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A burst of laughter was heard during the romantic scenes between a man and woman suffering from social anxiety, while sighs filled the air when actor Park Ji-hwan, portrayed as a Joseon-era rogue, was being punished. The lively audience responses at the ‘On Screen’ screening hall during the OTT drama section of the Busan International Film Festival on the 18th and 19th. OTT platforms, which presented a broader range of genres and narratives from dramas to films than ever before, became another central element of this year’s film festival.

A location where audience responses to significant new releases can be observed. The film that maintained the audience’s tension during the screening and encouraged detailed conversations after the movie was the thriller *‘You Killed Me’* (Netflix), which addresses domestic abuse. It follows the story of ‘Eun-soo’ (Jeon So-ni), whose mother suffers from abuse, and ‘Hee-soo’ (Lee Yu-mi), who is mistreated by her husband, as they transform their lives. While realistically portraying the fear experienced by the vulnerable and mysterious characters like ‘So-baek’ (Lee Mu-saeng), it introduced suspense for what’s to come.

A South Korea-Japan co-produced romantic comedy gained popularity for its comedic elements. *‘Romantic Anonymous’* (Netflix), directed by Sho Tsukikawa, who also directed the movie *‘I Want to Eat Your Pancreas’*, featured contributions from Korea in terms of planning, script, art, and music. Actors Han Hyo-joo and Japanese actor Oguri Shun portrayed the male and female leads, both dealing with various types of social anxiety, leading to a developing romance. Although subtle, jokes incorporating the Korean language made the audience laugh heartily.

Disney+’s first local historical drama *“The Murky Stream”* and the webtoon-inspired series *‘Dear X’* (TVING) demonstrated the wide range of OTT content. *“The Murky Stream,”* directed by Choo Chang-min, known for *‘Masquerade,’* is set in the Gyeonggang port during the Joseon era, filled with bizarre elements, and follows characters such as the superhuman protagonist ‘Jang Si-yul’ (Rowoon), the brilliant merchant ‘Choi Eun’ (Shin Ye-eun), and the tough guy ‘Park Mu-deok’ (Park Ji-hwan) as they challenge their fates. The initial buildup was quite extended. Director Choo mentioned, “I had a hard time deciding between a dramatic structure and a cinematic style, but this was my decision. The main character’s full-scale conflict starts in part three.” *‘Dear X,’* which includes visual styles similar to webtoon scenes, provides an enjoyable experience with actor Kim Yu-jung’s portrayal of a sociopath.

The movie *‘The Great Flood’* (Netflix), which shows a devastating flood that drowns homes, captivated viewers by combining various genres and creative vision. It’s more fun to watch without knowing much beforehand. Director Kim Byung-woo mentioned during a Q&A with the audience, “In the end, it’s a tale of love. The image of the great flood also represents an emotional wave that can’t be measured.”

Busan = Kim Min-jung, Reporter