South Korean film “My Best, Your Least” handles its rather sensitive social subject with more sensitivity and thoughtfulness than I expected, and I appreciate that. Mainly revolving around a complex teacher and student relationship, the movie powerfully delivers its important social messages via a number of genuine emotional moments, and it is also supported well by the two strong lead performances at the center.

At first, we are introduced to Hee-yeon (Jang Yoon-ju), a young married female teacher working in some female high school. When she is assigned to a first-year classroom, everything seems to be going well in the classroom, but it gradually turns out that there is a serious problem hidden behind one of her students. That student in question is Yoo-mi (Choi Soo-in), and she has actually been pregnant for last several months due to her boyfriend. While not knowing well what to do about her pregnancy just like her boyfriend, Yoo-mi tries to hide that as much as possible, but Hee-yeon eventually comes to know that once Yoo-mi gets examined by the school nurse, and Hee-yeon must handle this tricky situation as carefully as possible for not only her student but also the school.

However, the situation only becomes a lot more complicated for a number of reasons. First, the current status of Yoo-mi’s pregnancy turns out to be a bit too late for abortion, and she also wants to remain in the school, especially after her father beats her when he belatedly learns about her pregnancy. Nevertheless, Hee-yeon advises Yoo-mi that she should submit a letter of resignation for 1) saving the reputation of the school and 2) making the situation less painful and problematic for Yoo-mi.

However, Yoo-mi is not so willing to follow her teacher’s advice, and that is where the movie becomes a little more complex. While she comes to care about her student more than before, Hee-yeon cannot help but become exasperated about her student’s stubborn position, and their eventual clash certainly causes more trouble for both of them.

And we get to know more about Hee-yeon’s serious personal problem, which makes an interesting contrast with Yoo-mi’s increasingly difficult circumstance. She and her husband, who is incidentally also a schoolteacher, have been struggling to have a baby for a while, but they have failed again and again to their frustration. As a matter of fact, it seems possible to us that they will adopt Yoo-mi’s baby instead, especially after Yoo-mi is subsequently sent to a temporary shelter for pregnant adolescent girls like her. As spending the next several months, Yoo-mi is reminded more and more of how things can be more difficult for her, and that certainly makes her more conflicted about what she should do next for her and her baby.

To our little surprise, the screenplay by Kim Soo-yeon continues to roll the story and characters with more obstacles to come, and that naturally leads to more thoughts on the human rights associated with teen pregnancy. Yes, Yoo-mi did make a serious mistake, but she does not deserve at all to be blamed or discriminated just because of that, and the movie surely makes a clear point to us when her teacher willingly steps forward for Yoo-mi’s human rights as much as possible, regardless of whether she agrees to Yoo-mi’s decision on her life and baby.

I must point out that the movie pulls out its ending a little too easily, but I must also admit that it earns the little but precious optimism shown from the last scene. Yes, things will probably remain quite challenging for Yoo-mi despite that, but she receives the unexpected support from others around her willingly showing some solidarity, and it is apparent that she will never forget this no matter what will happen next in her life.

The two lead performers of the film diligently carry the film with their commendable efforts. As Jang Yoon-ju, who was excellent as one of the three titular characters in “Three Sisters” (2020), steadily holds the ground, Choi Soo-in, who was unforgettable as the young heroine of “The World of Us” (2016), deftly handles her character’s dramatic arc along the story, and it is constantly compelling to observe the dynamic relationship development between their complicated human characters. As Hee-yeon and Yoo-mi push or pull each other along the story, there come some touching moments of empathy and understanding, and we are moved to observe how much they are respectively changed around the end of the story, while also reminded more of why it is always important to recognize and respect the human rights of many pregnant adolescent girls out there.

Overall, “My Best, Your Least” is a solid mix of character and social drama, and Kim Hyun-jung, who previously made a feature film debut with “On the Sand House” (2023), confirms to us her that she is a good filmmaker who knows how to handle story and characters well enough to engage and then move us. In short, this is one of better South Korean films in my humble opinion, and it will make an interesting double feature show with “Sister Yujeong” (2024), another recent South Korean drama film which also handles teen pregnancy with considerable compassion and consideration. To be frank with you, I came to learn a bit more about teen pregnancy via these two good movies, and I am sure that they will leave you something to think about.