[Drama 2012] Love Rain / Love Rides the Rain 사랑비

[Guest ibtissam22]

yoongie ufo

cr wooritaetae

i think evreyone want to see the story about hana and seo jun in the 2012

[Guest omgitscrystal]

Hi.

Months ago when news about Yoona and Jang Guen Suk being chosen to act together were released, I was like "oh no..." Please excuse me when I say this... I have absolutely no interest in Yoona and SNSD. #nohate ya?

Anyway, when a few pictures were released online, my friend showed it to me and I was like, "I have to watch this." The cinematography captured my attention. I love the 70s style, it gave out that unique vintage feel, the colours and if I'm not wrong, the background was very much autumn-ish. After reading the drama plot, I was like "Why not? Romance is definitely my favourite genre so I should give it a go."

Just a few hours ago, my friend told me that Love Rain had recently debuted and I went to check it out. And a few hours later, which is right now.....gosh do you know how I'm feeling right now?

I think that this drama seriously needs to get on the TOP! It is so good! I am rather speechless right now. The first two episodes were amazing - though I would say it is moving rather slowly. The first two episodes made me smile and it made me cry. Right now, I can't wait for Monday to come! I need episode 3, gosh! The preview makes me go crazy. I want Yoon Hee and In Ha together even though I know they wouldn't end up together in the 1970s.

To add on, I've seen so many negative comments about the first episode. People bashed Yoona for her acting skills. Oh no, I don't like Yoona myself but her acting skills were rather impressive, I would say. And I think she fits the character perfectly. Her looks suits someone with a shy character. Oh and I read comments of how people talk about both Yoon Hee and In Ha are cowards and wouldn't dare to stand up for LOVE.

Gosh, when they watch the second and the upcoming episode, I think they'll have to take back their negative comment.

AHHHHHHHH I CAN'T CONTAIN THE EXCITEMENT IN ME! KBS, GIVE ME EPISODE 3 NOWWWW

[Guest crimsonng]

Hihi! Anyone has the srt files for ep 1?? =)

[Guest redwaveprod_cmjp]

woah.. I'm never active to any threads but discussions here are pretty fun and impressive... lots of great intelligent comments like darkdragon88's ...

Anyway, I just watched Episode 2.. And the Over-all production is great.

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After watching episode 2, I realized that the slow pacing is sort of intentional. However, the viewers can't adapt to it.

Why I say intentional? Because life in the 20th century is slow and inconvenient in general. Before you can get to a certain place, it would take time. There were no fast food chains, no cellphones, no accessible computers, no bullet trains... People were taking their time.

If the editing for the 1970s is fast-paced, then we cannot really feel the 1970s era.

Life in the 21st century is faster .With all the technologies out there. In 3mins, you're on your destination. You can easily call delivery services for food or call out your friends to hang out instead of walking long distance from one building to another just to find that friend. Chickens lay out eggs in less than a month. LOL.

I'm quite sure that the pacing for the 2012s scenes would be faster. That's what I hope. Let's see and anticipate.

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I can say that the Production Design is EPIC. I can really feel the typical 1970s era in Korea. Production Design is responsible for the visual or setting (like the props, place). They will decide what should be at the setting.

The over-all cinematography is still great. Each shot is planned carefully.

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I'll discuss my interpretation of some certain scenes in the episode:

A scene when Inha tries to hit an apple with a carved heart in a festival game. 1st for Baek HyeJeong: Inha hit the apple after two takes without really making an effort. 2nd for Yoonhee: He obviously find it hard to hit the apple. But eventually he hit it on his third attempt.

--> This means that choosing Hyejung is easier and only a few obstacles will come their way in their relationship. However, if Inha chooses to continue loving Yoonhee, it will be hard. Both of them will experience more pain and sacrifices in order for them to even start a relationship.

A scene at night after the festival games. The characters are drinking and are having fun. While having fun, Dongwook admits that the line "Love means never having to say you're sorry." came from Inha. Yoonhee was startled for a while then fireworks showed up and lit up the night sky.

--> Fireworks expresses Inha's and Yoonhee's feelings, with the help of the musical score. It lightens up the dark sky (their slowly fading relationship) and their feelings were ignited once again. Succeeding scenes like the dance and when Inha saves Yoonhee, support it.

That night when Dongwook asked Yoonhee out (After the painting incident). Dongwook explains why he likes Yoonhee. Yoonhee seems satisfied. Then here comes the rain.

--> The rain sets the mood of the scene. When the rain falls, Dongwook and Yoonhee finds shelter outside a shop. However, Dongwook and Yoonhee were not as close as when Inha and Yoonhee shared an umbrella. This means that Dongwook and Yoonhee do not share an intimate relationship yet.

The following scenes also helped in symbolizing Inha and Yoonhee's feelings for each other:

One Summer Night Scene. Well the lyrics shows their feelings once again. (It was not just chosen randomly by the writer.. haha)

The discovery of Yoonhee's portrait inside Inha's locker. This scene establishes the characters' next actions.

The train scene. Hide and Seek Game. (I can make a detailed interpretation of these scenes after episode 3. The data, for me, is still insufficient until we get to know what will Inha reveal.)

