A Juventude de Maio (2021)

A lot to like, but flawed delivery

Essentially this is a love story set against the background of the Gwangju Uprising. It is not so much about the politics but rather a serious piece of social commentary that explores the impact on the people involved. There is a lot to like about this production that carries you through the flaws in the plotting, writing, staging and direction.

The story centres around coercion on multiple levels: personal, family, business and political. We all make choices in life that reflect our response to current circumstances and when those circumstances turn increasingly oppressive the trigger point for each individual is different. Although our choices are our own to make, what we decide to do will impact those around us. At what point does the greater good triumph over family responsibilities? What is the cost to the individual if they choose family? What is the fallout if they choose the greater good? What is the tipping point, if there is one, to change from one to the other?

The drama sets up a number of scenarios to explore these dilemmas: from the nurse who has been impacted by her father’s decisions, to the student who chooses action regardless of family. The drama illustrates the human and emotional costs involved and shows that social change is only possible through the sacrifice of not only innocence but also the innocent.

The pluses of this drama are the performances, not just by the leads, Lee Do Hyun and Go Min Si, but also some of the supporting cast. Oh Man Suk was excellent as Hwang Ki Nam and had a very credible ruthlessness. Lee Sang Yi as Lee Soo Chan made a memorable impression as a good man forced to recognise and embrace reality. The lovers had a beautiful and believable chemistry and that made it easy to go along with their instant love.

There are also some very good character development arcs, as various characters get to grips with these issues. For me Lee Soo Chan, who is memorably played by Lee Sang Yi, is the best illustration of wilful ignorance to action. But others in the story are forced to come to terms with themselves in less favourable lights. There is a sense that we all would hope to be a hero, but the show reveals the courage needed just to survive, let alone take action, and does it with a certain amount of compassion.

Although the concepts within the drama are well thought through and delivered by the writer, Lee Kang, the actual structure and plotting is not always good. There are many times, particularly with the leads, where motivations are forced, or jarringly out of character, in order to serve the purposes of the plot.

The direction did little to help the lacklustre tension and was far too static and slow. It was in the mode of a romance which means it failed to do justice to the dynamics of the setting, which was in the middle of an uprising. At times we needed to see more anxiety and less stoicism. There needed to be more frequent and more marked changes of pace. This was partly the script but the greater responsibility lay with the director and how the scenes were played out and edited. Passages of dialogue in dire situations were delivered in calm measured ways, instead of urgent, desperate whispers. The editing interrupted impending threat by giving the actors all the time in the world to be romantic. It also often jumped erratically between the different scenarios leaking tension like a sponge, rather than building it in layers.

Overall, this is a good drama and well worth watching if you are prepared for patches of frustration along the way. It provides good food for thought and reveals multiple perspectives to reflect on.

What my rating means: 8+ A great drama with interesting content and good writing, direction, acting, OST, cinematography. But didn’t quite have the requisite sparkle to bump it into my all-time fave list. Worth watching.

Leia Mais

A Brilliant Story

Hands down, this is probably the best Kdrama that I’ve ever watched.

I started watching this Kdrama without really knowing what the plot was about, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this masterpiece.

The pacing is marvellous and I’m glad they kept the episodes capped just right at 12. There was not a single bad episode. Unlike countless dramas that reach a rut in the middle of the series, this Kdrama seriously had me shaking throughout the series. It explores themes of family, democracy, and justice and as someone who, admittedly, idolized South Korea as the place to be, giving its citizens their right to freedom of speech, I saw the opposite in their tragic history. It gave me a completely different perspective.

A mystery planted in the beginning kept me wondering about how the story's events would unfold. The plot then transports us to 1980’s Gwangju and a scenario that all drama fans would be familiar with. A small lie blows out of proportions and ends with people getting hurt. However, added on top of that was the setting of the plot, astounding chemistry between the cast and astounding development for each and every character that truly made it special. I am truly blown away by the characters; what great writing and acting!

