Be With You, adapted from Japanese author Takuji Ichikawa’s million-selling novel, is a heartwarming and fantastical Korean film starring Son Ye-jin and So Ji-sub. The story follows Soo-ah, who, a year after her death, reappears during the rainy season as promised but doesn’t recognize her family. As they relive memories, Soo-ah reconnects with her loved ones. However, when the rainy season ends, she must leave again. Is Soo-ah truly resurrected?
The film opens with a picture book Soo-ah left for her son, Ji-ho, using animation to depict a tender story of a penguin mother and son in the Cloud Kingdom. This dreamlike introduction sets a whimsical tone and foreshadows the plot. Through young Ji-ho’s overheard conversations at his mother’s funeral and his longing to reunite with her, the film subtly sketches the backstory and the father-son duo’s emotional state, planting multiple narrative seeds.
Interwoven Realities and Memories
Be With You employs a dual narrative, blending reality and memory. The present timeline begins a year after Soo-ah’s death, with her husband, Woo-jin, and son, Ji-ho, grappling with her loss. Soo-ah’s mysterious return during the rainy season allows her to rediscover her family from a stranger’s perspective, leading to heartwarming moments together.
The flashback timeline traces Soo-ah and Woo-jin’s high school romance, capturing their dramatic yet simple love story. The first half, told from Woo-jin’s perspective, portrays the tsundere charm of a teenage girl, the awkward shyness of a smitten boy, the sweetness of young love, the pain of their breakup, and the joy of rekindling their relationship. These moments resonate with viewers’ own youthful experiences.
The second half shifts to Soo-ah’s perspective, filling in key events from their crush, romance, breakup, and eventual reunion. Though brief, her viewpoint feels like the truth, overturning assumptions from Woo-jin’s memories and even challenging the audience’s understanding of why Soo-ah reappears. This plot twist delivers a powerful emotional impact, making her choices after her “return” deeply moving. The farewell, though heartbreaking, feels cathartic. Without spoiling the time-travel twist’s brilliance, it’s hard to convey its impact; words pale compared to the viewing experience. So, I’ll leave the magic for you to discover.
The interwoven narratives depict both young Soo-ah and Woo-jin’s romance and the rekindled bond between Soo-ah, her husband, and son. Transitions between memory and reality are seamless, with each flashback acting as an emotional catalyst for the family’s present.
Farewell is destined to be sorrowful. The film’s climax is an emotional rollercoaster, with tear-jerking moments that move not just women but even single young men, many of whom admit to sobbing. Thankfully, humorous scenes sprinkled throughout—both in memories and reality—balance the sadness, letting viewers laugh and cry alongside the characters.
The narrative’s contrasts highlight growth in Woo-jin and Ji-ho after reuniting with Soo-ah, offering uplifting insights. Life is unpredictable, but love endures in the heart. Be With You showcases love’s power, proving its guardianship can warm a lifetime. It reminds us to cherish connections, live in the moment, and treasure time with loved ones.
Refined and Fluid Cinematography with Immersive Depth
The film Be With You boasts a refined and fluid cinematic language, with long takes being a standout feature, naturally immersing viewers in its scenes.
For instance, on the first day of the rainy season, an overhead shot captures Ji-ho in a yellow raincoat and boots, holding a yellow umbrella, joyfully running across railway sleepers. This evokes the yellow-clad penguin from the picture book and the Cloud Kingdom story, reflecting Ji-ho’s hopeful anticipation of reuniting with his mother. Then, his father, Woo-jin, appears with a black umbrella, walking behind Ji-ho on the sleepers. Unlike his son, Woo-jin doesn’t believe in the Cloud Kingdom tale or Soo-ah’s return. The overhead shot conveys the father and son’s loneliness and helplessness. The camera then shifts to a distant shot from behind, showing them walking along the tracks toward a tunnel, subtly suggesting a journey bound by fate.
