Lies DVD

Jang Sun Woo's GOJITMAL (LIES) is a disturbing, sexually charged, highly erotic film based on a book by Jang Jung Il, TELL ME A LIE, that was banned in Korea for its pornographic content. The film tells the story of Y (Kim Tae Yeon), an 18-year-old girl ready to explore her sexuality, and J (Lee Sang Hyun), a married 38-year-old sculptor who is excited at the chance to deflower her. What starts out as a minor sexual tryst, however, soon turns into an obsessive relationship laden with guilt, lies, and sado-masochism--Y and J both need the pain of whipping in order to satisfied their naked desires. The film is shot in a documentary-like cinema verité style, using a handheld camera, and many scenes contain only the natural atmospheric sounds--as well as the sound of the camera humming in the background. The lead actors, both making their acting debut, sometimes talk to the camera as themselves, discussing their decisions to take on the challenging roles. Filled with disturbing images, full frontal male and female nudity, and experimental cinematic techniques, LIES is a compelling, difficult, fascinating film that the viewer must be prepared for.

Theatrical release: November 17, 2000. Filmed on location in South Korea and Paris. Director Jang Sun Woo said about LIES, "I wanted the film to show the lives of the characters in graffiti-like terms to make the distinction between pornography and enlightenment disappear. The same goes for the distinction between the spectator's senses of empathy and isolation. I wanted the notions of good and evil to lose all meaning, but still have a film rich in a kind of pathos." Jang's 1994 film TO YOU FROM ME was also based on a novel by Jang Jung Il. A retrospective of Jang's films was shown at the 1997 Rotterdam Film Festival. LIES was shown at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival and was in competition for the Golden Lion at the 1999 Venice Film Festival. The film marked the feature-film debuts of Lee Sang Hyun and Kim Tae Yeon. Lee, who plays a sculptor, actually is a sculptor. Jang Jung Il, author of the novel the film was based on, was sentenced to six months in prison because TELL ME A LIE was considered pornography, which is against the law in Korea. He served two months. Nearly 10,000 copies of his novel were destroyed by the government. Jang was the first Korean writer to be so convicted. If the film was also judged to be pornographic, producer Shin Chul promised the director that he would take full responsibility and go to jail if necessary.

Lies Reviews:

"...Built around voyeurism....The leads are compelling actors..." -- Elvis Mitchell, New York Times

"...LIES, to put it mildly, isn't for every taste, but the actors attain a ferocious on-screen connection that makes this the most heightened graphic-erotic treagdy since IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES." -- Rating: A -- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

"...[The performers] are highly effective....Handled with sly wit..." -- Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

"...A work of honesty and artistic integrity..." -- Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

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