"Do You Like Brahms?" (2020) is similar in plotting to a soap opera. Girl and boy stumble to discover love and then circumstances conspire against them before a happy ending. Chae Song-ah had graduated from business college, but decided to pursue the violin, even though disadvantaged by her late start. Park Joon-young was established as an international concert pianist. A few colleagues felt there was too big of a talent gap.
Lee Jung-Kyung was a violinist of the same age, but more experienced. She had been the girl friend of Joon-young who was tired of her, but she had a hold through her wealthy family and helped pay off his family debts. She had also dated Han Hyung-ho, a cellist and friend of Joon-young.
Previous love affairs, heavy debts incurred by a father cloud prospects and a cheating teacher conspire for a complicated plot. Joon-young generates a good income from international performances, but unknown to Song-ah it mostly goes to pay debts and an ex girl friend with money exploits his vulnerability. She is not liked by many and has her ups and downs.
Song-ah is quiet and became attracted when Joon-young played a version of Schuman's "Treumari" that plays a role in the film involving others. Joon-young found himself in conversations with Song-ah and felt comfortable. He asked her to be a page turner for one of his performances. They are both introverted and eventually they decide to date.
The relationship moves slowly with a few complications to spice it up. Song-ah is very uncertain about her future career and is advised she will never be a solo performer or even accompany solo performers. An agent for Joon-young is very candid with Song-ah saying she is not good for Joon-young. He keeps his debt problem secret from Song-ah, but others know about it. The other young musicians are intertwined and the staff have their own politics.
You do hear snippets of classical music, but even more of Korean romantic film songs. Classical music for most of us is something only refined or weird people take any notice of--I am one of them, not sure which one. For some viewers they will feel comfortable with the culture. Stirring contemporary Korean songs may appeal to a wider audience. The two main characters are very likeable.
It takes a good cast and crew to make a series work. Here are a few.
Young-Min Jo was the director. He has 3 directing credits and 1 for editing.
Ryu Bi-Ro was the writer. He has 4 writing credits including "Trolley" (2022-23). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/02/the-trolley.html
Jay Kim was the composer. He has 54 composing credits and 13 for the music department including "You and Everything Else" (2025). see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2026/03/you-and-everything-else.html
Park Eun-Bin played Chae Song-ah and re-learned to play the violin She has 30 acting credits including "Hot Stove League" (2019),"The King's Affection" (2021), "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (2022) and "Castaway Diva" (2023). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/08/extraordinary-attorney-woo.html and also http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2026/07/baseball-lovers-will-find-hot-stove.html While watching this I also started watching her latest series, "Spooky in Love" (2026) which is very different, but demonstrates her versatility with two more episodes to go.
Kim Min-jae played Park Joon-young and learned to play the piano. He has 20 acting credits and 2 for soundtrack including a voice role in "Swing Kids" (2018).
Park Ji-hyun played Lee Jung-Kyung. She has 23 acting credits and 1 for the camera and electrical department including "You and Everything Else" (2025).
Kim Sung-cheol plays Han Hyun Ho. a cellist, friend to Joon-young, a boyfriend to Jung-Kyung. He has 23 acting credits including "Vincenzo" (2021) and "The Wind Blows" (2023). see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/11/the-wind-blows.html
Ye Soo-jung plays Na Moon sook, wealthy director of the music institute and grandmother of Jung-Kyung. She has 48 acting credits including "Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days" (2011), "The Thieves" (2012), "Train to Busan" (2016), "Black Dog" (2019-20) and "Spooky in Love" (2026). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/01/black-dog.html
Seo Jung-yeon played Cha Young-in, an advisor to Song-ah. She has 79 acting credits including "Live Up to Your Name" (2017), "Something in the Rain" (2018), "Black Dog" (2019), "Trolley" (2022), "Castaway Diva" (2023) and "You and Everything Else" (2025). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/07/live-up-to-your-name.html
Choi Dae-hoon played Park Seong-jae. He has 32 acting credits including "Flower of Evil" (2020), "Melancholia" (2021), "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (2022), "Decision to Leave" (2022) and "When Life Gives You Tangerines" (2024). see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/10/flower-of-evil.html and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/when-life-gives-you-tangerines.html
Joo Suk-tae played Joon-young's agent who pushed for deals not wanted. He has 75 acting credits, including "Tunnel" (2006), "A Hard Day" (2014) and "The Age of Shadows" (2016).
Kim Jeong-yeong played Joon-young's mother. She has 44 acting credits, including "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and... Spring" (2003), "Signal" (2016) and "The Glory" (2022-23).
Kim Seon-hwa played Song-ah's mother. She has 31 acting credit including "The Glory (2022-23) and "Teach You a Lesson" (2026). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2026/06/teach-you-lesson.html
Korean romance lovers should enjoy "Do You Like Brahms?" available subtitled on Netflix.
As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen. Some of them are among my favourite Korean films and a big part of my Korean obsession. If you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.
