momento) e muito envolvente, é aquele dorama que você não consegue desgrudar os olhos.
Achei de extrema perspicácia que a história, apesar de fictícia, possue fundo de realidade, não só pelo acontecimento histórico retratado, mas pelo final dos personagens.
A MyungHee e o HeeTae não existiram na realidade, mas existiram muitas pessoas como eles, pais que perderam filhos, esposos/noivos/namorados que perderam seus companheiros. Assim como HeeTae perdeu o amor de sua vida de forma injusta e terrível, muitas pessoas também perderam aqueles que amavam durante o massacre de gwangju. O final, apesar de triste, é um retrato da realidade.

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what is not to love in this drama?

I rarely give a 10 to dramas that ripped my heart to pieces however, Youth of May is an exemption to that. The season being reduced to 12 episodes was a smart move, I think, coz a little more than that can make way for other unnecessary storylines that would bore the viewers or perhaps put the trajectory of this drama into complete disaster.

What I love about this is how natural the leads seem to be with the characters they were playing. To those who aren't familiar with this aspect of Korean history, they might be shocked by this past. And taking cues from how the leads portray their characters given the era that they were in is truly exceptional.

The FL's character pulls you in and you would think that she was actually born in that era. I was amazed by the amount of maturity she gave to her character, and just so you know, this was the first time I knew about her, so I was amazed. The ML also held his own. Whenever I watch other dramas, I know an ML/FL overpowers his/her co-star when I look forward to more screentime with a particular lead regardless of their visuals, but for YoM, I have never felt that.

The story, since it was based on one of Korea's most brutal pasts, was a balance of real and make believe. The historical backdrop is very crucial to justify certain situations, and I personally believe that given that, it could actually happen in real life. There were times that felt like this is impossible to happen, but since the backdrop is the Gwangju Uprising, I have no qualms about any dire situation our leads may face. It's like anything is possible to happen. And it did not disappoint in building the story up until it's final moments. Perhaps, the director gave away some important clues in the first few minutes of it's pilot episode so that viewers at least may not be so surprised in the ending. On my end though, I was hopeful it was otherwise, but yeah, who am I to dictate what the writer wants to do, right?

So, what is not to love in this drama?

Nada. Nemo. Zero. Zilch. None.

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UGH, I will absolutely die if Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Shi do not do another romance drama that isn't a tragedy. While Lee Do Hyun can definitely create chemistry with a brick wall, he and Go Min Shi give me such best friend vibes. I need them to be in a slow-burn buddy cop thriller, like yesterday.

Have zero complaints about this drama, except maybe a few minor gripes here and there (that ultimately don't affect anything much imo, but for the purpose of this review, here I go): while this drama definitely does not leave you behind if you don't know the timeline of the Gwangju Massacre, knowing exactly what happened and the sequence of events puts things into more perspective. The sudden barrage of bullets to relative silence and retreat from the militia is very sudden in the drama, but actually happens more gradually in real life, and I wish the drama showed that better. Ultimately, though, the drama is centered on the people of Gwangju during the May 18 protests, so it does what it promises beautifully- an insight into the people affected by one of the most horrific authoritarian crackdowns in human history.

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First review of an cinematography addicted

As the head line implies, it touched me way too much..
I have watched many dramas, from different countries and idk how to write a proper review so bare with me.

Even though this plot was done endless times, this one was perfect in my eyes.
Why? It had all of them in the same series
- the chemistry
- good directing and screenwriting
- every single character was done properly, not only the mains
- wasn't full of tipical clichés (I love them tho)
- the sound, lighting, places, wardrobe, hairstyles, all the props
- the little and immaculate hints and details, from expressions, touches, movements, props
- the good and satisfying ending for a tragic outcome

From now on full on spoilers

What I personally loved?

- my favorite scene was the last part, when they were older, it hit me so bad, bc I've imagined myself living such an incomplete life, to the point I wished for his suicide attempt to succeed or not show the outcome in so much details and stages so I could just put this drama in the pill with the rest dramas I've watched and call it a day and move on.

Like he seems that he lived a good and happy life, he never truly felt entirely happy.

Bits I remember and liked

-her brother and the scene in the back of the truck and his realization, the start of him truly maturing and it impacted him so much and become a helper for the ones in need
- I loved the bff's family, their character development was well done, she annoyed me a bit at times, but still liked that I felt this about her
- the fact that bad guys can also be the evil souls as long as the cowards or indifferent ones
- the leads characters seemed common, but at the same time it didn't
- misunderstandings and secrets were quickly showed, not dragged for decades, but not too quick to the point that why bother putting them in the first place
- the attention to the details, like were the May was shown on the calendar on the desk while the bff's brother received the note and such detailed, I liked those touches, it proves that the crew put all their hearts in the project
- I liked that mains had lots of happy and cute moments, like they at least enjoyed most their times while they've been together
- the mains didn't miss the chances like every damn drama
- the mains dinamic
- his brother character, I really liked his maturity and bravery, from the punch to saving the sister in law and the scene were he rejected his father was amazing and the flashback of his happy moments with FL was a great idea
- the step mother and her finally having enough strength to leave the toxic marriage, I couldn't hate her throughout the series
- every single character and the fact that they had decent screen time and felt important to the story, not just fillers to make the series longer
- the SML was amazing, I liked that they didn't just put him there to be our tipical kdrama SML and didn't focused on only his love for the FL

Bits that I wished for

- a bit more screen time for her mom, they brushed her away, like she's not the mother and wife of two important characters, some scenes when the boy comes running home or when she receives the news of the deceased loved ones.

- a bit more scenes between the bff and policeman, that was damm sad.. Her realization of his feelings after it was too late.. She had so many love potentials and they hinted them, but nothing never, I liked that she was focused on her goals, but I wished they didn't introduce so many potentials and making the audience crave amd wish for her to go in that direction

Not wished, I'm actually fine they didn't show what happened right after with everything, with his father and let it open to our imagination and focused on romance aspects, bc I think I wouldn't be satisfied with any revange/ punishment for the ones that were in the wrong, so a smart move for not giving us concrete follow ups.

Why I rated the re-watch so low?
-I could go lower actually, it's such a sad one that I don't wanna feel this pain ever after watching a series.
My heart felt real pain.

A top recommendation?
Most definitely, it was an amazing drama over all, truly satisfying.

I sure have more thoughts, but I'm afraid it will be longer than the script of the series, so I'll stop here.

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