‘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 aside from different Ok-Pop teams. However this buoyant documentary isn’t a lot concerning the historical past of the band as it’s about their followers, often known as ARMY (an acronym for the considerably unwieldy ‘Lovely Consultant M.C. for Youth’).

Gives a captivating wider perception into fandom usually 

The movie, by filmmaker Grace Lee and educational and documentarian Patty Ahn (each ARMY), research the group by the eyes of the varied, international, 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 consists of the Peabody-winning documentary sequence, And She May 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 Ok-Pop, and teaches a course on the topic on the College of California. Their determination to concentrate on 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 be certain 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 a streaming platform.

It’s arduous to consider it now, given the worldwide pop powerhouse that BTS has grow to be, however the band have been initially thought-about to be the outlying underdogs of the Ok-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 international attain has been evident nearly from the outset – we meet diehard ARMY from Mexico and throughout America – however their success of their native South Korea was comparatively sluggish to construct. The fastidiously managed accessibility of the band members – goofy Vlogs and YouTube content material are nearly as essential to the ARMY because the music – is essential.

What is especially putting is the extent to which ARMY members mission 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 offered 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 have been solid throughout 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 digicam.

Whereas the movie is particularly about BTS followers, it offers a captivating wider perception into fandom usually 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.

Endlessly 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 shifting journey which, whereas it won’t go away us as newly paid up ARMY, a minimum of provides an perception into the their appreciable attraction.