The feeling of taking action one moment too late. It is clear from reading other's reviews this is something many people experience. You wait, and you worry, and you plan, and you ponder what might be. Only to find some excuse to back out once you actually built up to courage to follow through.
Most Hollywood films would have you believe that if you put yourself out there, you'll earn the respect and love of whoever you happen to be pining over (mostly from the male perspective). Architecture 101 presents what is the reality for most us: we don't know what we're doing.
Like a few others, I was taken aback by the protagonist's inaction when it came to Seo-Yeon being drunk. I attributed it to Korea's drinking culture and the dubious nature of Korean university clubs (circles). But once I took a step back, I realized this fit right in the arc of Seung-Min's character. He doesn't like confrontation and will maintain the status quo.
"Under pressure, you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training." -Modern version of a quote by Archilochus
Seung-Min doesn't cut off ties with Seo-Yeon because he feels betrayed, it's because he feels he has betrayed her. He knew the kind of person their sunbae was, but he didn't do anything to stop the situation from happening. You can see the guilt scarring him deeply. He notices Seo-Yeon rejecting the advances of the sunbae, so she isn't a willing participant, but Seung-Min still can't bring himself to do anything.
The sunbae isn't made out to be some sort of monster because he gets women drunk to get in bed with them. He isn't. He is wrapped up in the culture around him, despite knowing what he is doing isn't the most scrupulous. He dodges around the topic and only says enough to sound cool to his underclassmen.
I really appreciate the subtlety the director and writers weaved into the story. There are so many details and motifs that could be missed easily. Ex. The seeds Seo-Yeon planted and kept secret didn't sprout, the same as their relationship; mementos.
Most Hollywood films would have you believe that if you put yourself out there, you'll earn the respect and love of whoever you happen to be pining over (mostly from the male perspective). Architecture 101 presents what is the reality for most us: we don't know what we're doing.
Like a few others, I was taken aback by the protagonist's inaction when it came to Seo-Yeon being drunk. I attributed it to Korea's drinking culture and the dubious nature of Korean university clubs (circles). But once I took a step back, I realized this fit right in the arc of Seung-Min's character. He doesn't like confrontation and will maintain the status quo.
"Under pressure, you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training." -Modern version of a quote by Archilochus
Seung-Min doesn't cut off ties with Seo-Yeon because he feels betrayed, it's because he feels he has betrayed her. He knew the kind of person their sunbae was, but he didn't do anything to stop the situation from happening. You can see the guilt scarring him deeply. He notices Seo-Yeon rejecting the advances of the sunbae, so she isn't a willing participant, but Seung-Min still can't bring himself to do anything.
The sunbae isn't made out to be some sort of monster because he gets women drunk to get in bed with them. He isn't. He is wrapped up in the culture around him, despite knowing what he is doing isn't the most scrupulous. He dodges around the topic and only says enough to sound cool to his underclassmen.
I really appreciate the subtlety the director and writers weaved into the story. There are so many details and motifs that could be missed easily. Ex. The seeds Seo-Yeon planted and kept secret didn't sprout, the same as their relationship; mementos.