User reviews

Like many love songs, Gaeul donghwa is trite and over dramatic. But if you can allow yourself to be vulnerable and accept the story, you will be treated to many emotional evenings. The series unfolds like a modern fairy tale (donghwa stands for fairy tale).

In contrast to American soap operas, Gaeul donghwa was planned as an 18-episode soap opera. Some of the plot twists are dramatic and unexpected, but all essential to the plot and serve to enrich the characters.

That said, the series could've been trimmed by a couple of episodes or so, as it is filled with countless flashbacks and several moments of "come on, not that again!"

Still, rest of the series is so powerful that I suspect even the most jaded and macho viewers will surrender their ego and bring their eyes to tears.

What is the message? I like to paraphrase my review of my all-time favorite film, Breaking the Waves. It paints each facet of love (e.g., mother-to-daughter, friendship, romance) with palette of honesty and beauty.

And what beauty.... The series is very beautifully shot, like the "yellow umbrella" scene where one of the lead characters sees the other character for the first time in many years. And acting is superb throughout, including the children.

Highly recommended!

This series is excellent. In Korea it is known as "A Tale Of Autumn" or "Autumn's Fairy Tale" but when this TV drama was broadcast in Taiwan, the title was changed to "Endless Love". This moving TV series describes love in its various manifestations: love for family, unconditional love, and loving endlessly and is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. The lead female character faces life's misfortunes with steadfastness and optimism, demonstrating her strong character and true inner beauty. It is equally loved by audiences in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing & even in the Philippines. This phenomenal series is very in demand here in the Philippines, actually it is still in broadcast. Now, it has a 3rd run on Philippine Television. Never in my life i ever seen such series. All the actors did a great job, they are all acting wise and considered famous not only in S.Korea but also in many parts of Asia. I truly adore Song Hye Kyo because she is so beautiful and well-suited for the role. I will say this endlessly that this series is perfect. No other series can compare.

Endless Love (A tale of Autumn/ Gaeul donghwa) is the first soap opera to elicit an emotional response from this reviewer. Soaps are the usual target for mockery due to the presence of bad acting, lame plots and even lamer dialogue. Endless Love, however, managed to overcome these weaknesses. It stands as one of the best soap operas I've ever seen.

It's the story of Joon Suh (Song Seung Hun) and Eun Suh (Song Hye Kyo), who for 14 years believed themselves to be blood-siblings. They share a close bond as shown in the scenes of their happy and idyllic childhood. Yet an accident when Eun Suh was only 14 revealed that she was actually switched at birth with another baby. Her real family is composed of a single mother and a rascal brother living in the throes of poverty. The daughter (Shinae) who lives with that poor family is Joon Suh's real blood sister. After some dramatic scenes, the two daughters are switched back to their real families. Joon Suh's family leaves for the States as a way to start over while Eun Suh stays behind with her poor mother and grows up terribly missing her brother. Eight years later, Joon Suh returns to Korea in search for Eun Suh. They meet again via JoonSuh's best friend, Tae Sukh, who also happens to be attracted to Eun Suh. The two former siblings are deliriously happy to be reunited, but complications take place as they realize that they are falling in love with each other. Joon Suh is already engaged to Yumei, while Eun Suh has just "accepted" Tae Sukh's declarations of "love". To make matters worse, their parents cannot accept a romantic relationship between them as they still see Eun Suh and Joon Suh as siblings. These complications drive the plot to an ending that will surely melt even the stoniest of hearts.

Despite its predictable storyline, it still succeeds in conveying sincere emotions, largely due to the chemistry of the two leads, Song Seung Hun and Song Hye Gyo.

Song Seung Hun in particular, was amazing in the role of the strong and honorable Joon-Suh (Johnny). It was a character that barely had any speaking lines yet Seung Hun hit every emotional note required for the scene. His expressive face (particularly his gorgeous eyes) clearly conveyed all of his character's conflicting emotions: his love for En Suh (jenny), his respect for his parents and his affection for his friends. Everything about his acting is restrained, yet he never comes off stiff or wooden. He projected strength and vulnerability without resorting to exagerrated theatrics common amongst young actors. It's definitely an amazing performance which sets him apart from his peers. There is no doubt in my mind that only Seung Hun, with his talent and maturity, could have played this challenging role. The other actors in the movie simply played their characters in a stereotypical manner that doesn't stand out, but doesn't disappoint either.

