Can a one-sided love ever be platonic and last? Ponder this question and more while watching all 18 episodes of the Korean drama Stained Glass (Yurihwa).
Dong-Joo and Gi-Tae are orphans who become friends while staying at the orphanage. When Ji-Soo arrives at the school, a rivalry begins. Unable to choose, the three of them promise to take care of each other in the absence of the other person. Tragedy strikes the trio when Dong-Joo is taken away by the strong current of the river when trying to fetch his gift to Ji-Soo, an ocarina. He his presumed drowned and his body goes missing.
Fast forward 12 years: Ji-Soo (KIM Ha Neul) now works as a photographer for a newspaper, while Gi-Tae (KIM Sung Soo) works under the watchful eye of his adopted father. Enter Yuichi Yamamoto, a wealthy Japanese businessman who becomes interested in Ji-Soo, much to Gi-Tae's dismay. As it turns out, Yuichi is the presumed-dead childhood friend, Dong-Joo, who was rescued by a Japanese couple by the river where he was thought to have drowned and then taken to Japan.
And as far-fetched a storyline this is, it gets even more complicated. Ji-Soo's sheer stubborn pride prevents her from accepting much-needed help from those who offer it. Of course, it doesn't help that Gi-Tae is completely in love with her and showers her and her brother with money and gitfs.
At the heart of the story is the difference between loves ... as in love for a brother versus love for a lover. Ji-Soo loves Gi-Tae, but has no physical affection or attraction to him, unlike Dong-Joo, whom she shares a connection with right from the beginning.
Throughout the series there is this tugging and pulling at the bonds of friendship and constant strain on relationship loyalties. Perhaps this is just a testament to my having grown up in a North American culture, while still understanding Asian heritages. But it seems to me, the over all conflict simply doesn't justify the actions. It seems to be that Ji-Soo for the most part really cares what people think about her, though her actions in the beginning seem to go against her seemingly feisty personality.
While there were many themes that I related to on a very personal level, it still was not as satisfying as some of the other dramas I've screened. It seems as though this movie was intending to ride the wave of popularity of films like Love Letter (my next K-drama review) a much more touching story of love, betrayal and friendship.
