Though its potential is not fully realized, “20th Century Girl” does manage to add to the timeworn theme of first love by providing a moving examination of what makes certain moments — and certain people — unforgettable.

A coming-of-age that deals with love, loss, and being true to themselves. The best part is that the friendship between Bo-ra and Yeon-du is genuine.

What changes Bo-ra from Kim Yoo-jung to Han Hyo-joo? How did those teenage experiences turn her into the woman she is in the present day? "20th Century Girl" doesn't have a good answer for that. She loved, she lost, and now she sells beauty lotion.

The South Korean location, filmed in shades of green and yellow, couches the characters in a safe and gentle setting, allowing them to focus solely on matters of the heart.