Encounter (2018)

En cuanto a dirección, fotografía, música y actuación, este drama me pareció precioso. En cuanto a la historia hubo ciertos aspectos que no me terminaron de convencer y clichés típicos de los melodramas que ya nos sabemos de memoria (mamá ambiciosa que aboga por el papá y su reputación; suegra mala malísima; conglomerados multimillonarios; separaciones forzosas en la recta final del drama. Y lágrimas, MUCHAS LÁGRIMAS). Nada nuevo bajo el sol.

Pero las fortalezas de Encounter/Boyfriend no pretender ser esas, sino otras, y si resulta triunfante es porque sabe en qué apoyarse. Las actuaciones de Song Hye Kyo y Park Bo Gum son buenas. El personaje de ella es menos versátil, casi seco (empresaria competente, pero sumisa con su familia política; tímida pero astuta; gentil pero férrea). El de él es todo lo contrario: tierno, infantil, transparente. Casi idílico.

La Habana, Cuba como telón de fondo a su historia de amor, es quizá una protagonista más, con sus edificios congelados en un pasado que huele a comunismo; con gente vivaz y alegre y autos que parecen venidos de medio siglo atrás. Vale la pena verlo por esos escenarios de ensueño. Ese caribe de olas que rompen en un malecón añejado por el olvido siendo testigo de un amor imposible venido del otro lado del mar.

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This drama was such a delight and surprise to me. It was sold as a melodrama, but there is no melo in it at all. Instead, it is a beautiful and lyrical story where each episode is a chapter in a beautiful fairy-tale, as pointed out by the beautiful art at the beginning and end of each episode.


Story: This is a character-driven story, not plot driven. This is the story of how they met and changed each other's lives, and how they individually grew, and I couldn't have been happier that this was it, without any cliches or contrived plot points.

Characters: On one hand we have Cha Soo Hyun, a chaebol through and through who has never had a chance to have a live of her own, because of the deep love and commitment she has for for family. On the other hand we have Kim Jin Hyuk, an old soul who loves poetry and has a very positive way to look at live, not to be confused with naiveness; he is also a man who is completely free of the toxic masculinity that has been so talked about in recent times. He always respects Soo Hyun's decisions and backs her up, and encourages to empower herself, without pushing her.
There are good side characters throughout the story, but this is a story about these 2, and the drama doesn't waste much time focusing anywhere else.

Acting: Song Hye Kyung and Park Bo Gum have great natural chemistry together; they pulled the drama all on their own, and did a great work while it. With them we were able to see 2 people fall in love, especially in the small details. They were able to convery their emotions and story without having to talk at all. Their scenes felt so real that sometimes we as the audience even feel like voyeurs by watching something so intimate.

Music: This usually is not a very important part for me, but the music in this drama really lifted up the story and gave it great ambiance; it was also great to hear music in Spanish.

Overall: I loved almost everything about this drama, from the simple story to the great chemistry between Soo Hyun and Jin Hyuk. I loved that their story wasn't overly dramatic but instead very realistic. Each time it could've turned into a cliché, the drama subverted it and went the other way. If I have one complain is that characters, especially antagonists, talked a lot about creating havoc but never actually did anything, robbing some momentum to the plot; however, the cute scenes more than made up for it.

Watch this if you're feeling down or just want to feel fuzzy all over; it'll help you remember your first love, and all the small moments and feelings that you go through when you first fall in love.

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