- Title: VARIOUS: SOUTH KOREAN SEX FILM "LIES" PREMIERES
- Date: 8th January 2000
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JANUARY 8, 2000) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) DIRECTOR JANG SUN-WOO SAYING: "I wanted (the audience) to watch the film as it is, without any prejudice. I made the film, hoping that (the audience) would look at the events and the lives just as it is."
- Embargoed: 23rd January 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SEOUL AND UNKNOWN LOCATIONS, SOUTH KOREA
- City:
- Country: Korea, Republic of Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA3CXL4787PJSTWEN5YAGZ4540W
- Story Text: Banned South Korean sex film "Lies" drew huge crowds of moviegoers throughout the nation after it finally premiered a year after its completion.The controversial film had initially shocked South Korean censors with its explicit depiction of a sadomasochistic affair between a sculptor and a schoolgirl.
Now, although they've finally relented and allowed it to be screened, the film still faces enormous opposition from civil rights groups.
Hundreds of South Korean moviegoers lined up at Seoul Cinema, one of the 101 theatres where the movie was being premiered.But, many had to turn back in disappointment as all of the tickets were sold out by midday.
Director Jang Sun-woo's provocative movie "Lies" had originally been banned from being screened at local cinemas due to its graphic sex scenes.Of the movie's 100-minute running time, more than 70 percent is devoted to the tempestous affair.
"(This film) got a passing grade from an official (ratings) association.Anyway, I never thought that this one movie could cause so much complications and commotion," said director Jang Sun-woo.
"I wanted (the audience) to watch the film as it is, without any prejudice.I made the film, hoping that (the audience) would look at the events and the lives just as it is," Jang added.
The film tells the story of an 18-year old high school girl "Y" who decides to lose her virginity to 38-year old sculptor "J" but soon finds herself in a sadistic and obsessive relationship driven by pain, pleasure and lies.
"Oh, it was really hard, to be in front of all those people and lights, to make the sex scenes look so close to reality," said 45-year old actor Lee Sang-hyon.
Though many local critics say the characters have no depth and the movie is plainly pornographic, 23-year old actress Kim Tae-yeon says she was inspired by the courage of "Y."
"Y is a courageous woman who knows how to love.And, she is also the kind of woman that men dream about at least once in the lives," said Kim.
Due to its graphic sexual content, a local civic group has sued director Jang Sun-woo and the head of the production company Shincine Communications.
"Korean society is one that is based on Confucian ideals, so it has a very conservative views towards sex.And many of the adolescents and adults get information concerning sex through the media as sex education is not widespread (as in other societies," said Christian Ethics Movement spokesman Chun Jong-cheon.
"We should not ignore the fact that the audience is being used in the commericialisation of sex in the name of capitalist logic," added Chun.
Jang Sun-woo's "Lies" was screened at the Venice Film Festival held in September last year, when it competed for Venice's top Golden Lion Prize against other sex-themed films such as Stanley Kubrick's erotic thriller "Eyes Wide Shut."
The film took three months and 1.3 billion won (about US$1.14 million) to produce.But, box office profits may drastically be cut as the film is currently under threat of being recalled from cinemas due strong protest by civic groups to cease screening of the movie.
The original book, "Tell Me a Lie," was banned in South Korea and all copies were destroyed and those already sold were recalled for destruction.The author Jang Jung-il was sentenced to six-months imprisonment for publishing the book which was published in 1996. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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