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The Forbidden Quest (Eum-ran-seo-saeng)

Part of the Korean Cinema Now (And Then) Series

Saturday, February 09, 2008
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Billy Wilder Theater
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA United States

The Forbidden Quest
음란서생
(2006) Directed by Kim Dae-woo

In this sumptuous, erotically-charged period drama, a police inspector's discovery of a subversive pornographic manuscript inspires him to pen a best-selling "indecent novel" of his own. He models the dirty bits on his illicit affair with the king's concubine, but dire consequences ensue when he invites his illustrator (who has trouble visualizing the outrageous sexual positions described in the book) to spy in the royal boudoir. In fact, erotic literature flourished during the 18th century Chosun Dynasty, when harsh Confucian repression was accompanied by the invention of such amorous arts as "the flying fairy", "rocking a swing" and "toying with a duck's legs." Director Kim Dae-woo eloquently marries bawdy humor with elaborate sensual refinement to capture the contradictions of this fascinating period.

Producer: Kim Su-jin. Cinematographer: Choi Jong-ryol, Han Seok-gyu, Kim Min-jeong.
Presented in Korean dialogue with English subtitles. 35mm, 139 min.

Cost: $10/ticket