Another example is the rainy scene when Soo-ah reads the diary, a pivotal moment for her emotional transformation. Initially, Soo-ah stands by the window, smiling as she reads. The camera shifts to a tilted upward shot from inside, looking out, creating an unsettling angle that hints at an unusual shift. Raindrops begin to fall on the glass, accompanied by a few melancholic cello notes from the main theme, tinged with uncertainty and faint sorrow. The scene cuts to an ultra-wide shot of mountains and rising clouds in the valley, with wind sounds audible. When the camera returns to the window, rain streams down the glass, and the sky darkens. A long take inside shows Soo-ah still reading, sitting upright in the now-dark room without turning on the light. The camera pulls back outside the house, the cello reprises the same melody, and the sound of rain gradually drowns out the music. In under a minute, this sequence vividly projects Soo-ah’s inner transformation.
Long takes are also prominent in emotional scenes. Near the end of the rainy season, Soo-ah watches a video of herself and Woo-jin shortly after Ji-ho’s birth. In the video, she teases Woo-jin for not being as resilient as an emperor penguin while holding their baby. In the present, Soo-ah watches the TV screen, laughing until her eyes redden, and she buries her face in her arms, sobbing softly. The camera shifts to face the TV, pulling back from Soo-ah’s position to reveal her crying silhouette, making viewers feel as if they’re right behind her. The shot continues to retreat, exiting the house, until it becomes an over-the-shoulder view of Woo-jin’s face, watching the scene unfold. This conveys his silent torment, seeing everything yet powerless to act.
Stellar Cast Brings a Classic to Life
The original novel was adapted into the 2004 Japanese film I Want to See You Now, which was released in South Korea in 2005. The 2018 Korean remake, Be With You, continued to captivate Korean audiences, not only due to its compelling story but also because of its stellar cast.
Son Ye-jin, who plays the female lead Soo-ah, is the only post-80s Korean actress to achieve a grand slam, winning Best Actress at the Grand Bell Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Baeksang Arts Awards. While great actors are often described as “becoming their roles,” Son Ye-jin has been praised as “being the character.” This is no exaggeration. In the film, she masterfully portrays the nervous arrogance of a teenage crush, the shy sweetness of young love, the alienation and curiosity of memory loss, and the restrained sorrow and hope before parting again. Her performance is nuanced, infectious, and emotionally seamless, creating a vivid and authentic character.
So Ji-sub, playing the male lead Woo-jin, is another award-winning Korean actor. His portrayal of the reserved Woo-jin is understated yet profound, capturing a man whose deep love is singularly devoted, as if “from a river of thousands, he takes only one scoop.” His depiction of helplessness and struggle facing another loss is deeply moving. His chemistry with child actor Kim Ji-hwan, who plays their son, highlights Woo-jin’s gentle and responsible fatherly side.
Child actor Kim Ji-hwan, as Ji-ho, delivers a natural performance alongside So Ji-sub and Son Ye-jin, balancing childlike innocence with a mature sensitivity. His portrayal of Ji-ho’s reluctance and guilt during the farewell scenes is particularly touching, bringing tears to viewers’ eyes.
Ko Chang-seok plays Hong-goo, Woo-jin’s best friend since high school and a key source of the film’s humor. His comedic performance is warm and natural, funny without being overdone, adding joy to the film. Additionally, Gong Hyo-jin, known as Korea’s “ratings queen,” makes a special appearance in a hilarious scene with Ko Chang-seok, underscoring the film’s star-studded cast.
Conclusion
With its touching story of family, love, and friendship, infused with the fantastical element of time travel and a powerhouse cast, Be With You is both a critical and commercial success. On its opening day in South Korea, the film topped the box office, dominating the weekend charts and accounting for nearly half of the weekend’s ticket sales.
Some viewers have shared in reviews that they’ve watched Be With You multiple times and plan to keep revisiting it. Adapted from a bestselling novel, this time-travel film captivates with its compelling plot, well-crafted scenes, and richly developed characters. Its intricate details and strong emotional resonance make it a story audiences want to savor and revisit in their minds.
Watch here: https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/ooeYmq3qnM
Director: Lee Jang-hoon
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
Release Date: April 6, 2018
Score: 8/10
(Translated by Grok. Chinese Version: 《雨妳再次相遇》影評：奇幻穿越 愛的守護溫暖一生)