Lies (1999)

Recommended

South Korea

Feature Film

Original Title: 거짓말

Director: Jang Sun-Woo

Writers: Jang Sun-Woo, Chang Jung-Il

Cinematographer: Kim Woo-hyung

Composer: Dal Pa-lan

Cast: Lee Sang Hyun, Kim Tae Yeon

Jang’s much reviled film - an adaptation of Chang’s controversial novel, exploring the sado-masochistic relationship between an 18-year-old school girl and a 38-year-old artist, detailing a three-hole loss of virginity, numerous beatings and whippings, and a shit-smeared sex act, amongst other various instances of button-pushing - is a frequently hilarious, often thought provoking, and even quite touchingly romantic work, and, certainly, very most definitely one of a kind. Iain.Stott