I think you can still find some interpretations. But what I listed above are also important.

Also, it's your option to watch it just for entertainment and fun or to watch it while finding some metaphors or symbols.

We don't really need to interpret this drama, after all it's a drama not a film. However, while watching this drama, I feel like I need to share what I feel or think about each scenes. haha

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Anyway, I think I can already comment about the leads' acting for their 1970s role..

First off is Yoona. Her acting is just right and it fits her 1970s character. I'm impressed during the scene in a hospital. Yoona was acting like she's forcing to stop her tears. It's already hard to force tears out. But it's harder to act forcing to stop one's tears. I think she did great with that. But she seems acting in a film. That's where the slight negative comments start. There's a difference in acting in a film and in a drama effectively. Acting in a drama requires a little bit of exaggeration while in a film, a certain eye movement is enough to express an emotion.

In this case, Yoona would use her eyes often (if you'll watch her closely). Then you'll know that she's feeling awkward or she's feeling bad (like when Inha said not to misunderstand about the painting). You'll realize that she loves Inha instead of Dongwook just by her eyes' movement.

The problem with this type of acting is that, it's hardly noticeable when you watch it in TV (You cannot re-watch a scene and LCD screens are smaller). This type of acting is pretty much impressive if we're gonna see it in big screens where we can clearly see her facial expressions.

She's not that good with her Cinderella Man character. She's quite good with her You Are My Destiny character. But she's acting BETTER for her 1970s role in Love Rain. (LOL I kinda write long for Yoona coz until now, her acting capability is still uncertain for some. But I'm happy that lots of critics praise her acting for her 1970s character.)

Next is Jang GeunSeok (JGS). His acting is passable. Though his expressions are sometimes inconsistent, his narration (voice over) would help the audience know what he really feels.

Kim Sihoo's acting is also good. I can feel his character.

But in any production, the final verdict is with the director. If he says the acting's good then they're off. If not, then re-shoot again.

(TIP)Easiest way to know if an actor acts right: if his/her eyebrows don't look awkward... haha

The over-all acting is 8.5/10

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[baduy]

I don't intend to hang out here, because I'd get pelted or arrested, or both, but I wanted to say at least something about this absolutely astonishing drama. I'm sure I'll remember the cinematography, exquisite even by the highest Korean standards, long after the cracked ribs I got from laughing too hard at the dialogue (and the situations) have healed.

I mean really...

So here's Yoon Hee, trudging dejectedly to do her part-time job, still shattered at discovering that the Big Thing In Ha so badly wanted to tell her was that those weren't actually paintings of her. Oh no! Perish the thought! He was just, you know... like... painting the scenery and she was... kinda.. there in front of the scenery, so she sorta ... well ... like ... got into the pictures by accident. He does hope she hasn't got the wrong idea. She gets off the bus still mulling that over and finds finds Dong Wook hot on her heels yet again so she tells him to shove off. How can he claim to like her? He hardly knows her! He'd better back off. And she turns on her heel and walks off in a way that shows she's not wanting him to call after her. But he does...

"It's because you resemble someone...

The reason I like you...

...it's because you remind me of someone...

[Cue piano arpeggios and trigger the automatic Kleenex dispenser]

... someone who died when I was small...

... My mom...

Isn't that a good enough reason?"

And her expression shows that, when he puts it that way, she thinks 'Hey! that's a great reason, I've seriously misjudged the poor guy', and she decides he may be The One after all. Whereas in the real 1970's, or the 1870's or in 170 BC for that matter, any girl with any sense would rightly scream and run a mile away from a guy who not only claimed he liked her because she reminded him of his Mom, but who was crazy enough to think she'd be pleased to hear that. It's more like a line from Psycho than Love Story.

But anyway, before I open up those rib fractures yet again at recollecting that scene, let me assure everyone who wasn't around then that things weren't THAT slow in the 1970's. Believe it or not, we actually had phones, and even though they were wired into the wall, we still used them to call our friends before trecking over to their place... And if we'd been even a little bit as coy, wimpish and tongue-tied (or, torpe, as they untranslateably say in the Philippines) as this pair, most of you wouldn't be here to watch dramas or post on Soompi because, forty years down the line,the human race would have been on the verge of extinction.

Before I retreat to a safe distance, here is little bit of wallpaper (in five sizes to suit everything from phones to HD TVs) with a cap I took took from the opening (pre-advertising slot) sequence that doesn't normally make it into the raws.

http://www.mediafire.com/?s9nwvm8tvt7z3gx

The lighting, the composition, the autumnal/sunset tones and the smile seem to me to embody everything that is so visually captivating about this drama.

[ohhcee]

I don't intend to hang out here, because I'd get pelted or arrested, or both, but I wanted to say at least something about this absolutely astonishing drama. I'm sure I'll remember the cinematography, exquisite even by the highest Korean standards, long after the cracked ribs I got from laughing too hard at the dialogue (and the situations) have healed.

I mean really...

