It Started With a Kiss
2005
Original language: Chinese
- comedy
- drama
The story
A live-action television adaptation of the Japanese manga series Itazura na Kiss written by Kaoru Tada.
What it’s like
Bright, busy high school days with sunlit corridors, crowded classrooms, and the cheerful clatter of lunch breaks and bicycles, shot in the warm, saturated look typical of mid-2000s Taiwanese television. The sound is a bouncy mix of pop songs and playful incidental music that jumps to a comic sting whenever a clumsy moment lands. Scenes move briskly, with quick reaction shots and exaggerated facial expressions doing as much work as the dialogue. The vibe is sweet, goofy, and low-stakes, with a hint of first-love flutter. Its emotional register is light and affectionate, following a flustered girl and the boy she can't quite stop tripping over as their awkward, teasing dynamic slowly warms. Intensity is minimal: slapstick falls, scuffles, and a few tearful moments, but no real violence, gore, or sexual content. It suits a lazy weekend, a comfort rewatch, or background viewing while folding laundry. It is made for viewers who want a gentle, funny romance with nostalgic school-days charm.
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