‘Forever We Are Young’ review: Illuminating portrait of the superfans behind K-Pop phenomenon BTS

Dirs: Grace Lee, Patty Ahn. USA/South Korea. 2025. 90mins.

The seven-member Korean boy band BTS (or Bangtan Sonyeondan which accurately interprets as Bulletproof Boy Scouts) is a phenomenon. They’re the best-selling musical artists in South Korean historical past; their method from the outset (they incorporate rap and political commentary) set them other than different Okay-Pop teams. However this buoyant documentary isn’t a lot concerning the historical past of the band as it’s about their followers, often called ARMY (an acronym for the considerably unwieldy ‘Lovely Consultant M.C. for Youth’).

Gives a captivating wider perception into fandom on the whole 

The movie, by filmmaker Grace Lee and educational and documentarian Patty Ahn (each ARMY), research the group by means of the eyes of the various, world, linked fanbase. Probably the most fascinating and distinctive facet of the movie is the exploration of the extremely organised ARMY mobilisation on behalf of their ‘boys’, and, subsequently, ARMY’s political and social engagement.

Like so many different BTS followers across the globe, Lee and Ahn have been introduced collectively by their mutual love of the band. Lee’s earlier work contains the Peabody-winning documentary sequence, And She Might Be Next and the LA Movie Competition viewers prize-winning function documentary American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs. Ahn is an authority on Okay-Pop, and teaches a course on the topic on the College of California. Their resolution to deal with ARMY is an astute one: there are already quite a few live performance documentaries about BTS, together with 2020’s Break The Silence: The Film, however the band’s diligent and energetic fandom is an integral element of their success. That very same dedication ought to make sure that this movie, which premiered at SXSW and now performs in CPH:DOX, will discover a receptive viewers when it’s launched, whether or not theatrically or by means of a streaming platform.

It’s onerous to consider it now, given the worldwide pop powerhouse that BTS has develop into, however the band have been initially thought-about to be the outlying underdogs of the Okay-Pop scene. And it’s partly this, plus a prettily packaged message of self-acceptance, that hooked within the first wave of supporters. The band’s world attain has been evident virtually from the outset – we meet diehard ARMY from Mexico and throughout America – however their success of their native South Korea was comparatively gradual to construct. The rigorously managed accessibility of the band members – goofy Vlogs and YouTube content material are virtually as essential to the ARMY because the music – is essential.

What is especially placing is the extent to which ARMY members undertaking their very own wants and identities onto the band. For one man, a Mexican Mariachi musician, they symbolize a gender-fluid, unashamedly susceptible different to the Macho custom of the Mexican man; for a newly arrived immigrant to the US, they supplied the positivity and optimism that she wanted to climate the robust instances. For all of the interviewees, the band represents a mannequin of supportive friendship which is echoed within the relationships which were cast inside the ARMY group. What’s hinted at, however not explored in any actual depth, is the potential burden of fan adoration on the band, whose members do appear to spend an inordinate period of time crying on digital camera.

Whereas the movie is particularly about BTS followers, it gives a captivating wider perception into fandom on the whole within the digital age; be it BTS’s devoted ARMY or Taylor Swift’s Swifties. Whereas a fervent following for a musical artist or band is nothing new, the benefit of communication brings a way of world group – and with it a brand new diploma of energy. The ARMY assist for the BLM motion was a watershed second which culminated in an official assertion from the band and a $1million donation to the trigger. And ARMY concentrating on of a Trump rally resulted in swathes of empty seats which had been block-booked by the extremely organised BTS followers.

Ceaselessly We Are Younger will inevitably attraction most to current followers of the band. For newcomers to the cult of BTS, it’s an illuminating and at instances transferring journey which, whereas it may not go away us as newly paid up ARMY, at the least offers an perception into the their appreciable attraction.