So here's Yoon Hee, trudging dejectedly to do her part-time job, still shattered at discovering that the Big Thing In Ha so badly wanted to tell her was that those weren't actually paintings of her. Oh no! Perish the thought! He was just, you know... like... painting the scenery and she was... kinda.. there in front of the scenery, so she sorta ... well ... like ... got into the pictures by accident. He does hope she hasn't got the wrong idea. She gets off the bus still mulling that over and finds finds Dong Wook hot on her heels yet again so she tells him to shove off. How can he claim to like her? He hardly knows her! He'd better back off. And she turns on her heel and walks off in a way that shows she's not wanting him to call after her. But he does...

"It's because you resemble someone...

The reason I like you...

...it's because you remind me of someone...

[Cue piano arpeggios and trigger the automatic Kleenex dispenser]

... someone who died when I was small...

... My mom...

Isn't that a good enough reason?"

And her expression shows that, when he puts it that way, she thinks 'Hey! that's a great reason, I've seriously misjudged the poor guy', and she decides he may be The One after all. Whereas in the real 1970's, or the 1870's or in 170 BC for that matter, any girl with any sense would rightly scream and run a mile away from a guy who not only claimed he liked her because she reminded him of his Mom, but who was crazy enough to think she'd be pleased to hear that. It's more like a line from Psycho than Love Story.

But anyway, before I open up those rib fractures yet again at recollecting that scene, let me assure everyone who wasn't around then that things weren't THAT slow in the 1970's. Believe it or not, we actually had phones, and even though they were wired into the wall, we still used them to call our friends before trecking over to their place... And if we'd been even a little bit as coy, wimpish and tongue-tied (or, torpe, as they untranslateably say in the Philippines) as this pair, most of you wouldn't be here to watch dramas or post on Soompi because, forty years down the line,the human race would have been on the verge of extinction.

Before I retreat to a safe distance, here is little bit of wallpaper (in five sizes to suit everything from phones to HD TVs) with a cap I took took from the opening (pre-advertising slot) sequence that doesn't normally make it into the raws.

http://www.mediafire.com/?s9nwvm8tvt7z3gx

The lighting, the composition, the autumnal/sunset tones and the smile seem to me to embody everything that is so visually captivating about this drama.

Actually, when I was growing up as a child in Seoul back in the early 70s not every home had phones. If you see at the beginning of the episode at the cafe, you'll see a guy picking up a folded note on a board. That's how a lot of the people communicated with each other. You left a folded note for your friends in the cafe you hung out all the time. It sure was a slower way to communicate but that's the way things were. This drama depicts the slower pace and more innocent life in the 70s accurately.

I remember my older sister escorting several of our Aunts and Uncles on their "date" since it wasn't proper for couples to date alone in the earlier part of courtship. Younger siblings, nephews and nieces tagged along all the time to dates. It sounds sooo archaic but again that's the way things were done back then.

I know it's frustrating to see In Ha not going after Yoon hee but "Pals before Gals" were the unwritten rule. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next episode where he can't contain his love for Yoon Hee and let's her know and breaks this dumb rule.

[darkdragon88]

Okay, I think I got a lot to write about. Grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, sit back, and I hope you guys enjoy this.

EDIT:

Just wanted to encourage you guys to post any insightful things you noticed. There is a ton of little subtle details in this drama! 

Holy smokes, a lot of stuff happened in this episode. The secondary characters played a huge part in what is turning out to be a complex love map. The typical thing to happen is: a group forms, couples form, and then couples break off and the group is no more. Could this be the beginning of the end for our new little group?

I have a lot of stuff to say about Chang Mo (Seo In Gook) and In Sook. They are completely hilarious! At their first meeting they weren't even close to being on any sort of common ground, now In Sook is obsessed and is madly in love. (SIde note: I have never heard that if one stacks 100 match sticks, a wish can come true?) Just filled with loads of moments like the situation on the train on where to sit, or the Sun in In Sook's eyes confusing Chang Mo, and the piggyback ride across the bridge. Although Chang Mo likes Hye Jung, there are signs of him giving into In Sook's charm. I can totally ship this couple. The whole Chang Mo - In Sook - Hye Jung thing is like the reverse yet comedic other love triangle.

-Another thing to add about Chang Mo, he is an awesome friend to both Dong Wook and In Ha. I hope he is in the present timeline as well.

I'm a little lost on Hye Jung's character. But I think I got it down to this. Near the end of the episode she has a moment with Chang Mo in which they can reach some middle ground and actually just be friends. This is so she can join the main In Ha - Yoon Hee - Dong Wook triangle. I kind of always assumed Hye Jung would end up marrying In Ha anyway. In summary: Hye Jung spent a lot of time with the secondary characters. Maybe from now on she will be in the lives of the main characters.

The arrow shooting was just a great scene I am not going to forget. In Ha's determination to hit that apple for Yoon Hee just does such wonders for their relationship. redwaveprod_cmjp is totally right about this, this scene is so symbolic for In Ha's relationship with Hye Jung and Yoon Hee. We have an easier, not really trying too hard path. Or we have the, "I ain't going to let Dong Wook even try", and and all out last shot, kind of path. Don't think this will be the last time we see In Ha not giving into Dong Wook.