The story is also wonderful in that it is different from the usual American love story. It teaches us that lovers do not exist for themselves alone. The characters of Joon-Suh and En Suh love each other deeply, yet they also can't bear seeing everyone around them suffer. As such, they sacrifice their own happiness just to keep their families and friends satisfied. With such sacrifice, the audience cannot help but root for the two underdog lovers.

Top it off with beautiful cinematography and sentimental music and the audience is defintely set for an emotional experience with this series. Take my advice, this series is for keeps. It's bound to become an Asian classic. In fact, I think it already is.

GaolDong Hwa(Autumn Story) is a moving drama about love, family relationship and conflicting issues within a family. A tragic love story, moving and exceptionally crafted. The cinematography is very good and the acting prowess of the actors are at their best. Song Seung Hun, Song Hye Gyo, and Won Bin are very good!!!. The supporting casts are excellent. The musical score fits the very emotion of the film and its screenplay. This film can be compared to some of the best love story films ever made for television. Highly recommended and a must see love story!!!!!!!!!!

This series was sooo good ,great direction story & acting but very very sad same time difficult to watch ending ,i wished if their was happy ending i will give 10/10 star, story was different (Taboo,senstive subject) teach us lot of important lesson of life as if you truly love someone dont care r listen others follow your heart ,otherwise will regret whole life,if u truly love some one better to waite( as if Joon su( male)waite & not engaged this Selfish annoying,women Yumi,,,, then joon su( song seung) & Eun su (song khi) can both live happily together,second parents should care about their kids happyness ,Third if someone not loved you & want to left you dont force yourself on others( as yumi did If tears was lesser then can be more better

Even the story is predictable, but It was very touching.

In may life's we dont know many sad stories will happens, Maybe they are poor or rich doesnt matter.

This is one of it. It was also based on a sin did by the main hero at his earlyage without knowing it.

" one thing i can say, your life will be fulfilled with this series. " I will always appreciate all the cast and crew for giving us such a memorable series.

I've just been watching this drama (which was my 1st Asian drama)few days ago and unfortunately I didn't understand how this drama has an average vote of 8/10? How was it possible? The principal actors are well acting yet it's not enough to make it be a "really good drama". The story could be better done. So many non sense and weak situations made this drama "hard to watch" until the end. I had some tears in some moment but it doesn't mean I'd cry from the beginning until the end (like the two principal actors did during the whole drama which was also non sense for me). Yes it was a sad drama, a touching one but I think the producer couldn't find the way to share and show the deep feelings of the two lovers.

This is why I vote 6/10 because more than 6/10 would be hard to give. Sorry.

This drama by Suk-ho Yoon was a hit not only in Korea, but throughout Asia. It was the center of the Korean Wave(a cultural craze for Korean TV, music and movies in East Asia) attracting many tourists to Korea as well as Korean actors to Taiwan and other countries.

It's not uncommon to see attractive young heroines in tragic situations, and tangled love situations, but it's more than that. It's about family, strength, and love that just cannot be. The ending is somewhat abrupt, but up to that part, it's mostly good.

Hye-gyo Song's lines such as "I forgive your sins," became a great hit, and the theme music "romance de amor," a Spanish folkmusic that appeared in the movie "Jeux Interdits" breaks your heart whenever it comes out.

The scenery, which takes mainly in the Kang-Won province in the mountainous eastern part of Korea, is wonderful - a trait of Yoon's dramas.

As the first part of the three season-themed dramas, the first part "Gaeul dong hwa" is the best and most original. Personally, the child actors should be highly acclaimed for their acting.

This will always be my first and my favorite Korean Drama of all times. Nothing compares to this series or cast. Love SSH and SHK. Wonbin was cute in this series too.

This is the best TV series I've ever seen. Nobody does drama and emotion better than the Koreans, so if a series does surpass this one, I expect it too will come from Korea.

