When Life Gives You Tangerines: The sweet and sour tales of life

A few years ago, high school student Oh Ae-sun ran away to Busan with her childhood best friend and lover Yang Gwan-sik. She never dreamed of marriage and kids but rather of studying and going to university one day–something her family was vehemently against from the very beginning.

Fast forward several years and three kids later, Ae-sun might not have achieved all her dreams, or any of them for that matter. But as she stands over a roomful of food from neighbours in her kitchen, during one of the most challenging times in her life, she is brought to tears as she recalls all the small acts of kindness people have shown her.

As Ae-sun reminisced, she said, "We were able to move on because there were people who fed the children for us. A canola flower never blooms by itself. You always see a field of canola flowers. Had I been on my own, I would've been broken a hundred times over. You know, as the saying goes, it takes a village to keep one person alive."

The drama, 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', directed by Kim Won-seok, is filled to the brim with similar introspective moments that are bound to move you to tears. 

The slice-of-life series on Netflix, set in the 1950s, follows the life of Ae-sun (played by IU) and Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum), as they overcome the toughest battles of life on Jeju Island. The multigenerational saga that takes place has a message for everyone, especially if you're dealing with life's sour moments. 

The story offers an experience of both sweet and tart moments of life reminding the audience that life is mostly about cherishing life for what it is–not what it could be. 

It seems like the show has resonated with many as it has consistently remained in Netflix Bangladesh's Top 10 trending list since its release in early March.

The cinematographer shines at incorporating the island's natural beauty into the story. The island provides the perfect space to capture the vibrancy of ordinary life. The subtle incorporation of its namesake–tangerines–makes the show visually appealing while giving viewers a glimpse at the island's pride. 

Many might view life on the island as luxurious and free–who else wouldn't want to live by the blue waters? But for the inhabitants of the island, the sea is a God and it can give and take as it pleases. 

The sea plays a key role in the series, becoming a character in its own way. It provides the characters with a livelihood with its fishes but its storms can take lives away. The impact it has on the characters surfaces through ways such as local superstitions. When Ae-sun first bought a boat for Gwan-sik, she refused to get on it for fear that a girl stepping on a boat would anger the God of the sea. And once she steps onto the boat, with a little encouragement from her husband, she makes to give the sea a piece of her mind in a really silly scene.

This particular memory is remembered as their sweetest summer by her daughter Yang Geum-myeong (also played by IU). 

At the core, the story follows the journey of Ae-sun, and Gwan-sik is the heartbeat of the show. The whole story is told from the perspective of Ae-sun but through the voice of Geum-myeong, making it a story rooted in women's experiences. 

The decision to have Geum-myeong narrate her mother's life was also strategic so that the timeline shift would not feel too jarring. By the time the audience sees Geum-myeong, it will feel like they already know her. 

As the story progresses, Ae-sun's generation also moves away from the strict gender roles she fought against. Despite it taking generations to fight against gender roles and poverty, Ae-sun's mother's dreams are finally fulfilled through Geum-myeong's pursuit for higher education. 

IU's double role in the show is bound to raise a few eyebrows, as any experiments could tip the fine balance of the show, creating a way for confusion. However, IU was able to capture the distinct personalities of Ae-sun and Geum-myeong.

Furthermore, IU and Moon So-ri, who plays Ae-sun in her older years, were able to stay on the same wavelength with Ae-sun's character, making the transition between the two actors seamless. 

Moon So-ri is also able to capture the childlike energy and overwhelming emotions of Ae-Sun, which she expresses once her daughter gets accepted to a prestigious university. 

The subtle details of the show are what bridge the past and present, and create a division between the nostalgic reverie and pressing reality.

Though life was unfair to many of these characters, the final episode wraps the whole story nicely, without any loose strings and unfulfilled wishes. It truly feels like a feel-good story of people who may not have gotten much in life, and yet got everything.

'When Life Gives You Tangerines' ultimately tells a moving story that will leave you in tears and smiling ear to ear. With each milestone, these fleshed-out characters feel human, like someone you have met before and fallen in love with through the screen.