There was a small part when the group was sitting down after that school festival at night I noticed. It was a short part which mentioned Dong Wook isn't serious with girls? The whole line from Love Story took away from that, but this could be important as Dong Wook might not have ever taken a girl as serious as he has with Yoon Hee. Also, Dong Wook might indirectly be getting an antagonistic characteristic, but so far he is a quality guy. Maybe just trying too hard. Dong Wook also had some character development when he confessed as to why he likes Yoon Hee. I actually really loved the whole when one love ends, one can begin, and then the rain fell. I thought that was brilliantly done.

I really found myself slightly frustrated with Yoon Hee at the beginning. She really does not say much. But pretty much as soon as I said that, the great hospital scene happened. She opened up to In Ha! This is HUGE, people. You don't cry in front of a person you don't care for. Yoon Hee doesn't even seem to have friends on campus, for all we know she might not have opened up to anyone. BTW, Yoona's acting there was great. Tons of different and mixed feelings to have and portray. I really like the chemistry between In Ha and Yoon Hee. The guitar scene was great. She got to feel a bit of what In Ha loves to do, and it led into her talking more and opening up. 

I think we all felt extreme frustration with In Ha during the whole Yoon Hee finding out about his paintings. He admits himself later that he was a coward. But, in his defense, he doesn't have a lot to take from Yoon Hee as of now. They have only had a few moments, like the umbrella, and the guitar plus failed attempt to see Love Story. Also, he painted her, a lot! I mean, try confessing to a girl and say you have some odd stalker-like paintings and drawings of her. We know Yoon Hee is interested, but In Ha does NOT. Of course this isn't the end of our main couple, they had a great moment on the train. I loved how In Ha waited longer than Dong Wook to see if Yoon Hee was coming. You can tell he totally forgot that if she came, it meant she would now date Dong Wook. He was just desperate to have her get on, and I loved when he took her hand and held onto it for that extra bit. 

Near the end we see more lines drawn and more lines blurred. Yoon Hee decided to take that non confession of In Ha earlier quite negatively and even fought back with saying that everyone got what they wanted. As mentioned earlier, Dong Wook isn't a bad guy. Maybe Yoon Hee can start to see that now. But we also now know that In Ha does have some guts as he played that song in the end. 

It was a weird ending because who really confesses that they will like a girl in front of a bunch of other people? Probably won't happen, especially with the coward, In Ha.

I thought this was another great episode. I enjoyed the first episode slightly more, but this episode had the establishment of love lines. We still have a ton more stuff in the past to get through. The preview ruined a BUNCH of stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if the production team went back and did a quick edit to maybe entice viewers. I won't comment on the preview, but there was some serious plot development.

The acting:

I am a fan of both Yoona and Jang Geun Seuk, I just wanted to get that out there. I think they are doing a good job with their roles. I thought Jang Geun Seuk was very good in this episode. Him showing determination to shoot that arrow at the apple -his look when he saw Yoon Hee and Dong Wook together after he didn't confess to her -and him urging Yoon Hee to get on the train I thought were well done. 

For Yoona, I think I will just give my opinion of what she is doing. I think she is following what the director wants, but isn't going above and beyond that role like some other actors can do. The first episode and start of the second are supposed awkward and quiet. That she was. But now Yoon Hee is opening up more and talking. You see, already she is becoming more dynamic. 

 

I didn't really look too much for symbolism in anything. Truthfully I was just enjoying watching the episode. I'm glad people are posting such great insightful things. We're 2 episodes in, can't wait until the next episodes.

And just a quick note. If anybody is reading this and hasn't watch the episode yet, I would actually advise you to not watch the preview for episode 3. I mean if you really want to like this series, maybe you should because there are great incentives shown in the preview to continue watching. I was surprised at the content they showed!

@redwaveprod_cmjp  you are absolutely right. The 70s was a different time. I find myself completely enjoying seeing how their culture is. These kids don't go home and instant message one another. They go home and really dream about the person they like. Not surprising how they feel about one another so soon. I feel the director wants us to feel like we are in the 70s. I sure do when I watch

just wanted to mention again that your insight on the arrow piercing the apple is great. And of course the apples have to have a little heart shape on them to boot.

I hope this series doesn't make me paranoid because whenever it rains I feel there should be some hidden meaning behind it.

@baduy

I understand your feelings about that certain sequence, but i don't understand your hate? This is a drama. A guy can't like a girl because he think she can be the person who can take care of him? Also, he has been the perfect gentleman to her, she only felt annoyed because he kept wanting to enter her life, but we all know that changed when he opened up.

@ohhcee  I didn't notice the note. Very cool to learn that. Totally agree with what you have to say.

I feel like I gotta come back here to see what other people found as well. This is like a 3D image put onto a 2D screen and people see the other dimension/image differently. I love it

EDIT

@omgitscrystal -glad to hear you enjoyed it. Sometimes you just have to give things a chance.

@crimsonng -check your PM

[sandra_8]

since the thread isn't moving very fast, i guess i just add some comments. Very excited to know that the new characters are appearing in ep4. Nice to read all the comments and analysis. Since i don't really know how to put spoiler tag, i think i will not talk about the details of the drama yet.

