Aahana Swrup
The Netflix Korean romcom ‘Love Untangled’ (Originally titled ‘Gobaekui Yeoksa’) presents a heartwarming story about a teenage girl and her romantic streak. Park Se-ri has always been on the hunt for true love. Nonetheless, she’s only met with one failed attempt after another. Yet, she’s determined to turn things around this time when Kim Hyeon, the dreamiest guy in the school, catches her attention. Consequently, she employs the help of her friends to set up the building blocks for a magical confession. Simultaneously, she works on her own personal mission of finding a way to tame her perpetually curly hair, something that has been a source of a lifelong complex. However, something unexpected happens along the way when Se-ri befriends Han Yun-seok, the aloof and cynical transfer student from Seoul. The Sun Namkoong directorial charts the story of a cozy romance that is bound to pull the viewers’ nostalgic heartstrings through universal coming-of-age themes.
Love Untangled is a Fictional Story About Teenage Love and Self-Acceptance
‘Love Untangled’ is a fictional story that draws upon realistic elements of teenagehood to bring relatable characters to the screen. Written by screenwriters Ji Chun-hee and Wang Du-ri, the film finds a protagonist in Park Se-ri, a young woman plagued by hopeless ideations of romance as well as long-standing insecurities about herself. As a result, her story, which remains rich in comedy, romance, and themes of self-discovery, presents a narrative that many will find easy resonance in. Notably, Se-ri’s complicated relationship with her hair and its curly deposition becomes a crucial aspect of her characterization. Set in the late 90s, the film taps into the narrow and rigid beauty standards of the time, particularly regarding pin-straight hair in culture. As such, the Korean Magic Straight Perm remains an integral part of the narrative.
The Korean Magic Straight Perm, a permanent hair straightening treatment, is said to have risen to prominence in the 1990s, when it entered the cultural mainstream. Since then, it has become a popular hair straightening technique employed by many users to tame their naturally curly hair. In the film, Se-ri plays the role of one such curly-haired 19-year-old who is desperate to fit the mold and gain confidence in her otherwise unlucky love life. Nevertheless, in the process of chasing after the beauty standard, she ends up discovering a real love that supersedes the superficial insecurities. Consequently, given the universality of insecurities and self-doubt found in one’s teenage years and beyond, the protagonist’s story remains authentically relatable.
In a press conference, director Sun Namkoong shared the nature of the film’s own approach to this aspect of Se-ri’s narrative and said, “Her (Se-ri’s) hair condition, which she can’t control, is her biggest complex and the origin of her pain.” She further added, “I thought we could at least raise the question of whether she really needs to change it.” Alternatively, the film’s focus on teenage love and its transformative impact on individuals also strives for a sense of realism. Instead of a hyper-romanticised and idealized relationship, the story actually focuses on a realistic, gradual love found in the most unexpected yet comforting of places. Thus, even without a real-life connection, Se-ri’s fictional story manages to hit some realistic marks.
Garam High School is a Fictional Establishment
Much like the film itself, its central location, the Garam High School, also remains a work of fiction. Still, fans might be able to find educational establishments with a similar name. For instance, an identically named institution exists in Hahayeong’s webtoon’ Tiki-Taka.’ The two places share some notable similarities, such as their colors, co-ed environment, and general school status. Nonetheless, the latter has no direct connections to Se-ri’s school in ‘Love Untangled.’ Thus, the on-screen high school remains contained within the film’s fictional confines. Still, despite its fictionality, the place retains a notable sense of realism. Se-ri’s narrative always strives for authenticity that can tap into the audience’s nostalgia.
As a result, the Busan-based Garam High School remains littered with elements that are identifiers of a relatable high school experience. Thus, grumpy but ultimately friendly homeroom teachers, competitive drama-filled dodgeball matches, romance-laced superstitions, and more recognizable components inform the identity of the fictional school. Furthermore, the nuances behind Se-ri’s relationship with her friends, including her seat-mate Baek Seong-rae and rival Ko In-jeong, add further realism to the place. Ultimately, these narrative and visual elements end up surrounding the Garam High School in an air of realism. Yet, the school itself holds no direct counterparts in real life.
Read More: Love Untangled Ending Explained: Do Se-ri and Yun-seok End up Together?
