As soon as The World of Love opened, it sparked a heated reaction.
On the 24th, reviews of The World of Love —released two days earlier— began circulating widely across online communities.
The World of Love follows Juin (Seo Soobin), an enigmatic eighteen-year-old high school student who refuses to join a school-wide petition while everyone else signs —and then begins receiving mysterious notes that set the story in motion. The film has attracted international attention, receiving festival invitations (and some awards) at Toronto, Pingyao and Warsaw, and earning an official competition slot at the 26th Tokyo Filmex.
The domestic response has been just as strong. The film debuted at number one at the South Korean independent box office, signaling a promising run; its opening-day figures even surpassed director Yoon Gaeun’s earlier works, The World of Us and The House of Us.
Audience reactions back up the buzz. Early viewers posting on film communities wrote things like, “It’s been stuck in my head all day,” “No one moved when the ending credits rolled,” and “The most impressive film I’ve seen this year.” Others said, “I want to make this a must-see for everyone,” “I love the director’s approach to the subject,” and “I need to see it again.”
With assured direction, strong performances from the cast, and carefully rendered moments of consolation, The World of Love even scored 9 out of 10 on Douban —evidence that its appeal is extending overseas.