I just want to comment that i loved JKS's speaking voice. I think this drama has a lot of monologues and i think it works exceptionally well as JKS has a very deep and charming voice.

cr as tagged

Btw, very happy to know that actor Ji Sung went to the filming site and brought food for the cast. I remember JKS going to Protect my Boss filming site and now Ji Sung returned the favor. Ji Sung is really a very nice senior and a very important friend to JKS. I hope the cast of Love Rain will not be affected by the low ratings.

Love Rain is a good drama, even if majority of the Koreans do not appreciate it, i believe there are others who will.

[Guest ibtissam22]

filming today

cr: as tagged

[pher4444]

Thanks for the spoiler pics!! JGS have some crazy hairstyles!! I find that always take away from his maturity.

Re-watched the first two episodes again with better subs, and I am still near tears….as someone mentioned earlier, totally reminisce of The Classic, which is a beautiful love story. I’m totally a sucker for these old schooled romance dramas/films/books. I’m going to miss the 70s when it turns to the present; just love watching the contrast of another time period….even if the people are more conservative and passive back then; I find the history interesting and intriguing.

I don’t really care for Yoona’s acting, although I did put up with it in 100+ episodes of YAMD, but she has that innocence about her that is just right as YH. JGS is obviously good in musical roles, but I hope his future self (the son) is non-musical, so his general acting can shine more. The actor who plays DW totally remind me of Yoo Seung Ho—who's currently in Operation Proposal.

Seems like YH is not going to end up with either guys, and her daughter will be the poor hard-working girl with a bubbly personality type. I think the only pairing that might happen from the past is an arrange marriage or something between IH and HJ (with HJ being an over-protective evil mother-in-law type in the future).

Can’t wait to see the love reciprocate next week!! I’m loving the high intense chemistry between our OTP already.

[baduy]

Well, it's plain that those of us who were adults in the 1970's no longer inhabit the same reality as most of the posters here. Never mind. We'll soon all be gone, and not just from Soompi, so there'll be no-one left to challenge the cozy media view of what is still living memory for some of us.

This drama, in its opening phase at least, is a masterpiece of wonderfully artful and sophisticated escapism and is best enjoyed as such, as I for one most certainly do. Confuse it with historical accuracy or a supposed more "innocent" age at your peril. (The production team most certainly don't, they know full well what a fantasy they are creating, and why. It's not for nothing that they include tiny but persistent reminders that this is all under the shadow of a brutal military dictatorship).

But there's one point of fact that even Wikipedia-level "history" would have to acknowledge. Although I went along with the notion that this is all in the 1970's, that's plainly not actually quite right. Love Story was released in 1970. In her diary, YH remarks that it is currently back in the movie theaters "after ten years or so" (in fact DW says the same thing in his D.J's intro on the soundtrack but the subbers didn't catch that.) So we are in or after 1980. Not much after though, because the grip of the military is still obviously very firm, with no visible signs of what was to come in the middle of the decade).

There's another plain pointer to the actual date in the second sequence when we hear Chang Joo's song, the original version of which came out in 1980. That original was sung by 윤형주 (Yoon Hyeong Joo), the lyrics being by him, though the tune is simply described in the sleeve notes as "foreign". It is a serious defect (and not the only one, alas) of the current subs that they leave the lyrics untranslated. Though I personally don't like subs that intrusively sub all the lyrics heard on every OST, even when they are purely there to establish background mood, these lyrics have been deliberately chosen to help get the plot going, and viewers who don't know Korean need to know what they are saying.

The title of the song is 우리들의 이야기 (Tales of our Time Together) This was the fifth track on YHJ's 1980 album 섬청년 마음 (A Simple Girl's Heart). YHJ is enormously popular in Korea with older generations (there are dozens of his albums still available) and also has a mini-cult following among youthful "unplugged" musicians. As recently as last December, a new double CD compilation of his most popular numbers entitled 추억과 낭만의 포크송 (YHJ's Romantic Folksongs) was a Christmas bestseller, and it, too, contains this song.

Here's the man himself singing it

(there's another recording of his somewhere with guitar alone, sounding much more like the performance in the drama, but I haven't been able to track down a clip)

The lyrics we actually hear are

웃음 짓는 커다란 두 눈동자

긴 머리에 말없는 웃음이

라일락 꽃향기흩날리던 날

교정에서 우리는 만났소

밤하늘의 별만큼이나

수많았던 우리의 이야기들

바람같이 간다고해도

언제라도 난 안잊을테요

Your huge laughing eyes,

Your long hair and wordless smile,

On a day when lilac blossoms scented the air,

It was on the campus that we met.

As numerous as the stars in the night sky,

all the countless stories of our time together,

though that's all now gone with the wind,

I could never ever forget them.

