ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies.

LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES may have been published in 1782 but it retains a powerful fascination for modern filmmakers. Six years ago, Cruel Intentions set the story of sexual intrigue and scandal among jaded teenagers in contemporary America.
  
Two years ago, Scotland provided the setting for a new French television adaptation starring Catherine Deneuve and Rupert Everett. Now, director E J-Yong has translated the story to 18th century Korea for a lushly photographed period drama notable for its picturesque locations and delicately handled emotions.
 
Lady Cho (Lee Mi-suk) is the predatory schemer who enveighles her cousin Cho-won (Bae Yong-jun) into a high stakes wager. His challenge is to seduce Lady Sook (Jeon Do-yeon), a young Catholic widow who has remained faithful to her husband’s memory in the nine long years since his death.
  
If he can steal her virtue, Cho-won will be rewarded with an unforgettable evening’s pleasure courtesy of Lady Cho. If he fails, he must fulfil his part of the bargain and become a monk. Thus the stage is set for a stately cat-and-mouse game in which fate plays an ironic trick and the notorious womaniser Cho-won becomes genuinely infatuated with his prey.
  
Looking as pretty as a picture, Untold Scandal is recounted with a remarkable degree of restraint. Everything is about maintaining propriety and respecting the rigid codes of behaviour that existed in this society at this period.

It makes for a rather stately, well-behaved production but does underline the essentially tragic nature of a story in which the power of love stages a bittersweet triumph over cynical hearts and cruel intentions.
 
UNTOLD SCANDAL
General release, selected cinemas
Director: E J-Yong
Stars: Bae Yong-Jun, Lee Mi-sook, Jun So-Youn, Cho Hyun-Jae
Screenwriters: E J-Yong, Kim Deh-Woo, Kim Hyun-Jung
Certificate: 18
Running time: 124 mins
Country: Korea
Year: 2003
 

© Allan Hunter, 2005