Sensitive, slightly melancholy teenager-in-love drama about the relationship between two 18-year-olds, who are not able to see their budding love grow. Striking debut about the flaring flames of love and the burns they tend to cause.
EIghteen years old and in love. In striking scenes, Eighteen follows the demise of an immature infatuation, with all the blazing flames and burns that causes. In this sensitive, slightly melancholy teenager-in-love drama, 18-year-old Tae-Hoon continues stubbornly to pursue his beloved Mi-Jeong, even though both their parents demand they don't see each other any more. His impulsive behaviour conflicts with their urge for control and status. Mi-Jeong, however, drifts away from her admirer, who becomes increasingly clumsy and desperate.
Eighteen won the Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema in Vancouver. That the South Korean director Jang was himself trained as a cameraman is obvious from the meticulous, detailed camera work of his debut film shot on DV. In his own words, Jang made his film about a forbidden love in order to come to terms with his own teenage years. The two young, non-professional actors also ensure that Eighteen stays close to the feelings of a revelling 18-year-old.