🎬 Heaven, But Love

Set in 1999 amidst the backdrop of apocalyptic Y2K anxieties and casual systemic violence in South Korea, the story follows Joo-yeong (Park Soo-yeon), a high school taekwondo student struggling under the harsh physical demands and emotional abuse of her athletic coach.

Joo-yeong’s life shifts when Ye-ji (Lee Yoo-mi), a troubled juvenile delinquent, is placed under the temporary care of Joo-yeong’s counselor mother. Having met briefly at a fast-food shop where Ye-ji worked, the two girls share a bedroom and gradually form a deep, tender bond during a summer getaway. As their mutual attraction blossoms into romance, their happiness is threatened by physical abuse within the taekwondo team, institutional indifference, and conservative religious disapproval. Together, Joo-yeong and Ye-ji fight to preserve their love in an unaccepting world.

💡 Did you know?
Lee Yoo-mi's Crossover Stardom: Features acclaimed actress Lee Yoo-mi, who achieved international fame for her breakout roles in Netflix's Squid Game (2021) and All of Us Are Dead (2022).

Han Jay's Directorial Vision: Director Han Jay selected 1999 as the setting to contrast the chaotic, analog feel of late-90s youth culture with the tender purity of first love.

Indie Soundtrack: The atmospheric score was composed by influential South Korean indie singer-songwriter Kim Sawol.


⭐ Film Evaluation & Ratings 📈
⭐ Global Critical & Festival Consensus: 7.4 / 10 (Jeonju Intl Film Festival / Seoul Independent Film Festival)

Praised by festival audiences and critics for its evocative 1990s retro aesthetic, tender lead performances, and critique of institutional harassment in high school athletics.

🎨 Performance & Atmospheric Craft: 7.8 / 10

Strong chemistry between Park Soo-yeon and Lee Yoo-mi grounds a gritty, emotionally resonant youth narrative.📝 Portal Recommendation:An essential entry for Contemporary Korean Queer Cinema Archives, WLW Period Dramas, and Asian Independent Film Spotlights. Pairs naturally with titles like House of Hummingbird (2018), Moonlit Winter (2019), or Our Love Story (2016).