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Chang-sik (IM Chang-jung) is a psychology graduate from a privileged university who has been a freeloader for years, living in his newly wedded elder brother’s home. Mi-young (KIM Sun-a) is a daughter of his regular video rental store owner and is also unemployed, going through repetitive failures in open auditions for actresses.

They have become acquainted by petty events like fighting over the late fee, and one day, they happen to witness an elderly man’s traffic accident together. They attempt to make a report for monetary reward, but instead, they are caught by the driver who is also a gangster and locked up in the boot of the car.

The Greatest Expectation is a comedy film which earned an unexpected success in 2003 when it was first released. The success of this film, mostly consisting of everyday mishaps of unemployed youths in the outskirt of Seoul, owes to the great characterization of main personas, which is the central element of any successful comedy.

Chang-su and Mi-young are part of the common people, with nothing special, often classified as “losers.” They are our neighbors, or even ourselves. They are the characters for us to sympathize, and identify with. And here, IM and KIM are added, the leading actor and actress of comic acting, which fuels this film with great energy.

In addition, the time factor was also important. The year 2003 was when the youth unemployment rate was rising fast and often talked about in the media. This film earned warm support from the young audience without any big trendy or sensual element, just reflecting the bleak everyday life of their peers.