Finally, at the eleventh episode, I finally knew for certain that the last episode would not give me an idealistic ending. However, upon completing the entire series, I finally realized what the purpose of this drama was. It was to portray the lives of people who went through this point of history and how they are carried forward into the present. Whereby the premise of Gwangju in the ’80s was not merely an extra afterthought to spice up a typical romance drama plot, but a to show the unfiltered reality of hardships during that time. Since it ends with the characters now in the present day with the events in 1980s as a memory, it shows how this past has affected them in the present and made them who they are today.

Overall, this Kdrama is definitely a heart wrenching one paying homage to the people who had experienced this moment in time and deserves a watch.

Leia Mais

Tragic.

I dragged this drama for way too long because I wasn’t ready for the angst that was promised, and in the end I binged the last six episodes because I knew that’s the only way I would be able to finish it quickly. In the process, I learnt about a very painful part of Korean history. I’m not Korean, but felt that this drama did a spectacular job in showing the tragic events impacted everyone. Episode 9 was a heartache, in fact everything from 7 gets sadder and sadder, it’s almost like each episode is competing with the former to beat the threshold of angst. Knowing how it ends for the couple, I was prepared and yet was able to feel the pain when the time arrived.

What I loved about this drama is how well the characters were written, their dialogues so realistic and the acting was top notch! The chemistry between these two was perfect. I also loved that we got a kind of closure in the final minutes of the drama. I wish that the people of Gwanju would have been able to live a life of normalcy, reading up on the history and watching it unfold was brutal.

In the end it’s a very melancholic drama, there’s sadness but happy moments too. There are scenes that will leave you frustrated but they find redemption too. It’s a heartbreak of a drama, definitely on one of my favourite angst watches.

Leia Mais

Please Respect what happened in his Drama...This isn't what you want from a "average Kdrama"

This Review May Spoil The Drama For You...If you don't like minor Spoilers, don't read the review

I am not Korean so I don't have any right to say about the events that happend in the drama...I don't want to give my opinion on the real life events...
This drama is not far an average Kdrama fan. This drama is based on the real life events that happened in Korea...but you can understand the situation they were in if you watched the drama...This drama doesn't have a "happy" ending...This drama is to show how people recover from such a brutal past...It wasn't supposed to have a happy ending...It wasn't supposed to be a Romance story

If we look at the drama at a critical sense...Yes, there are flaws and Yes, there are things this drama does pretty well...

The characters are well written...They are not usual one note characters thrown in a real life setting...There are some things this drama kinda teases but I am glad it didn't do it... Example, the love triangle that they kinda hinted at...Many love triangles were teased in this drama but I am glad the story knew where it should be going and it maintained that theme...

The acting was superb in this drama...Well what do you expect from this cast... Nothing to say here

Conclusion

Is it a must watch...No... Should you watch it for fun...Also No...You should only watch it if you can...

Leia Mais

I am not the orphan you are!

Ahhh, it was a slow burn. I got so much emotional so quickly.

The historical factor was way too good. It showed so much raw emotions of youth. Alot of times I keep saying that that youth was straight up idiot. But now that I look back i realized that this very situation is true. We always says that we should protect ourselves no matter what but when we actually gets to that situation we don't think about ourselves but we actually think about our loved ones.

I belongs from Pakistan and I remember, I was in a situation when i was just a kid myself someone tried to do a terrorist attack on my school. At that time i forget who was i and i just run to save my brother too even though there was a (potential) bomb in the building i run to save my brother. Now that i look back there were so many people there to save my brother but I still couldn't stop myself.

I like how hee tae mother was afraid that he would hate him since she was not his mother. I also liked the way that how his father was too brutal but it hurt him so much when his own son got shot or dragged into investigation.

Every single time a country gets into some situations it becomes so horrifying for everyone to just do the unthinkable like the police man doesn't wanted the civilians to die but end up dying himself. There were people in military who never wanted to kill but was ordered.

Hee tae character was so well written, it was so close to real life, he was a person who was realistic i liked how he down play everything that come his way. It was a good story overall.
Soo Royeon was such a brave and good lady. Her family was the definition of good family.

It didn't show emotions of just 1 person but showed emotions of a whole nation that went through that may. The youth of may was irrational but wasn't heartless.

