A story of two misfits finding home in each other…
Jae-hee (Kim Go-eun) is unapologetically herself, bold, free-spirited, and unwilling to conform to society’s expectations. Heung-soo (Noh Sang-hyun) is a man hiding a secret that makes him feel like an outsider in his own life. When these two unlikely souls become roommates and best friends, they discover that sometimes the family you choose is the one that saves you. Set against the dazzling, lonely streets of Seoul, their journey together is messy, hilarious, and deeply moving.
Movie: Love in the Big City (2024)
Where to Watch: VIKI
Cast: Kim Go-eun, Noh Sang-hyun
Director: E.oni
Based on: The novel ‘Love in the Big City’ by Sang Young Park
The Plot
Jae-hee is a young woman who lives life on her own terms; she dates freely, speaks her mind, and refuses to be boxed in by anyone’s expectations. Heung-soo is a quiet, introspective man carrying a burden he shares with no one. When they become roommates, what starts as a convenient arrangement transforms into an unbreakable bond. They become each other’s confidants, protectors, and anchors in a city that can be cold and unforgiving.
Together, they navigate the chaos of their twenties: bad dates, family drama, career struggles, and the loneliness that creeps in even when surrounded by millions of people. Heung-soo’s secret slowly unravels, and Jae-hee stands by him without judgment, offering the unconditional acceptance he never knew he needed. Life’s cruelties test their friendship, but it endures—messy, complicated, and achingly real.
The Characters
Jae-hee (played by Kim Go-eun)
A fiercely independent young woman who refuses to apologize for who she is. She is bold, chaotic, and deeply loyal to those she loves. Her journey is about finding freedom and authenticity in a world that wants to tame her.
Heung-soo (played by Noh Sang-hyun)
A man living with a secret that isolates him from family and society. He is gentle and reserved, carrying a quiet pain beneath his calm exterior. His friendship with Jae-hee becomes his lifeline.
Reasons to Watch ‘Love in the Big City’
- Authentic Representation: The film bravely explores LGBTQ+ themes with sensitivity and honesty, offering a rare and heartfelt portrayal of queer friendship in Korean cinema.
- Kim Go-eun’s Stellar Performance: She delivers one of her most captivating performances, raw, unflinching, and deeply human.
- Based on a Bestselling Novel: Adapted from Sang Young Park’s award-winning novel, the film carries the weight of beloved source material.
- A Love Letter to Friendship: This is not a conventional romance; it’s a celebration of platonic love that can be just as deep, complicated, and meaningful as any romantic relationship.
- Funny and Heartbreaking: The film balances sharp humour with gut-wrenching emotion, capturing the messy reality of life in your twenties.
- Visually Stunning: Seoul is captured in all its neon-lit, rainy, crowded glory—a character in itself.
The Overall Vibe of the Movie
If you don’t mind raw, unfiltered emotions, a friendship that feels more real than any romance, laughing one moment and crying the next, and a story that dares to show queer love in all its complicated, beautiful humanity, then you should definitely watch this.
‘Love in the Big City’ is a film about finding your person, not in a romantic sense, but in someone who sees you completely and stays anyway. It asks: What does love look like when it doesn’t follow the script? Through Jae-hee and Heung-soo, we see that the deepest bonds are often the ones we stumble into, the ones that don’t fit into neat categories.
The film reminds that in a city of millions, the real miracle isn’t finding romance; it’s finding someone who makes you feel less alone. It’s a celebration of a chosen family, of the courage it takes to live authentically, and of the quiet, radical act of loving someone exactly as they are.
Written by: Trisha Deka
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