(That explains why DW's flirtatious reference to the "lovely long hair and lilac fragrance" of the girl who put in the request for the Love Story theme raises a titter in the audience)

There's a second verse, which we don't hear, but that will be present to everyone who really knows the period in Korea, and will inevitably come to mind only a little later in the plot

비가 좋아 빗속을 거닐었고

눈이 좋아 눈길을 걸었소

사람없는 찻집에 마주 앉아

밤 늦도록 낙서도 했었소

밤하늘의 별만큼이나

We walked together in the rain we both loved,

And in the snow we loved we walked together too.

Sitting face to face in the deserted teahouse,

We scribbled messages far into the night.

The last bit refers to the ritual, central to the Korean cult of lovey-dovey coupledom, of scribbling sweet nothings on the walls of cafes and diners (or carving them on the table in pre-formica days) Suprisingly for a place frequented by students, the locale in this scene is strikingly free of lovesick grafitti, the clientele apparently being disciplined enough to confine their personal scribblings to the noticeboard provided.

The subbers are of course way out in having DW say this song is "C'est la vie". That's what the three of them call their singing group (probably influenced by the Emerson, Lake & Palmer ballad with that title that was an international hit in the early seventies). What he actually says would be better translated as "There are three of us in C'est La Vie. I'm a lot better than he is, but he does have a really mellow voice".

Oh, and before I go altogether, what the subbers alarmingly think, in the art history lecture scene, is "The weaving woman of Berman" is in fact (and is correctly identified as such on the soundtrack by the Professor) Vermeer's "The Lacemaker". But then, subbers who think that's what weaving looks like will believe anything.

[tessieroo]

*waving* Hey baduy! Good to see your name here. I did notice YH saying something about the movie being released again after 10 years or so but my brain didn't put that together. So that does make it sometime in the 80's. Can you explain what you mean by "brutal military dictatorship"? My history lessons must have been severely lacking for me to not understand what you're saying.  (no surprise there, American public schools are pretty bad) And I haven't taken the initiative to learn much about Korean history on my own beyond a few Joseon era dramas I've watched.  

When the first 2 episodes aired, I sent my auntie a link to watch. She then called me and was almost crying over the phone. The mood, the music (even some American classics have been played - "Beautiful Sunday" by Daniel Boone from 1972 here:: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K37BhzM0I8I  ) really hit a soft spot with her. 

When I asked a few questions, she said of course Korea must have been much different than say Berkeley College in San Francisco but that kids were much wilder than is being shown. And much more outspoken. I'm sure there were exceptions to this though so having IH and YH unable to communicate due to shyness isn't a problem. You're correct in that it's the dialogue. (WHO on earth wants to hear that she reminds some guy of his mother? Ewwwww!) I think the director has fond memories of his own innocence during this time? I don't know. Or he's flat out making stuff up and was a wild one himself. *hee* 

On the other hand, she said it was nice to see a show about this time period that didn't focus on drugs, sex and rock & roll.  She said she hates watching shows taking place in the 70's for that reason, they pretty much only show harsh drug use, immorality and "free" sex and screaming rock music. So she enjoyed it even though it wasn't "realistic" to her memories. She also still has her torn up copy of the book Love Story!  (the music album was long since lost) 

[Guest flydolesqueue]

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[Guest BEUTIFUL..--]

yoona so cute

[baduy]

The business with Love Story is a bit more complicated still, and I'll say something more about it because for anyone who's interested in this drama from the perspective of how Korean popular culture has developed in a global context, it sheds a lot of light on several issues.

The late Erich Segal, creator of Love Story, but also the author of the definitive scholarly study of how Classical Latin comedies were constructed and how they appealed to the audiences of Ancient Rome, was a very clever guy indeed. Not just clever in the way Ivy League Professors of Latin generally are: he was also extremely savvy about both the aesthetics and the business models of Hollywood.

It's true that the novel of Love Story was released before the movie. But despite what it says on Wikipedia, it wasn't actually written before the screenplay. Segal conceived of Love Story as a box-office-appealing tearjerker from the start, and he constructed it originally as a movie scenario, drawing on all his technical knowledge of plot construction and techniques of audience engagement he had gained from his study of the theater of Ancient Rome. His literary agent thought that the first version of the screenplay wouldn't appeal to Hollywood producers, who were more accustomed to looking for novels for which they could purchase the film rights then commission movie adaptations themselves, so he suggested that Segal should recast his scenario as a novel and get Paramount interested in it in that form. In the event, Paramount were persuaded not only to buy the film rights to the novel version, but to engage Segal to do the screen adaptation (it's not clear whether they actually knew he had it already, and it's conceivable he managed to get paid for "new" work he'd already done). In a further twist, Paramount decided to rush out the novel while the movie was still being shot, correctly judging that this would stoke up public interest in advance of the movie's release. (The fact that both the novel and the movie script give the ending away in the very first line meant that there could be no worries about the 'spoiler' effects which so enrage some Soompiers).

