The film examines how three men impose their interpretations on Sunhi while she navigates desire, reputation, and self-determination.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Letter She Needs
Sunhi returns to her alma mater seeking a recommendation for postgraduate study in America. Choi Donghyun first discourages her and then offers an honest but unflattering assessment.
Key Events
Sunhi Returns to Campus — Sunhi returns to her former film school after graduation. Characters: SunhiLocation: Sunhi's alma mater
Recommendation Request — Sunhi asks Choi Donghyun for a letter supporting her American postgraduate application. Characters: Sunhi, Choi DonghyunLocation: Film school campus
Donghyun Questions Her Plans — Donghyun stresses practical experience over theory and tries to dissuade Sunhi. Characters: Sunhi, Choi DonghyunLocation: Film school campus
The Honest Letter Caveat — Donghyun agrees, but says Sunhi may reject any letter that does not satisfy her. Characters: Sunhi, Choi DonghyunLocation: Film school campus
A Damaging Assessment — The letter praises Sunhi's goodness and artistic inclination while implying weakness and introversion. Characters: Sunhi, Choi DonghyunLocation: Film school campus
A Former Love Reopens
Sunhi meets her ex-boyfriend Munsu over beers and confronts him about his film based on their failed relationship. Munsu reveals that he still wants her, but she rejects him.
Key Events
Beer at the Chicken Restaurant — Sunhi goes to a nearby chicken restaurant and begins drinking beer. Characters: SunhiLocation: Nearby fast food chicken restaurant
Munsu Joins Sunhi — Sunhi calls her ex-boyfriend Munsu and asks him to join her. Characters: Sunhi, MunsuLocation: Fast food chicken restaurant
The Relationship Film Dispute — Sunhi confronts Munsu about making a film based on their failed relationship. Characters: Sunhi, MunsuLocation: Fast food chicken restaurant
Munsu Is Rejected — Munsu's lingering feelings become clear, but Sunhi turns him down without explaining why. Characters: Sunhi, MunsuLocation: Fast food chicken restaurant
The Flattering Revision
Sunhi returns to campus determined to obtain a better recommendation. Her flirtatious persuasion leads Donghyun to write a second letter calling her his favorite student.
Key Events
Sunhi Returns Determined — The next day, Sunhi returns to campus with a plan to change Donghyun's opinion. Characters: SunhiLocation: Film school campus
Flattering Persuasion — Sunhi uses flirtatious charms to persuade Donghyun to reconsider his letter. Characters: Sunhi, Choi DonghyunLocation: Film school campus
The Second Recommendation — Donghyun writes a new letter stating that Sunhi was his favorite student. Characters: Sunhi, Choi DonghyunLocation: Film school campus
Another Man Enters
Munsu confides in his friend Jaehak about his feelings for Sunhi. Jaehak later meets Sunhi by chance, accepts her invitation for coffee and drinks, and becomes attracted to her.
Key Events
Munsu Seeks Jaehak — Munsu meets his friend Jaehak and discusses his continuing love for Sunhi. Characters: Munsu, JaehakLocation: Drinking place
Jaehak Listens Sympathetically — Jaehak lends a sympathetic ear while Munsu laments his failed relationship. Characters: Munsu, JaehakLocation: Drinking place
Chance Encounter with Sunhi — Jaehak encounters Sunhi by chance and becomes intrigued by her. Characters: Sunhi, JaehakLocation: Seoul
Coffee and Drinks Invitation — Sunhi asks Jaehak out for coffee and drinks, intensifying his attraction. Characters: Sunhi, JaehakLocation: Seoul
Assumptions Meet in Autumn
Munsu, Donghyun, and Jaehak each construct an idea of who Sunhi is while pursuing her. Their overlapping interests finally converge when all four meet at Changgyeonggung.
Key Events
Three Men, Three Interpretations — Each man believes he understands Sunhi while denying her privacy and self-defined identity. Characters: Sunhi, Munsu, Choi Donghyun, JaehakLocation: Seoul
The Shared Pursuit Emerges — The three men pursue Sunhi without realizing they are competing for the same woman. Characters: Sunhi, Munsu, Choi Donghyun, JaehakLocation: Seoul
Meeting at Changgyeonggung — Sunhi and the three men meet together in the palace park. Characters: Sunhi, Munsu, Choi Donghyun, JaehakLocation: Changgyeonggung palace grounds
The Pursuers Converge — The climax exposes the overlapping pursuit of Sunhi and the men's competing assumptions about her. Characters: Sunhi, Munsu, Choi Donghyun, JaehakLocation: Autumn grounds of Changgyeonggung
Story Breakdown
Campus Return — Sunhi comes back to her film school seeking support for her next academic step.
Application Ambition — Sunhi wants to apply for postgraduate study in America.
Professor's Judgment — Donghyun evaluates her abilities and character through a recommendation letter.
Honest Recommendation — Donghyun's first letter presents both praise and limitations.
Practical Experience — Donghyun argues that practical experience matters more than theory.
Unflattering Portrait — The letter suggests that Sunhi is introverted, weak, and restrained.
Broken Relationship — Sunhi confronts Munsu over the way their failed relationship appears in his film.
Film-Based Grievance — Munsu made a film based on their past relationship.
Rejected Reunion — Munsu still loves Sunhi, but she turns him down without explaining why.
Rewritten Image — Sunhi deliberately changes her approach to obtain a more favorable academic portrait.
Flirtatious Strategy — Sunhi uses charm to influence Donghyun's judgment.
Favorite Student — Donghyun writes a second letter describing Sunhi as his favorite student.
Jaehak's Attraction — Jaehak moves from listening to Munsu's complaints to becoming interested in Sunhi himself.
Munsu's Confession — Munsu shares his romantic distress with his friend Jaehak.
Coffee Invitation — Sunhi invites Jaehak for coffee and drinks after a chance encounter.
Competing Interpretations — The men pursue Sunhi while believing they understand her identity and needs.
Denied Privacy — Their assumptions deprive Sunhi of privacy and self-determined identity.
Autumn Convergence — The three men's shared pursuit is brought together at Changgyeonggung.
Sunhi, a film major graduate, visits her school to ask her Professor Choi for a recommendation letter to study in U.S. Knowing the professor favors her, she expects a good recommendation from him. Out from her shell after a long time, Sunhi also ends up meeting two men from her past: Munsu, her ex-boy friend, and Jaehak, a director who graduated from the same film school. Through the encounters between Sunhi and the three men, they give each other an 'advice on life' with good intentions. The three men who all have strong interests in her are led to guess and define her, unable to tell how she really feels inside. Strangely, the mentioned advices and traits of her are similar and seem to pass from one person to the next. The words of 'advice on life' seem doubtable and slip away as the three men's thoughts on Sunhi become more and more irrelevant.
