Recommendations for other Korean films with a dose of sensuality
Below are some other South Korean films that I enjoyed that had some sensuality to them. If you've seen any, please give your thoughts. If you have not seen them, check them out!
Untold Scandal (2003) (Korean Romance/Drama) – Loosely based on the 18th century French novel Dangerous Liaisons, this film is set in aristocratic 18th-century Korea. A man takes a bet with his lady cousin that he can impregnate an abstinent girl (Do-yeon Jeon). Both of the lead characters are devious, and use every emotional ploy at their disposal to manipulate others to their advantage. Truly, the joy of watching this film is to see the two leads pull strings and use strategies to influence the lives of everyone else around them. The acting is very good, and the screenplay well-adapted. There is also an aura of sensuality present throughout.
Rules of Dating (2005) (Korean Romance) – A teacher relentlessly attempts to have sex with his colleague. This guy is so forward and unprofessional in his strategies that its frequently embarrassing watching him in action. Luckily, there’s more to the story than meets the eye, and things get exceedingly interesting during the latter half of the film. Their relationship is unconventional in cinematic terms, so it is refreshing to see something different – and this is very different.
Forbidden Quest (2006) (Korean Drama/Comedy) – In the 18th century, a noble high-class scholar (Suk-Kyu Han) begins writing black market erotic novels with the help of his friend (a law enforcer with a talent for torturing criminals and drawing naughty artwork) and a few local merchants. The highlights of the film are the hilarious brainstorming sessions from which various sexual positions and mannerisms are concocted. The mood shifts to a very serious one during the final half hour with bloody violence – but those elements are also effective and interesting down the stretch.
Hypnotized (aka Faceless Beauty) (2004) (Korean Drama/Horror) – A psychiatrist attempts to woo a woman with a rare psychological disorder. Massive quantities of indirect communication are used early on (thereby forcing the viewer to use their intelligence to put some pieces together), but these unique storytelling techniques drop off a bit during the middle half hour before ramping up again near the end. The protagonists are interesting given their psychological plights, and even the supporting characters make memorable contributions. The scoring and set designs are high quality and there is also a healthy dose of nudity and sex (nothing gratuituous). When all is said and done, this is a genre-bending, deliberately-paced dramatic horror film that will satiate the needs of those who desire something very different.
Scarlet Innocence (2014) (Korean Romance/Drama/Thriller) – A married professor has a lusty affair with a small town girl, but tragedy soon befalls her and that prompts a turn to animosity. This gets very steamy at times, contributing some of the more lengthy, graphic sex scenes in recent memory. Woo-sung Jung and Esom are both impressive. Direction provides some very nice visuals, and the story flows nicely. The second half has some unexpected and interesting plot developments. The characters do some really bad things, but the viewer can understand where they are coming from. There’s a quiet intensity to this unconventional romance.
The Treacherous (2015) (Korean Drama) – After being engulfed with insanity and revenge, a prince demands beautiful women (regardless of age, marriage status, or social class) to be rounded up for his personal pleasure – this caused widespread anger in the kingdom. One of the would-be sex slaves makes an impression, but his long-time friend also has eyes for her. This film has some serious balls, and will likely offend many viewers with its immoral male characters, its wild tonal shifts, and its depiction of women (who inexplicably become very willing to be sex slaves once they enter the palace). However, this is way more interesting than one might think. Although this is primarily a drama, it does have a few highly entertaining doses of humor. There’s a lengthy, hilarious “training” sequence where the women are formally educated in the art of sexual pleasure. The prince is a psycho nutcase, which provides some entertainment value in itself. Of course, there are some disturbing moments of graphic violence mixed in, which creates those oddly captivating tonal shifts. Despite the plethora of sexual references, there are only a small handful of sex scenes shown (one of which is a fairly graphic girl-on-girl intercourse). Performances are solid; the story and characters have an engaging dynamic. This film is beautifully shot and has a great visual style about it, with outstanding production values and set designs. A particularly abrasive film from Korea, but I couldn’t stop watching. It reminded me a bit of "Caligula."
Moebius (2013) (Korean Exploitation Horror/Drama/Romance) – Kim Ki-duk directs this film about a teenager (within a dysfunctional family) who is assaulted and must endure the emotional consequences. This is violent, disgusting, depraved, cringeworthy, and ridiculous stuff that some viewers may write off (somewhat justifiably) as garbage. On the other hand, it is oddly engaging because it has impressive performances, interesting themes, and many surprises. There’s a lot of emphasis on self-mutilation as a gateway for sexual pleasure. There is also no dialogue and no scoring . . . at all . . . for the entire runtime! That is one of a few unique aspects at play. To top it all off, there are a few genuinely funny moments. Definitely the nastiest film in this director’s filmography, this is completely nuts. Viewer beware; nerves of steel are required.
A Muse (aka Eun Gyo) (2012) (Korean Drama) – A complicated and volatile relationship develops between an elderly poet, his protege, and a precocious high school girl. The focus here is on how the beautiful girl re-invigorates the poet’s sense of youthfulness. The direction here is great, with many sensual shots that expertly express the sights, sounds, scents, and feelings of youth. Performances are very strong. A younger actor plays the old man, by the way. The relationships and story unfold in some unexpected ways. Really impressive stuff that’s a nice blend of pleasant and intense.
Thirst (2009) (Korean Horror/Drama) – After a blood transfusion, a priest (Kang-hoSong) becomes a vampire and must decide on how to deal with this new affliction. This is a genre-bending film – using drama, romance, comedy, and horror – which is always a welcome, refreshing attribute. The acting is solid, and Ok-bin Kim provides the standout performance that should solidify her as one of the top actresses in South Korea (a bold statement considering that country’s deep pool of young acting talent). However, the script tries to be a jack-of-all-trades as it touches upon a variety of themes that are never fully developed. The final 40 or so minutes are by far the most entertaining when Ok-bin Kim begins to gleefully dominate the proceedings as the film shifts more decisively towards horror. The camerawork is nice, but as is expected from Chan-wook Park. In the end, this has a good overall quality. The viewer should note that there is a healthy amount of sexual content here.
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