To anyone who has observed the fascinating mixture of commercial calculation and creative talent that has driven the "Korean Wave", the sense in which the Love Story phenomenon provides the pattern on which the "Endless Love" industry has been built up, from Autumn in my Heart through to this long-anticipated (pseudo-)historical chaser is clear enough. But there's more. There is a very perceptive recent piece about Love Story here

http://blogs.indiewire.com/pressplay/love-story

A very interesting point the writer makes there is that what Segal in effect did was create a fantasy version of 1970's campus America and yet manage to get it accepted by millions of people who knew full well that it was not an image of their own times. This is much harder to do than offering a prettified image of early 1980's campus Korea to people who have little idea what went on then. The way that Segal pulled this off shows his supreme grasp of audience psychology and his understanding of why people need idylls and how to meet that need in a commercially rewarding way. And an understanding of precisely those same things lies behind the strand of Korean popular culture to which this drama belongs.

I've no access to the sources that would be needed to pursue the very interesting question of how Love Story in particular was treated by the military censors. That will be buried in newspaper archives in Korean libraries and I'm a long way away from there. But I'm sure semi-fly is right and that there would have been a considerable delay before it would have been allowed on general release in Korea (probably coupled with shennanigans about artificial limitations on ticket sales which are still used in contemporary Korea to hamper access to movies thought to carry "decadent" influences, even some produced by Korean movie-makers). In one of those telling little pointers to the political atmosphere I mentioned in my previous posting, the other members of the 'C'est la Vie' trio are worried in case some of the words In Ha prefers to hum in his new composition conceal lines that would fall foul of the censors and get them banned from the competition. All the same, I don't think there are necessarily chronological gaffes on the writer's part here. In both YH's diary entry and DW's DJ lead-in, the reference is to "about" ten years. Added to which in all Chinese-influenced cultures "ten" is often used rather in the same way "a dozen" is used in English-speaking cultures, to indicate not the precise number (10 or 12 respectively) but a quantity that's more than just a "few" but less than "a whole lot". The endlessly repeated stuff about this being "the 70's" is down to the usual slapdash manner that initial publicity for big-budget dramas is prepared and the way that bloomers in such early material (not to mention crass mistranslations by people with more enthusisam than knowledge) are cheerfully spread over the Internet by the cut-and-paste-to-my-blog brigade.

[Guest Starlitelet]

Thanks for the spoiler pics!! JGS have some crazy hairstyles!!  I find that always take away from his maturity.

Re-watched the first two episodes again with better subs, and I am still near tears….as someone mentioned earlier, totally reminisce of The Classic, which is a beautiful love story.  I’m totally a sucker for these old schooled romance dramas/films/books.  I’m going to miss the 70s when it turns to the present; just love watching the contrast of another time period…even if the people are more conservative and passive back then; I find the history interesting and intriguing.

I don’t really care for Yoona’s acting, although I did put up with it in 100+ episodes of YAMD, but she has that innocence about her that is just right as YH.  JGS is obviously good in musical roles, but I hope his future self (the son) is non-musical, so his general acting can shine more.  The actor who plays DW totally remind me of Yoo Seung Ho—who's currently in Operation Proposal.  

Seems like YH is not going to end up with either guys, and her daughter will be the poor hard-working girl with a bubbly personality type.  I think the only pairing that might happen from the past is an arrange marriage or something between IH and HJ (with HJ being an over-protective evil mother-in-law type in the future).

Can’t wait to see the love reciprocate next week!!  I’m loving the high intense chemistry between our OTP already.

Hi pher4444 and all ^^!

I agree with you that his wacky/crazy hairstyles detracts his maturity. I wonder if he'll ever tone it down. Honestly, I prefer him with "normal"/"average" hairstyle. He looks too funky - haha.

@ the bolded parts: I also am a sucker for these old schooled romances! I find they're much more pure/genuine. A lot of people complained about the pacing of this particular drama, but I find it's intentional like someone else mentioned previously. It adds a different feel to it. It's very mellow and allows the time for viewers to appreciate the scenery and environment. Honestly, I love their style - haha! I love their manners back then. I don't know if it's intentional in the actors, but I see a difference! Especially with Yoona's character! Some people say she's a little too "submissive looking"/girly and can't defend herself, but I believe it matches with the people back then. It's the same thing with guys really.... I tend to not buy love at first sight, but I believe it happened more back in the ages where love seems a bit more conditional. Perhaps, it's just from the movies that I've seen during those time periods. Then again, why were they able to make such beautiful/genuine love stories in the past (especially in Hollywood)? Just my opinion... 

Like I mentioned above, the contrast in colors are just so vivid! The scenery totally reminds me of the "4 seasonal dramas", such as Autumn Tale, Winter Sonata, Spring Waltz, and Summer Scent. In fact, Love Rain especially reminds me of all the beautiful scenery/background in Spring Waltz. Spring Waltz also had a very slow storyline, and sadly for me, it dragged on way too much at some point. I hope it won't happen to Love Rain because right now everything feels so perfect. 

I was feeling kind of uneasy that there are way too many misunderstandings, but after seeing the preview for episode 3, I hope they'll move on from the whole "I'm-scared-I'll-hurt-my-friend" excuses. 

I have to also say props to the third dude! He's so hilarious, and his humor doesn't feel forced! I also love their whole gang (both guys and girls).

