Untold Scandal film review

certificate_18

UNTOLD SCANDAL

Choderlos de Laclos' timely work Les Liaisons Dangereuses has provided fertile ground for film-makers over the least twenty years, notably in Stephen Frears' 1989 adaptation with John Malkovich as the lecherous Valmont who stops at nothing to impress the scheming Glenn Close by seducing the innocent Michelle Pfeiffer. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe took up the reins ten years later in Cruel Intentions, and now this sumptuous and sexy Korean reworking adds another highly successful notch to Laclos posthumous bedpost.

The rigidly hierarchical society of 18th century Korea turns out to be a wonderfully appropriate setting for a daring tale of sexual intrigue. Lady Cho (Lee Mi-Soo) is a governor's wife who whiles away her days in virtual isolation thanks to a society where women must not be seen in public. To amuse herself she devises scandalous dares and enlists her cousin to seduce the young woman who is to become her husband's concubine. Cho-Wan (Bae Jong-Jun) is the sexual predator, a learned artist who sketches his conquests in the nude and jumps at the chance as long as there is a forfeit involved. If he succeeds, Lady Cho will offer herself up to him, and if he loses he must serve out his days as a monk.

So confident is he of his success that he soon takes his eye off the ball when he spots the alluring Lady Sook (Jeon Do-Yeon), a beautiful but chaste young woman. He falls in love with her and pursues her with vigour, putting his bet with Lady Cho in jeopardy. Lady Sook is a closet Catholic, and by attending services and pretending to be a pious worshipper, Cho-Wan worms his way into her affections.

Je-Yong Lee's film, rumoured to be one of the most expensive ever made in Korea, is a treat for the eyes, with astonishing cinematography that brings to life a little known world. The details in the costume, food and sets are picture perfect, and the defined landscape perfectly mirrors the rule-laden society of the day. However, the film also takes it own dares, notably in the unexpectedly erotic nature in which it is shot.