What this movie does do well is know its own audience. Like all other popular K-dramas that came before it, there’s a very soft focus, an ethereal atmosphere. Cinematography that just exudes romance and fantasy. Kim Jae Won (Choo Young-woo) is a student that tries to walk that thin line between being popular and being bullied. He tries standing up for his bullied classmate but that just makes him the target of the popular mean kids. They dare him to ask out Choi Ji Min – a shy girl in their class who famously says no to anyone boy who asks her out. Until Jae Won comes along and surprises him by saying yes, mostly because he diary - where she keeps track of her amnesia – told her to try something new today.
Audiences who like Korean romances will love this. Jae Won is an ideal boyfriend, Ji Min is a cute, shy girl who keeps her amnesia a secret so she keeps to herself, but opens up when Jae Won is around. The characters will have audiences falling in love quickly and the film should have no problem keeping k-drama-stans hooked.
However the superficiality of this movie is evident early on and anybody hoping for something more than just teenagers falling in love will be frustrated. It has a very distinct atmosphere, so these choices are all clearly on purpose, but the score keeps suggesting some weird tonal shifts, like it’s suddenly going to become a silly comedy. It’s not, but there is a playful element which speaks to the fantasy-romance genre it’s going for, but the story fits a more a traditional romantic drama approach, so there is a bit of a disconnect in the tone.
Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight will appeal to its young Korean audience craving a lovely romance. But this movie is also empty, superficial and flouts the conventions of good filmmaking in favour of its fantastical romantic diversions.
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