Sweet & Sour Parent Guide

Sweet & Sour follows the relationship of Jang-hyuk (Jang Ki-Yong) and his girlfriend Da-eun (Chae Soo-bin) as they navigate the challenges of modern dating. Early in their relationship, Jang-hyuk is transferred to a new engineering firm in Seoul, which forces the couple into a long-distance relationship. At his cutthroat new firm, Jang-hyuk is paired with the ambitious and beautiful Bo-yeong (Krystal Jung), who wants more than just a professional relationship with her new colleague.

While romantic films are often derided for depicting idealized hearts-and-flowers relationships, there’s been a recent trend for genre films to depict their difficult, messy, and agonizing aspects. Sweet & Sour is a heartbreaking film because it unflinchingly examines a realistic, complicated relationship and the imperfect people in it. If you’re looking for a light romantic comedy, this is not going to be a good choice for you.

I have to praise the fantastic acting in this production, particularly the three lead actors. All three characters are well-rounded and multifaceted (which is also a tribute to the writers). At no point do any of them fall into tired tropes or stereotypes, but remain realistic people in their own right. For most of the movie I thought I knew where this story was going, and, boy, was I wrong. There is a fantastic twist near the end which really breathes life into what could have been a generic romantic drama.

This is not a film for children, or probably for teens either, because of its excessive swearing and depictions of drinking and smoking. In addition, there’s a minor plot point around a character’s abortion. This is not discussed in detail, nor is it terribly clear what happened at first. I found this plot point to be realistic in the context of the story. It isn’t gratuitous, but I understand how it might be a deal breaker for some viewers.

If you’re looking for a good cry, or maybe just an excuse to eat a lot of ice cream, Sweet & Sour might be just what you’re looking for. Tear-splattered triple chocolate ice cream sounds like a do-it-yourself sweet and sour Friday night.