‘Obsessed’ for the most part succeeds in being a sensual, brooding and beautifully slow-burning tale of forbidden love, but while director Kim Dae-woo’s expertise in depicting palpably erotically-charged narratives serves as one of the film’s many strong points his decision to pile ‘final’ melodramatic moment on top of final melodramatic moment is easily its weakest. [Read More]
People: Jo Yeo-jeong
The Concubine (후궁: 제왕의 첩, 2012) review: power, desire and matriarchal control in Joseon Korea
A sumptuous and erotically-charged period drama, both visually and in terms of narrative content, and playing with themes of patriarchy and a domineering mother as well as a volatile love triangle, ‘The Concubine’ is every bit as gripping as it is intricate; as involving as it is involved. [Read More]
The Servant (방자전, 2010) review: a Joseon-era love triangle with echoes of Untold Scandal
Billed as an “erotic rom-com”, The Servant serves its purpose as a sensual and funny romance relatively well, but character depth and audience empathy suffer as the myriad of layers begin to build, and even the sumptuous visuals cannot rescue The Servant from ultimately failing to live up to its early promise… [Read More]