What makes this series special? Not just one thing...I think it's the synergy of all the elements. The actors and actresses, the characters they play, the multi-faceted storyline, the interactions of the characters and their turmoils...some self-inflicted, some not. The redemption of some characters, while at times heartening, at other times strike home that one shouldn't wait too long to redeem.

The story itself is heartbreaking, be warned. If such themes bother you, this is one to stay away from. It plays out a certain way...as does life.

When thinking on it, one thing keeps coming back to me...Destiny. Are some things just fated to be? How could the children be so close, despite the age difference? Why did both have the same feelings and emotions during the separation? Why such a complete commonality upon and after the reunion? Just coincidence?

Or was it meant to be from the start? The boy set it all in motion the day the girl was born. A room left empty, a toddler left unattended in a hallway. His unknowing (to himself)...and unknown (to anyone else)...actions in that one minute changed lives forever, and set in motion a bond that could never have developed without all those circumstances coming together exactly then. Destiny?

Regarding the criticisms of some...while I respect all perspectives, I am struck by some of the reasonings.

Some say there's over-acting and too much emotion. I disagree. This series attempts to put about 25 years of life for a lot of people into 16 hours. All while showing how they got to where they did...why they would react the way they reacted...the results and consequences of elaborate circumstances. Can this really be done with subtlety and subdued performances?

Imagine a traveler in the dark approaching the edge of a cliff. One person calmly says "It is of vital importance for you to stop immediately what you are doing, because if you don't there could be serious consequences." Another person loudly yells "STOP RIGHT NOW!!!" Which has the most impact?

A series such as this is meant to evoke certain reactions, very raw and visceral in some cases. People want this...it's why they watch TV shows and movies. If a person wants "real life"...why watch TV at all? Just look around, that's real life. Documentaries show real life. Reality shows are real life, albeit exaggerated. So while I appreciate and respect the perspectives, there's no way this type of series can achieve its intended purpose through understatement.

Finally, for those who have little or no experience with Asian cinema and television...try it. Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Taiwan...they all approach a little differently from each other, and each have their strengths. American filmmakers could learn a WHOLE LOT from them. The US had glory days in cinema...long since gone. But you know what? It's perfectly OK and personally I care not at all, as Asia has picked up the slack.

Blue Life and Death Love I watched a Korean romantic drama very early on, and I rewatched it many times.

Although it was a romance movie, what left the deepest impression on me in the end, and what made me cry the most was the mother-daughter relationship between Eun-hee and her adoptive mother.

At first, he knew that Eun-hee was not biological, and his adoptive father immediately wanted to find his biological daughter, but his adoptive mother couldn't give up on Eun-hee and planned to maintain the status quo.

Reality is not always as good as it should be, and separation still comes.

When Xiao Eunxi chased to the mouth of the tunnel and silently shouted for his father, mother, and brother in his heart with tears, my heart was broken.

Many years later, Eun-hee reunited with her adoptive mother, and her adoptive mother held Da Eun-hee's face and said that she couldn't cry, she couldn't cry, and she couldn't see Eun-hee's face clearly when she cried.

Big and small Eun-hee are two different actors, but in front of their adoptive mother, they are the same face that is extremely happy even with tears.

Looking back, I don't think I've seen other performances of family affection that moved me to such a degree.

Even though, many years have passed, and now write this review, again with tears.

Mine appears to be a view that wildly differs from the majority about this drama. I've only seen 3 or 4 Korean TV series but I have seen at least 30 Japanese series. Of these, some have been terrific, most OK, and a few were terrible.

I would easily put "Autumn Story" at the very bottom of any ranking. I found it to be truly insipid and completely devoid of any real human emotion. At times I thought the writers must be from another planet, since none of the characters' actions followed anything resembling earth logic. No character took any action that made the slightest sense, all conflict was purely an artificial construct created by the writers. No human of moderate intelligence would ever behave as these characters did.

There was no way to emotionally connect with the problems faced by the characters since their problems were self-inflicted.

