PLAYFUL KISS – A DRAMA THAT TOUCHED MY HEART

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I did not intend to love this drama. But truth to tell, I was just after a thing soft and dreamy to kill time. However, after the opening minute of watching Playful Kiss I was not able to stop. As a female Nigerian, this story was like a magnet that lured me and did not leave me alone. It was sweet, funny, frustrating, touching and surprising. I was moved by some moments I had not anticipated. I chuckled when I was there. I recognized myself more than anything though, in the story.

The protagonist, Oh Ha-Ni, is not the ordinary drama heroine. She isn't bright. She has no power. Not even confident. Yet she is very much in love and very honest. That was what I fell in love with. She was imperfect as real. She penned a love letter to the most intelligent kid, Baek Seung-Jo, at school, even when she knew no way he would like her. He humiliated her. He re-edited her along the lines of grammar and handed the letter back to her in the presence of the whole audience. That scene tore my heart out to her. It also revealed her courage. She was not ashamed of loving.

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When I was thinking that the story was going to remain simple, something major occurred. Earthquake made her move out of her house and she along with her dad had to move into a relative who is a friend of her dad. Guess who? Seung-Jo’s family. She was now staying under the same roof with the boy that had rejected her. I got goosebumps to that twist. I just could not wait to see how it would turn out. Hoping to torture her more? Would he at last look at her heart? So many questions I had. I watched because of that suspense.

Seung-Jo acted a little cold at first. He was treating her as though she is irrelevant. He was very impolite and he treated himself objectively better than everyone. I did not like him very much. However gradually it began to dawn on me that perhaps, just perhaps there was something that he might be trying to conceal. He did not know how to express emotions. People had all his life been commending him on his intelligence and he did not know how to love. That helped me to thaw out towards him some. And when he began to work with her at studying, to speak more to her, and even to smile once in a while at her, I wanted both of them to be in love.

And yet it never was easy. Ha-Ni was chasing after him all the time. She trailed behind to college. She attempted to do all the things that he was fond of. She neglected herself in order to get closer to him. And that irritated me. I wished her to get out of sleep and feel that she deserved better. I yelled at my screen a number of times: “Ha-Ni, you deserve it!” Quit bumming love!” But I knew her as well. When you get so in love with somebody you forget yourself at times. You believe that by putting added effort you will be loved in return.

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The rain scene is one of the most emotional scenes that I could play. Ha-Ni was aiming to forget. She even made a date with another guy. But Seung-Jo appeared, took her in the rain and kissed her. It was not only a love kiss. It was bathed with heart and suffering and veracity. He sounded to me as though he said, I love you, but I don't know how to say it. I was melted at that moment. That was when I felt that they were really in love.

I also loved another character of Seung-jo mother. Hysterical that woman. Yet behind the jokes she did something which counted. She opened the house wide to her. She was urging her son not to be uncaring. She gave me this feeling that love could really win when there was a person who could cheer the two on.

Next was the boy Bong Joon-Gu who always loved Ha-Ni. He was vocal, theatrical and could get over the top. He was deadly earnest, however. He would have treated her as queen. For a moment, I wished that she would rather take him. He recognized her value on the first day. However, life is not all about the person that loves you more. There are times when the heart chooses who it may.

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At the end of the episodes, I saw Ha-Ni grow gradually. She began to learn to find her dreams. She entered the nursing school. She got to know people. She began to act not only on behalf of Seung-Jo. That brought me pride. She still does love him but now she is learning to love herself as well. And that is what carried its message to my soul. Love one, yes--but never lose yourself in so doing.

Later in the drama Seung-Jo has fessed up that he loves her. With small deeds and not with a great speech. He began appearing. He defended her. He picked her. When other men would get near he even got jealous. His love was not big--but it was true. It was that gradual transformation that caused the trip to be worthwhile.

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They married in the last episodes. Oh, I hollered! After all the hard fighting, all the rejection, all the waiting--she was his wife. However, after the marriage, things were not perfect though. They still debated. He still was cold occasionally. She still was emotional. That is life though. Love does not cure all. It just provides someone to walk through life.

By watching Playful Kiss I felt connected to my personal journey. Feeling invisible, giving more than I should and feeling undeserving are some of the moments I have experienced. However, this play enlightened me that love is not a mere war of sentiments, it is a matter of development. It is simply about supporting somebody, even when somebody is not easy to love. It is about how to stand on your own two feet even when your heart belongs to another person.

The drama has things which I did not like. On some occasions, Seung-Jo was too cold. His conversion was delayed too long. Other times, Ha-Ni is over-dependent. I would have liked her better. I wished she would scream, and struggle, and tell them, I want more! Even as I did so though, I knew her reserved power. Not only did she love with just words, but with patience and action.

A play kiss is imperfect. It is beautiful, though. It is about two dysfunctional individuals who see the possibility to fit. It reminds one that love is not necessarily fireworks and magic. At times it is clumsy, tedious, irritating and littered with errors. But when two individuals are open to develop, love can blossom- no matter how unusual the soil.

I am a Nigerian woman and this drama was personal. It led me to believe in soft love one more time. It made me laugh in the thought that at some point I will be appreciated by someone somewhere and even though it might take time. And above all it made me remember I can be soft, emotional and at the same time be strong.

So when you want some drama that will make you laugh, cry, scream and hope, then a playful kiss can be your thing. It is not to watch it when it is perfect, but the process. On the feelings. To the message that even the tiniest love is one that can blossom to be something great, so long as you do not give up.
We all sometimes need just a little love to remind us of all that love may appear.

Posted using CineTV



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3 comments
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I have seen this movie and I found it interesting too

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Lovers of movie
Yes oo
I recommend this movie
Seems interesting

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I have seen few clips on reels and I laughed a lot I think it's a good one. Amazing review! 🌷