Afraid Of (2019)

Deep meanings of acceptance and sweet wlw representation.

Its a short series: Ep1 is 5min, Ep2 and Ep3 are 8 min, so could watch it at any moment.
The series is about Hyunah struggling to be more open with her sexuality, and the fears that it carries.
The dialogues are great and do leave good messages, they could be helpful for people in the closet.
The acting is very good, it seems natural.
The music is great, it makes you feel what Hyunah is feeling, but they don't over kill it.
The series isn't about their relationship but about Hyunah's fear of coming out and her process.
I believe you should definitely watch it, it has a beautiful message and its only 20 minutes (so you'll easily find time to watch it)

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A very cute and real queer web-drama

I am living for smaller indie production which have very limited budget, but a lot of heart. "Afraid of" is exactly that kind of production. With 3 episodes of between 5 and 8 minutes, it has the feeling of a three student short films with a coherence between them.

The music and sound design brings a peaceful feeling to the entire drama and watching it feels like the perfect moment to be with a cup of tea on a comfy armchair. The entire drama from the actors performance (nothing extraordinary, but they deliver on the expectation for a student short film/drama (note: I do not know if it is a student production, that is just my feeling with it, that of a production by students studying film in their last year or similar) to the story feels very cute. The directing and camera work, the production value in general is pretty good and makes for a very agreeable experience.

Assuredly the strength of this short web-drama is the story. It is very limited and self-contained, but done in a way appropriate for a series of a short films that gave me the information I needed without overwhelming me or leaving me wanting because I was confused.
It manages to talk about the vision of homosexuality in Korea, the experience of a closeted person, the wish to be yourself while living in fear with the red thread of a potential romantic experience that starts this whole drama. Will Hyunah get over her fear? Will anything happen with Minju?
It is a story about accepting yourself, about a 'baby lesbian' as one of the characters says (from a conversation in episode 2 that might be my favourite part of the whole drama, intergenerational queer solidarity (which is more about experience as a queer person than age) is the most important thing and any piece of fiction which includes it is sure to win my heart). It is a story that is full of heart and some of the moments made me squee. It manages to make us root for Hyunah very quickly and the end made me wish for everything good for her!

I do not know if I would watch it on repeat, but I would assuredly watch it one or a couple of more times if I were to show it to friends and it would be fine and agreeable to watch still even if I do not think I would catch many things I did not see on my first watch.

This film delivers on what it promises, it is cute, it is true, it is full of heart. If you want a queer short web-drama, I can only recommend "Afraid of". It is available on Youtube with English subtitles.

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A quiet story about self-acceptance

I liked this one. It's not really a romantic short film (although there is a very sweet romance) it's more just an exploration of the difficulties of coming out, coming to terms with your past and your current identity, and finding peace with yourself no matter what others might think of you.
It manages to get this message across very clearly despite its short run time, and though the set-up and plot may be simplistic, they work well for the story that is being told.
The acting and writing are also quite strong which helps the whole thing feel more grounded and realistic.
I think this story is something a lot of queer folk can relate to in one way or another and for that alone I'd say it's worth a watch.

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Are you no longer afraid?

Afraid of... is a short 20min webdrama telling the story of Hyuna and her struggles in coming to terms with her sexuality and everything it entails regarding the prejudiced society we live in. Hyuna is torn between the peer pressure to go on group blind date and the wish to finally live her own sexuality when a girl from her class suddenly asks for her number.

Not knowing what to do, Hyuna downloads an app which puts her in contact with other similarly minded girls and she has a long conversation with Yunji. That call sounded more like a talk one would have with a professional on a help line. I liked how the life choices that are put before us were explained and how Hyuna was encouraged to be herself. Easier said than done, but a good advice nevertheless.

This webdrama is too short to give us a better background into Hyuna, we do not know anything about her family and very little about her friends (who mock "those people").

Afraid of... encourages people to be themselves, be proud, be happy and not to be afraid of others and their opinions.

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