On the day he is preparing to move to Seoul, Hyun-su receives a text from his ex-lover, Si-hyun, asking him to return a fountain pen. That same day, a string on his guitar snaps, and he finds himself remembering what he never received from Si-hyun.

How much time is needed for a melodrama? Replace the Strings shows that a single short film can fully convey the emotions of parting and reunion. The film doesn't rush into their romance but leisurely circles through their past and present. Near the end, it leaves a bittersweet lingering feeling—truly impressive. As the title suggests, Replace the Strings uses a guitar story as a MacGuffin to draw in the tale of Hyun-su and Si-hyun. The sadness felt during the credits may come from their farewell or a farewell to youth itself. After watching, one might listen to Barrios’s La Catedral or Carver’s Cathedral rather than Romance. (Lee Yongcheol)