[FILM REVIEW] Once We Were Us (2026)

Eunho (played by Koo Kyohwan) and Jeongwon (played by Moon Kayoung) star in the movie Once We Were Us, directed by Kim Doyoung. The movie is a remake of 2018 Chinese movie titled Us and Them, which has been described by others as being emotionally touching and beautiful. Director Kim Doyoung takes up the challenge and lo and behold, the movie was received with positive reviews upon its release in cinemas in South Korea. It even opened at second place at South Korean box office. 

Once We Were Us starts out dramatically in black and white, in which a turn of events leads to a chance for conversation between the ex-lovers. 

“What if…?”

The question above is something that not only Eunho will ask Jeongwon, but it is also the question that lingers in the minds of the audience throughout and after the show.

The Present

There is a sense of uncertainty as Eunho and Jeongwon’s reunion takes place in a scene devoid of colour. Everything seems like a flashback at first, but then it becomes clear that they are meeting again for the first time in more than ten years. The tension between them is reflected in the dreary, dark weather. Both are stuck together after a flight to Seoul has been delayed because of unexpected weather. As they start conversing, memories of a period when they were close come flooding back. Eunho and Jeongwon both seem uneasy and awkward at first, but they start warming up to each other as the night goes on.  

However, Jeongwon feels shaken when Jeongwon receives a call from someone, while they are deep in conversation.

The Past

Contrary to the scene where Eunho and Jeongwon meet again, the scenes of the past are full of life and colour. A drunken escapade leads to a night of passion. To Eunho, who has been obviously infatuated by Jeongwon, it is like as if he has struck gold. The audience gets to see the pair of lovebirds in their happy times. Eunho’s dad becomes a key figure in their lives as well, especially so for Jeongwon who is an orphan and does not have any family in her life. Jeongwon battles her inner turmoil, thinking about how she will lose her only family if she and Eunho ever break up. Eunho convinces her to take the chance.

However, life is not a bed of roses. Eunho and Jeongwon find themselves struggling to make ends meet. Eunho gives up on developing his game as he is too busy with work. At the same time, Jeongwon does not want to pursue architecture as she also wants to work and save up money. It does not get better as they find out later that Eunho’s dad’s health is deteriorating.

It seems like nothing is going well.

A chance encounter with old schoolmates has Eunho feeling envious and angry. It also starts to go downhill as Jeongwon realizes that maybe there is no hope for them.

Review

Jeongwon is a beautiful soul, and it is not surprising to see why Eunho fell in love with her. As the years go by, both Eunho and Jeongwon’s attraction to each other grow more palpable. As someone who has been alone all her life, the fear of losing Eunho is huge. She has always been searching for a certain connection by going back to the orphanage she came from. However, she has never been able to meet with the person she has been wanting to see. For Jeongwon, she probably just wants to be cherished and loved.

On the other hand, Eunho has always been ambitious. He knows what he wants but it seems like lady luck never sides with him. He loves Jeongwon, and he wants to make it work for them both. He wants Jeongwon to pursue her dreams. However, not everything is as easy as it seems.

The amazing chemistry between Moon Kayoung and Koo Kyohwan as lovers will have everyone gasping and blushing. Their acting skills are top-notch, but their undeniable chemistry will have the movie-goers clutching their seats in surprise. The realistic portrayal of their obstacles will dredge up empathy and sympathy. 

The audience will have a field day, wondering about what will happen next. The reason why the scenes from the present times are in black and white will become apparent later throughout the show. However, the biggest surprise and tearjerker will come at the end, so everyone must get their tissues ready!

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Running Time: 114 minutes
The Seoul Story’s Rating: 4/5

Written by: Aqilah
Photos by: Purple Plan SG

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