'Our love story' feels refreshing. True, I think the onset of the relationship between the main characters seems inorganic and unconvincing - but then, I suppose there's something to be said for how messy such interactions can be in real life, too. And that's really the key: the narrative comes across very much as a down-to-earth, quiet portrait of the connection between two people. Film-maker Lee Hyun-ju doesn't employ the sort of tropes we commonly expect in films centering lesbian characters - there are no overtly romantic flourishes overlaid to embellish the feature. This is much more about the simple trajectory of a relationship, with all its ups and downs, and the personal difficulties that flow from and contribute to such turmoil.
Stars Lee Sang-hee and Ryu Sun-young are both fine actresses who capably realize Yoon-ju, Ji-soo, and all their complexities. They are great scene partners, and whether individually or together make every moment of love or angst very believable. From the beginning the characters appear very dissimilar, but as the film rolls on and they both struggle through varied, conflicting emotions, we see how very alike they actually are. This includes not least of all the hardship that comes from the pressure to be discreet - homophobia presents subtly, with the same air of disapproval as though of any disfavored relationship. But it's nonetheless unmistakable as a partner to dominant cultural heteronormativity that's projected throughout, a theme that looms like a pale specter over the story.
The technical craft is superb, and I quite enjoy the soft, sparing music that dots the soundtrack. If not the most captivating screenplay in the world, Hyun-ju has written a solid, complete tale, actualized as a lovely, low-key picture. It's unfortunate to read after the fact of the filmmaker's tawdry history - it rather puts a blemish on such a broadly satisfying feature, a strong debut that indicated great potential. Even so, the title stands on its own merit: 'Our love story' is a testament to swell writing, directing, and acting - a breath of fresh air in a genre where one feature commonly echoes another. Any viewer seeking a purely robust, invigorating lesbian romance may be put out, but an audience receptive to more subdued, thoughtful experiences will be right at home. This is a very well made movie that's worth checking out.