On a side note, I was initially hesitant to watch this at first; in fear that it will be another "teen" shows (I know... so shallow of me!). Though, I'm extremely glad I gave this a shot. It's one of the most tender and beautifully shot love stories I've seen (then again, I have yet to see the latter parts of the drama which have not aired yet)! I hope Korean producers and so on will make more dramas revolving around this time period.

[tessieroo]

tessieroo: You might want to start with the assassination of Pres. Park Chung Hee (wiki)and work backwards (then forward).  If you're an American chances are you had roughly a quarter-to-one-half pages in your world history book wherein they talked about the Korean War (51-53') so it's unlikely that they mentioned anything really substantial about the birth of Korea (it's three Kingdoms or the various dynasties), its politics or its emergence as a democratic country (selective history at its best).

 Now that sounds more like the riots/protests and political unrest that my auntie told me went on at American college campus's during this time. Thanks so much for that link. I'm wondering why the information about the assassination of Park wasn't in my history books. Yes, the Korean War is covered but not much else.  I'm not surprised though, you are correct about "selective history". I just wonder what it is about the assassination that had some American choose to leave it out.  (some political hack going through the history books deciding what should be taken out and what should be left in) *sigh* 

It also helps me understand why everyone suddenly stopped and saluted the flag once music started playing over the speakers in EP 1.  I sat staring at my screen, KNOWING I was missing something important but embarrassed that I might be the only one who didn't get it.  Silly, I shoulda just asked.  Off-topic question:  President Park's wife was also killed yet he choose to remain in office? 

@baduy - No wonder my aunt said "Love Story was a fantasy story for every girl in college."  (not so much the dying part but the finding a rich, handsome guy part and falling in love) And she said the "innocence" was a lie, things were not that peachy. But I think she might have been talking about the political fights going on at colleges and/or the drug use. I could tell from the pauses in our conversation that she was keeping things from me about exactly how "wild" she herself was.  Thanks for all this information guys! 

[baduy]

What you see there happened at 5pm on the dot, day in day out in every public place. Everyone was obliged to stop what they were doing, face the flag, adopt a suitably devoted demeanor and inwardly repeat the pledge of allegiance proclaimed over loudspeakers. Anyone who didn't comply was liable to be dragged off for a beating by the campus officer cadets (like the pair who are strutting around in their uniforms and making their ostentatious verbal salutes, briefly distracting YH and IH from one of their sticky non-conversations a little later.) The version of the pledge we hear in episode 1 is the one reformulated by the military regime, and it was retained until 2007, despite much criticism of its spirit and wording by progressively-minded politicians in all major parties, when a revised version was issued which is still in use today.

The pledge on the soundtrack is not very well translated in the current subs. A more accurate translation (though it's impossible to retain the Korean phrase-order in English, so complete accuracy is impossible) would be "In the presence of our illustrious emblem, I solemnly pledge that I will dedicate myself, body and soul, to the glory of my country and people." The script juxtaposes this declaration with In Ha's private thoughts as he edges backward towards Yoon Hee, risking taking his eyes off the flag to snatch glances at her. "Strange though it may sound, at that moment, it really seemed to me that the reason I'd been born was to devote the whole of my life to the love of that woman." Which is most definitely NOT what the regime wanted him to be thinking at that solemn juncture.

The modification of 2007 consisted in deleting the word "illustrious" (the Korean word thus removed more or less matches in high-falutin' bookish tone the English word I chose to translate it by) along with the phrase "body and soul" (which strongly smacks of totalitarian demands for complete subordination of the individual to the national cause, right or wrong), and replacing "to the glory of my country and people" with "to liberty and justice to the glory of the Republic of Korea".

Incidentally, Yoon Hee's major, which we are told rather more times than might be thought strictly necessary in the course of these first two episodes, namely "Family Health" also carries strong political overtones. Under the military regime, "Family Health" meant mainly a campaign, largely conducted by highly organized and disciplined government-financed female outworkers, whose numbers Yoon Hee is presumably training to join, to spread contraceptive knowledge and practices among Korean women, the urban and rural poor in particular. This campaign was spectacularly successful, bringing a fertility rate of over six live births per female of childbearing age down to 1.1 births per female over a span of hardly more than a decade. This was, by deliberate design, achieved wholly by targeting married women (availabililty of contraception to unmarried women was strictly blocked) who were encouraged to take control of their own fertility without their husband's consent or knowledge (a feature which made the Korean Family Health campaign significantly different from the Family Planning movements of Western countries). There's an echo if this in the motif found in several "family" Kdramas, where a husband discovers to his indignation what those "indigestion" or "vitamin" pills his wife insists on taking daily from those strange numbered bubble packs really are and a marital crisis ensues. The underlying assumption that a wife's control of her own fertility is none of her husband's (or even, shocking though this is to Koreans, her mother-in-law's) business is a legacy of the success of the Family Health program in which Yoon Hee will be working after graduation, if all goes well.

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jang geun suk hairstyle is nice but i don't like it..i guess it must be in 2012 scene

[Guest rintintintin]

Another drama that I watch.... I can't wait for this.... Since the creators of this drama is also the creators of Autumn in my Heart and Winter Sonata as well. And I like JGS's style this time.