I was dying to watch this series... ever since I read about it...and the moment I read about it... I somehow searched for it... i will seed it for my life time... I am obliged... I went crazy and really emotional... I literally cried...cried a lot... Being from a strong Indian family...I cried a lot a lot a lot a lot... I got so attached to the characters … I watched it again and again and again... I cried with every scene... I missed them so much when the episode got over… Story telling is an art and scripting is another art… writing a script and making the audience follow the script and live with the characters and mind blowing art … this story has made a great effort in making their audience live the characters… I lived yoon Joon suh… choi eun suh... Han Tae-sukh... I loved the characters played by yumi… joon suh's mom and eun suh's mom... mind blowing... simply awesome... how do I explain... watch it... and u will understand

Autumn Fairy Tale is a great drama. Those that didn't fall in love with it, obviously doesn't know the elements of an excellent drama. Even though all of the acting wasn't so great, Song Hae Gyo's skills of acting are magnificent. The story seemed strange at first, but then as I watched the series, I fell in love with it. It's GREAT!!!

Are all Korean dramas like this? Melodramatic, predictable, horribly written and acted by the main characters? After watching "All About Eve", I decided not to prejudge all Korean dramas but "Autumn Fairy Tale" is plain stupid! Every scene (or nearly every scene) was shot too long, long enough to make you uninterested in the point of the scene by the time it's finished. The plot is overused among Korean dramas but the way a drama is shot and done can turn rubbish into a masterpiece. Sadly, "Autumn Fairy Tale" didn't do that. The acting was pretty good when you think about the parents and the kids but the two main characters, especially the girl, were just so horrible that it was funny. The girl doesn't fit the description of an actress, she's green and she isn't able to capture the attention of audiences. In other words, she doesn't have any presence. The BEST thing/person about "Autumn Fairy Tale" is Won Bin, whose character was made out to be less important than the two main characters. Not only is Won Bin amazingly handsome, his ability to BE the character he's playing is amazing. He not only acted better than the main character played by the other guy, he got more attention. Won Bin has screen presence to boot. When him and the girl is sharing a scene together, the girl seems wooden-like, a mere prop while Won Bin comes across so alive and passionate.

. . .to fast-forward through the countless flashbacks and slow (if beautiful) establishing shots. Expect a lot of repetition in themes and even plot events. There's heavy foreshadowing, and the final two episodes still come to a fantastically melodramatic finish.

The basic premise concerns two girls switched at birth, one being from a rich household, the other from a struggling, poor one. They're in grade school before the truth is discovered. In Korea blood-ties are extremely important, so despite the pain each family experiences, the girls are restored to their "rightful" places. Years later, the older brother from the rich family searches for the sister he knew as a child-- and the drama ensues from there.

The cast is extraordinarily attractive, and the acting is-- all right. Won Bin apparently made quite a name for himself with his part as a jaded-player-with-a-heart-of-gold.

Pitifully written and directed drama! This was produced in the year 2000 and had the worst execution I have ever seen. Thank goodness K-Dramas have imporoved significantly in the past 25 years. The only reason I am not giving it a one star is that I feel so bad for these actors who had to work on this series and cry 90% of the time. Nothing made sense in the story. No one in their right mind would behave this way. Every time I saw the waterworks I would almost burst out laughing. It was so ridiculous! In reality I almost stopped watching after episode three because I couldn't understand why these people acted the way they did. However, it baffles me how this series has such high ratings. That is why I was determined to watch it till the end. There's nothing worse in life than when someone says one thing and completely feels and acts the opposite (all the time). I didn't feel any empathy for any of the characters because the story was completely underdeveloped. There was no backstory or explanation for their actions. They either loved someone inexplicably or hated someone inexplicably or were just plain nuts. Each pereson spewed lies, deceit, and manipulation. Therefore, it made me dislike every single character. None of them had any redeeming qualities or reasons for their actions (perhaps 1% of the time). At one point, the FL even says that if you love someone there doesn't have to be a reason why, but yet tells the SML that that is why she won't give him a chance, he can't giver her a reason why he loves her... SMH. All of these characters need to be on meds and under psychiatric care. Don't waste your time, there was nothing that saves the story in the end.