🎬 Movie Review: Once We Were Us (2025) - 🥀
Eun-ho met Jeong-won by chance while on his way to visit his father in his hometown. After losing touch following the trip, Eun-ho searched for her, and a close friendship grew between them. Though Eun-ho held feelings for Jeong-won, he didn't act on them until the day she discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her. Afraid that dating might ruin their friendship if things went wrong, Jeong-won hesitated - until Eun-ho promised that would never happen. But as the years passed, life brought its own strain. Following a pivotal incident, Jeong-won left. Years later, their paths crossed once more.
For me, this movie is a true slice-of-life. Someone enters your life right when you need them most, but as time moves on, a person who was once your entire world can become someone you no longer know - or need. Instead of desperately holding on, you learn to let go. That is what this film captures so well. It isn't tragic; it’s just the bittersweet reality of life.
Another detail I loved was the visual color palette, which mirrored the video game Eun-ho developed: During Ian’s quest to find Kelly, his world is stark black and white, but the moment he finds her, it bursts into full color. At first, I was confused because films typically use monochrome for the past and color for the present. Flipping that convention felt refreshingly deliberate - a very good choice.
If you are looking for pure comfort to unwind after a brutal week at work, school, or just life in general, this isn't it. It isn't outright doom and gloom, but it certainly isn't lighthearted either. While it didn't bring me to tears, it left me sitting with a quiet, heavy heart.
🥀 Bittersweet. The haunting "what-ifs" and the reluctance to release something so familiar feel painfully real.
Your messiest hair, comfiest PJs, favorite comfort snack, and a plushie nearby - because you might just need a hug by the end.
Source: 🎬 Movie Review: Once We Were Us (2025) - 🥀
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