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Untold
Scandal Synopsis: Outrageous goings-on in the picturesque days of yore! Chosun Dynasty's "next generation" engage in some very dangerous liaisons. Chosun's greatest casanova and jezebel join forces to corrupt a virtuous young widow. "Untold Scandal" is the naughtiest period drama you've ever seen! Could something this sensational and risky have happened in18th century Chosun? This film begins with an enthusiastic, 'yes!" Human desire could never be suppressed completely, no matter how repressive the rules of Confucianism and patriarchy might have been. Although "Untold Scandal" is set in conservative 18th century Chosun, the story that unfolds does not feel archaic, but current and sophisticated. The main characters are the progressives of their era, the "next generation" of the Chosun dynasty, who live by their own rules. Their daring games of affection unfold as the tension rises and the stakes grow bigger in their struggle over emotional hegemony. The brightest stars together on the silver screen! The most lavish casting in the most sensational film of the year. Just the mere fact that BAE Yong-jun, the top star of the moment in television and commercials, has joined established mega movie stars LEE Mi-Sook and JEON Do-Yeon is enough to put "Untold Scandal" in the news. The fact that they play distinctive, fascinating characters of the lothario, the seductress, and the chaste widow, respectively, makes it the most anticipated film of the year. First, BAE Yong-Jun undergoes a drastic transformation to become the charming libertine that no woman can resist, throwing off his trademark glasses and donning a topknot. JEON Do-Yeon, who is known for her portrayals of strong-willed, outgoing and adorable women, perfectly embodies the Confucian feminine ideal as the purest woman in Chosun who remains faithful to her dead husband. Rounding out this stellar cast is LEE Mi-Sook, whose performance as the title character in the historical drama "JANG Hee-Bin" almost twenty years ago established the standard against which all screen vamps are measured. She sinks her teeth into the role of Chosun's greatest temptress as only she can, showing off her incomparable charisma and allure.
A vivid re-creation of the beautiful and sophisticated culture of the Chosun dynasty Director E J-Yong and Production Designer JUNG Ku-Ho, the team that proved its extraordinary visual flair in "The Affair"(1998), have come together again to re-create the fashions and culture of Chosun dynasty's ruling class in sumptuous detail. The era's nobility were accustomed to such extravagance that one elaborate headdress for women could cost as much as a house. Starting with a solid foundation of thorough research and authenticity, the filmmakers added a dash of their inimitable imagination to create beautiful, sophisticated costumes and sets that will dazzle audiences. Until now, Korean historical dramas were dominated by quaint folk tales or power struggles in the royal palace. "Untold Scandal" explores the fascinating lifestyle of Chosun dynasty's upper class, hitherto largely overlooked in popular entertainment. Even the most insignificant everyday item will be beautifully realized for the first time ever on the big screen. Fun and provocative: a fresh take on the eternal battle of the sexes Torrid scenes are only to be expected in a story that features two of the most successful seducers of an era, but such episodes are not merely erotic in nature, but convey a playfulness that allows the audience to participate in and enjoy the games that are going on. For instance, audiences will undoubtedly be entertained by the variety of tactics that Jo-won, the biggest player on the scene, uses to seduce an astonishing array of women-from courtesans to other noblemen's wives. LEE Mi-Sook as noblewoman Lady Cho, respectable on the surface but a voracious man-eater in her spare time, manages to create fireworks and maintain a sexual tension with without explicit sex scenes. In contrast, JEON Do-Yeon's virtuous widow, Lady Sook, stubbornly resists Jo-won's determined advances before finally exploding in a powerful emotional display. The sensual expressions of three very distinctive personalities will be one of the film's main attractions.
The end of the Chosun dynasty-a period when rigid Confucianism clashed with encroaching new beliefs. Lady Cho is a brilliant woman who mastered the classics on her own, and she resents the limited life she must lead as a woman. A devoted wife on the surface, she secretly entertains herself with sexual conquests.
One day, Lady Cho asks Jo-won to deflower
the innocent young Soh-ok, who is to become her husband's concubine,
but his attentions are elsewhere: Lady Sook. Graceful and aloof,
Lady Sook lives according to her convictions as a Catholic. Jo-won
becomes obsessed with seducing her, a woman who has remained chaste
for nine years since her husband's death. However, it proves to
be more difficult than he expected when Chosun's greatest playboy
sets out to conquer the most virtuous woman in the land… |
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