Scandal - Joseon namnyeo sangyeoljisa (2003)

Director:

Je-yong Lee

Writers:

Dae-woo Kim (writer)
Hyeon-jeong Kim (writer)

Release Date:

2 October 2003 (South Korea)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based on the novel 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses,' this film is set in aristocratic 18th-century Korea at the end of the Chosun Dynasty...

Plot Keywords:

18th Century | Hanbok | Tragic Ending | Based On French Novel | Defloration

Awards:

5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Mi-suk Lee	...	Madam Jo
Do-yeon Jeon	...	Suk
Yong-jun Bae	...	Jo-won
Hyeon-jae Jo	...	Kwon In-ho
So-yeon Lee	...	So-ok
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ban-ya Choi	...	Chu-wol
Ha-kyeong Kim

Also Known As:

Scandal - Chosun nam nyo sang yeol jisa (South Korea) (alternative transliteration)
The Scandal (International: English title)
Untold Scandal (International: English title)

Runtime:

124 min (25 fps)

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:18 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:R(A) | Japan:R-18 | UK:18

Trivia:

Replaced 2046 (2004) as the closing film at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Movie Connections:

Version of Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

Brilliant adaptation of 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses'

Moving this story from the French aristocracy to the Korean during Chosen dynasty when everyone held up a mask of decency in daytime and let it fall together with the hanbok at night was quite the trick to re-liven this story. Everything is done so well from the flow to the brilliant actresses/actors. Most notably is Lee Mi-suk as the sly older cousin/fox. The backdrop of Korean castles is quite fitting, and as they sneak around at night like teenagers we sit on the edge of the seat hoping they wouldn't get caught.

The charm of "Jeon-sama" is lost on me, but I know it wouldn't be for hordes of "women in their best age". So if you're one of those, catch it!! Must be a big hit in all of East-Asia now.