2000 | 111 MIN | Romance, Fantasy

DIRECTOR KIM Jung-kwon

CAST KIM Ha-neul, YOO Ji-tae, PARK Yong-woo, HA Ji-won

RELEASE DATE May 27, 2000

CONTACT Korean Film Archive

Tel +82 2 3153 2001

Fax +82 2 3153 2080

Email kofa@koreafilm.or.kr

Before NewJeans released their first single album featuring the worldwide hit Ditto, accompanied by a music video reminiscent of the nostalgic 1990s, KIM Jung-kwon had already directed his debut feature of the same name 22 years earlier. The film received critical acclaim, ensuring KIM the Best Director Award at the 8th Chunsa Film Arts Awards. Eventually, Ditto became a cult classic (leading to a remake in 2022) and a symbol of the passing years, changing millennia, and youthful bittersweet romance that doesn’t necessarily bring a satisfying resolution.

It all starts with So-eun (KIM Ha-neul), a shy English major student, who, in order to get attention from her crush Dong-hee (PARK Yong-woo), borrows an amateur radio, pretending she’s interested in that kind of stuff. On the other side of the radio sits Ji-in (YOO Ji-tae), a passionate and determined student from the Department of Creative Advertising, who one day sends a message to talk to a fellow student. That’s how the connection between them begins. Through simple introductions and small talk, the pair quickly realise that they not only come from different university backgrounds, but – as So-eun reveals that she lives weeks before Park Chung-hee’s assassination, and Ji-in nonchalantly admits to “having survived” the anticipated end of the world in 2000 – also completely different decades. From that moment their relationship starts going in an unexpected direction.

The narrative unfolds slowly, shifting from one reality to another, as if the director didn’t want to share too much with the viewers at first. Although once the mystery gets revealed, it quickly becomes obvious that the characters come from two worlds. It’s the clothes both protagonists are wearing, Ji-in’s dyed hair and So-eun’s old-school style of dressing; it’s Yim Jae-bum’s “For you” (released in 2000) playing in the cafe where Ji-in is sitting, and “Let’s overthrow the president!”, shouted by students as So-eun enters the university halls. With time, the 21 year gap that divides them becomes increasingly prominent.

That is also visible thanks to the colour grading, editing (KYUNG Min-ho), and cinematography (CHUNG Kwang-suk). The portrayal of the late 1970s evokes a sense of nostalgia, dominated by pastel colours, slow motion scenes, and the innocent feelings between characters that grow despite the ongoing uncertainty of the future and the regime prevailing in the background. On the other side, the optimism of the new millennium is portrayed through a hopeful outlook born of youthful fearlessness, vivid colours, and the dynamic technological revolution that shapes the youth. When watched today, Ji-in’s world evokes perhaps the exact same nostalgic feeling as So-eun’s did 26 years ago.

The relationship between the protagonists unfolds gradually, sustained by late-night conversations that mirror the intimate atmosphere of midnight radio shows – a cultural staple for the youth of both the 70s and the early 00s. Without seeing each other’s faces, only hearing the voice of one another, this intimacy grows. Despite never really sharing the screen, their chemistry is visible. It is evident through KIM Ha-neul’s shyness while talking about her crush, YOO Ji-tae’s eye-smiles while listening to her, KIM’s sadness and loneliness shown through her gestures, and YOO’s uneasiness portrayed through his tired gaze. All of this emphasises how well they understand each other despite the years that separate them.

Ditto by KIM Jung-kwon has recently celebrated its 26th anniversary. Yet, despite portraying a somewhat distant past (both the 1970s and 2000s), it remains remarkably relatable. It is a coming-of-age story that focuses on the growing romantic feelings, while simultaneously refusing to make them the sole centrepiece, as if announcing that youth’s emotional spectrum is much richer and sometimes far more complicated than the single feeling it’s often associated with. Through its melancholic atmosphere, the classical music accompanying many of the important moments, and the pastel pinks juxtaposed with Y2K’s soft blues, the film sustains its melodramatic aura even decades after its premiere. In the end, Ditto stands as a cinematic time capsule – while decades change and technologies evolve – the bittersweet ache of growing up remains unchangeable.

Written by Magda Nieswiec
Edited by kofic