Leia Mais

Youth of May is the cause of my depression and needing therapy

I need help... I'm watching the saddest of saddest of sad kdrama and nothing sad is happening at the moment but I'm so anxious. Oh and I'm literally crying because I know something sad is gonna happen without actually anything sad currently happening, lol. I'M ALREADY CRYING FOR THE ANTICIPATED SADNESS :') Because I'm watching youth of May, which truly should have been called ANXIETY OF MAY. Because that's how I feel. I'm literally ageing years from all the stress.

WHY AM I CRYING??? The leads are just sitting on afucking bench and some flower petals are falling and here I am crying like a baby.

I'm also not minding at all that they played siblings in sweet home & are now lovers. I remember how off putting it was and how I had to get used to the fault in our stars since the actors played/were siblings before they were/played a couple. And here I'm like LALALALA DON'T CARE **still need therapy lalala therapy**

Also I've decided I'm gonna watch youth of may before I'll see my Roommate is a Gumiho so I get that amazing fun pick me up after depression anxiety. I managed not to cry this time though even though I came close, but I held it in.

I was like hey I could watch Youth of May when I was procrastinating watching the finale of My Roommate is a Gumiho because of feelings. But then I had the sudden realisation: OH WAIT THAT'S FUCKING SAD AS WELL

I will finish watching Yputh of May because I hope that it will get better. All I feel now is boredom and it's pretty slow. I literally had to play with lucky to get through this episode. The ending shot of this episode was pretty though.

Somehow I'm kind of liking Youth of May now. It took around 7 or 8 episodes for me to get into it. And now I only have three left and I'm in no way ready for the end. I'm so anxious now.

I'M EVEN MORE ANXIOUS NOW! IT IS REALLY GOOD NOW! BUT WE ALL KNOW GIRL IS GONNA DIE.. AND OMG NOT READY FOR THAT... So I stopped watching again :') So now I'm watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!!! I HATE YOUTH OF MAY! BITCHES DOING US DIRTY! They literally let the babies get married and THOSE ASSHOLES WILL KILL THE GIRL OFF AS WELL. BOTH (A WEDDING AND A FUNERAL) WILL HAPPEN IN THE SAME EPISODE. I'M CRYING. But first her dad died.....

NOOOOOOOOOO!!! I have a feeling they're gonna do a boy in the striped pyjama shit and kill the youngest son of the biggest asshole villain of the show because he tried to save his best friend and his sister. I'm really afraid they'll mistake him for the sister's little bro. *one eternity later* They didn't. Thank god!!!

THIS EPISODE IS GIVING ME HEARTBREAKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. The anxiety is real.

Nooooooooooooo...... I think the girl is gonna die now :"(  :(  :"(  :(

She saved her little bro :"(  She's really dead :"(

Whahahaha her husband/boyfriend only survived because of that fucking banner that his asshole dad put up when he had the highest marks in uni.

She really dead :(((  )))): Emma: And they never found her. Only after 40 years *insert me sobbing my heart out*

Very sad. Very very sad. Capital letters SAD. The beginning was not the best, but my heart is destroyed. Even months later I'm still crying about this show.

Lee Do Hyun's character was definitely such a precious puppy, and our girl who deserved so much better had such a pure heart as well. I just can't. I'm utterly heartbroken. Utterly destroyed, heartbroken by this.

Leia Mais

I don't think I cry this easily, even if I feel like the scene is sad to the point where I want to cry I can't. But this drama had me bawling my eyes out. Starting from the very beginning until the end it had me completely hooked up. Every character is different and they all have reasons to be this way. Everybody has such a strong will to just do the one thing they seem as most important it's really inspiring. To be honest I saw the biggest spoiler I could have seen before watching it but the drama was so good that even that couldn't ruin that for me. Both male and female lead are supportive and totally in love with each other, i feel like everything they did was done with the thought of the other person. They weren't afraid when they were together one of the best if not the best relationship ever in a drama. I sincerely recommended this show to everyone, it will make u laugh, cry, having a heart attack at the same time. I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't watched this masterpiece.

