In 2001, Gyeonghwan (male, 17), a high school freshman, transferred from Yeongcheon to Suseong District in Daegu, known for its educational enthusiasm. Gyeonghwan is an otaku obsessed with Japanese culture and soon discovers that Jaemin (male, 17), the class president who sits next to him, is also a fan of Japanese music and culture. As the two gradually grow closer, Jaemin quietly helps Gyeonghwan adjust to his new environment, and in return, Jaemin begins to open up to him.
Over time, Gyeonghwan develops unrequited feelings for Jaemin. Encouraged by Jaemin’s honesty with him, Gyeonghwan decides to share his own secret, that he likes men. However, after this confession, Jaemin grows distant and cold towards him, and soon rumors about Gyeonghwan’s sexuality start spreading at school. Despite everything, Gyeonghwan’s unreciprocated love for Jaemin persists.

2001 officially marked the beginning of the 21st century. At the time, South Korea seemed to be entering an open-minded era, with the appearance of Harisu on public broadcasting and the growing acceptance towards Japanese culture.
But was it truly an open era? In reality, discourse surrounding the queer community remained limited, evidenced in the expulsion of Hong Seok-cheon. Meanwhile, political tensions between South Korea and Japan, such as Dokdo referring to it as a Japanese island in textbooks, and shrine visits, meant that fans of Japanese culture were subtly ostracized.
In 2001, the year seems like progressive on the surface, turns out to be a close minded year, in Daegu symbolized as the most conservative city in Korea, the director wanted to address the story about the joys and sorrows of non-mainstream people (who loves Japanese culture and LGBTQ+) from the perspective of Gyeonghwan who has an unrequited love for Jaemin.
In the context of this period, the director wanted to convey a message to marginalized individuals struggling at the turn of the 21st century: Though the realities of 2024 may not have changed much, as Gyeonghwan discovers by the film’s end, perhaps the 21st century we are now facing is not entirely hopeless.

2024 제20회 제천국제음악영화제 한국경쟁 장편 작품상
2024 제24회 전북독립영화제
2024 제14회 서울국제프라이드영화제