School 2013
2012
Original language: Korean
- drama
The story
Go Nam-soon, a young boy, constantly gets bullied by a group in his class. Later, one of his old rivals joins his school. Eventually, they are able to sort out their differences.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated daylight fills the classrooms, corridors and rooftop of this Korean high-school drama, with sunlight through big windows and crisp uniform blues, shot in conventional TV coverage that favours close two-shots and slow push-ins on faces during confrontations. The soundtrack moves between upbeat pop and tender piano-and-strings ballads that swell whenever a quiet exchange tips into feeling. Its vibe is earnest, wistful and youthful, a sunny melancholy that suits a weekend binge or a comfort rewatch. The pacing is episodic and unhurried, with long stretches of ordinary school life broken by sudden bursts of tension. Emotionally it follows a bullied boy and a former rival moving slowly from hostility toward trust, with humour and sincerity in equal measure. Intensity is moderate: bullying appears through shoves, taunts, humiliation and some scuffles, and a few scenes turn painful, but there is no gore and little sexual content. Best for viewers who enjoy coming-of-age friendship stories, loyalty-driven bromance and arcs about second chances, with a tolerance for melodrama.
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