Leia Mais

Youth of May

Firstly, I'd like to talk about Myung Hee. I genuinely feel that Kim Myung Hee as a character was very worthwhile and I'd like to compliment her. she left a deep impression on me, and I think she deserves more recognition as her character. She is so kind, humble and always putting herself first, someone who is so genuine, ordinary yet so full of compassion, never once really thinking for herself and always so helpful. I felt a lot for her in the whole drama. Her acting was superb.

Next, Hee Tae - a very charming guy who just suits Myung Hee super well. His character is also worth praising. Someone who seems quite different from usual guys and just someone in the show whom I can relate to.

Soo Ryeon and Soo Chan are equally good characters and totally worth talking about. Soo Chan especially is someone just so dependable and kind in nature, helpful and admirable. I also really admire Soo Ryeon for her courage and her resilience in the things that she does.

Both boys - Jung Tae and Myeong Soo are both decent children (cute too XD) and people who will grow up to be really good people.

The entire drama may have seemed typical at first but it grew a lot more meaningful after and the ending was always something that made me tear up. All characters even the small ones don't go unnoticed by me, & I mean ALL the small/side characters are unforgettable. People often forget about them but they have a crucial part to play too and should not be taken for granted.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of 'youth of may'. The little scenes matter a lot. I'll always remember this drama. Definitely a rare gem. The plot and characters are really fine and something that is not just a watch-for-leisure kind of drama but has its inner depth in all its characters and plotlines which I feel for deeply.

(The osts are well sung as well, super fitting to the mood of everything - my favourite ost would be 'winter of may' as well as 'days in memories')

Leia Mais

my review !

before I begin my review I would like the empathize that I am very privileged in the fact that I have been born and raised in a country that has been nothing but peaceful to me and my family, but I would also like to say that what happened to the people of South Korea in 1987 is horrible and nothing could excuse the cations of the trauma many victims and their families have faced.

Now on with my review, Youth of May is a story that has truly touched my heart and made me inclined and curious to research about 1987 and the movements surrounding democracy in South Korea. The characters were beautifully written and the actors did well to display that in the scene, the set design was great in my opinion (but don't take it word for word as I have not researched what was popular in South Korea during that time), the fashions, the colors worked so well with one and other! There were so many beautiful lines that made situations such as going to school or wanting to chase after your dreams. It shed light on many topics in ways that I believe were respectful. It was a roller coaster of emotions, much like other kdramas, we were here and enjoyed the happy and comical moments, and cried with them for the sad moments. Youth of May was truly a hiddengem in 2021, and in all honesty, it deserves all the appreciation and hype it gets. so what I am trying to say is: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, WATCH IT NOW!

Leia Mais

If you've watch Scarlet Heart Ryeo, then this drama is for you

I looked forward to this drama because 1) It's Lee Do Hyun's drama and he became one of my favorite actors after watching his performances in 18 Again and Sweet Home 2) This is Lee Do Hyun's and Go Min Si's second drama together but this time as a couple. The synopsis itself is very intriguing since it is set during the Gwangju uprising.

Youth of May, more like the heartbreaking, tearjerking, and bittersweet Romance of May. Even though I bawled my eyes through the second part of the drama, the couple's story was beautifully laid out. It's a bittersweet old-school love story. It can make you laugh, cry, fluttery, pained, but also you'll be able to feel the innocence and sincerity of their tragic, romantic relationship.

Lee Do Hyun has proven once again that he's a humble and very promising actor of his generation. Go Min Si's role is definitely a breath of fresh air from what she has played in the past. She has been really great at playing the bitchy, mean female lead but she showed us a completely different character in this drama. She was a hardworking, strong-willed, and family-centered woman. Their chemistry was through the roofs, especially if you account for the fact that they played the role of siblings in 'Sweet Home.'

This drama has a special place in my heart and it belongs in my list of dramas that would make you cry e.g. 18 Again, Hi Bye Mama, Scarlet Heart Ryeo. It left me thinking about different "what-if scenarios," and it's the best example of "right person, but at the wrong place and at the wrong time." If you're looking for a drama that is similar to Scarlet Heart Ryeo, then this is the drama for you. In conclusion, don't be dissuaded by the possible sad ending, dive in bring some tissues, and hope you enjoy this drama as much as I did.

Leia Mais