there's been a rare lesbian sighting in Korean cinema!

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

There have been many boy-meets-girl or boy-meets-boy love stories in mainstream cinema in Korea, but none about lesbians.

So when director Kim Su-hyeon’s “Life is Peachy” was screened for the press on Nov. 16, it certainly attracted attention.

The film revolves around three lesbians and their intertwining relationships, with steamy sex scenes to boot.

Kim, who also wrote the screenplay, said he wrote the film out of what he later recognized as a misconception of same-sex relationships.

“I believed their love would be different and special, which is what made me write the story,” Kim told the media. “But as I developed the story, I realized I was wrong. Their love is the same as everyone else’s, so I changed my mind and tried to look at their love from the same perspective as I would for heterosexual couples.”


He was open about the challenges of making a film about two women, and didn’t deny that it was difficult.

“If the lead characters had been male and female, it would have been much easier for me to direct the film, though,” he said.

“Life is Peachy” is Kim’s second film. His first, 2004’s “So Cute,” also contained an unconventional love story. That film was about a father and three sons who compete with each other to win the affections of one woman. With the film, Kim was named best new director at the 41th Paeksang Arts Awards in 2005.

“Life is Peachy” revolves around three women named Ji-woo. Arts professor Jung Ji-woo (Kim Sang-hyun) is searching for a nude model for a video clip that will be played at her exhibition. When Hee-jin (Seo Hyun-jin), one of her students, recommends Yoon Ji-woo (Kim Hyo-jin) for the job, the three woman head to the beach to shoot the video. As they spend time together, Yoon Ji-woo begins to share pieces of her past relationship with Gang Ji-woo (Kim Kkot-bi). The film weaves the pasts and presents of the three Ji-woos and focuses on their intersecting relationship.

Shot two years ago in the middle of winter, with some very steamy sex scenes, the roles couldn’t have been easy for the young actresses to take on. Korea is still a conservative society when it comes to nudity and sex, and homosexuality is still a taboo topic here, especially where love between women is concerned. And most actresses decline to appear nude on screen in order to protect their image.

But the two leads, Kim Hyo-jin (“Five Senses of Eros,” 2009) and Kim Kkot-bi (“Breathless,” 2008), both said that portraying lesbians was not a problem and that they were happy to be part of the film.

“The most challenging thing during the production was the brutal chill,” Hyo-jin said. “But playing the role of a woman who falls in love with someone of the same sex wasn’t that difficult.

“I approached the film in this way: Two people meet and fall in love. And the person that I fall in love with happens to be a woman.”

Kkot-bi agreed and said she hoped the film would help promote understanding of homosexuality.

“I don’t see their love as anything special. The way they feel and the way they are attracted to each other is the same as for everyone else,” Kkot-bi said. “I hope this film will help people understand gay people better.”

“Life is Peachy” will be released here on Dec. 8, but it has already been making the rounds on the festival circuit. The film was screened at last year’s Berlin International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival and will be shown again at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan early next year.

Kim said that he was surprised that his film had been invited to the Berlin festival, where there is a larger variety of films about homosexuality.

He said that at first he thought the film had been invited simply because of the novelty of a film about lesbians from Korea, but later changed his mind.

“I had the impression that they were more interested in the characters’ emotions and the way they communicate with each other,” Kim said. “Maybe that’s because of the cultural differences [between Korea and Germany].”

The film is one of a growing number of films depicting same-sex relationships. “REC,” directed by So Jun-moon, opened yesterday. It traces two men, who have been together for five years and are on the verge of breaking up, on their last day together.

More films will be released next year. Producer Kim Cho Gwang-su, who participated in the production of hit films “Detective K” (2011) and “The Client” (2011), is currently working on “Two Marriages and One Funeral” and So who directed “REC” is also working on a film about the queer community, “Road to Itaewon.”

source: Korea Joongang Daily

Comments

[thebluemonk.livejournal.com]

[anoukinparis.livejournal.com]

omg as if i wasn't already excited about this, the quotes from the actresses and the director just sealed the deal. i love how they're looking at it as just two people connecting and falling in love. if only more people recognized it really is as simple as that.

[risutaro.livejournal.com]

+1

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

+2

This, sfm. :')

[saphbluedreams.livejournal.com]

This. I hate how most movies about same sex couples get hung up on the fact that they are gay like that's the only thing going on.

[bolingi-aii.livejournal.com]

everything thats been said, from the actresses to the Director is on point :3

[ueda-hyo.livejournal.com]

“I believed their love would be different and special, which is what made me write the story,” Kim told the media. “But as I developed the story, I realized I was wrong. Their love is the same as everyone else’s, so I changed my mind and tried to look at their love from the same perspective as I would for heterosexual couples.”

I teared up at this, omg. All of them are flawless human beings! <3

[tyangs-icecream.livejournal.com]

Soooooo true,this sentence made me so happy,it's wonderful when people finally get the point of what its all about^^

[proyuri.livejournal.com]

I want to see this so bad.

[lil-rach-angel.livejournal.com]

Excited for this film!

[mouthwash.livejournal.com]

omgggggg i need to see this!!1

[jactay14.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, I am excited now!

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Sounds good.

[sai12.livejournal.com]

Wow this sounds really good

[dislike.livejournal.com]

THIS IS EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER WANTED

[plantbottle.livejournal.com]

I love this - “I believed their love would be different and special, which is what made me write the story,” Kim told the media. “But as I developed the story, I realized I was wrong. Their love is the same as everyone else’s, so I changed my mind and tried to look at their love from the same perspective as I would for heterosexual couples.” I wish others would see homosexuality like this as well. I am heterosexual myself, but it's just so...sad to see how homosexuals are treated in some countries of the world. With more people that think like Kim Suhyun,full acceptance is just a little bit closer.

[very-pinku.livejournal.com]

This is awesome and this is how it should be like.
Every person loves someone differently but the feeling of love doesn't matter what gender you are...it's simply love.

I hope more people realize that and i hope to see the film if i ever get the chance.

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I wouldn't mind watching this film at all. :)

[kuumin.livejournal.com]

their hair looks wet??? or greasy

[lobotronic.livejournal.com]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[threebits.livejournal.com]

i want to watch this film ;_; but how

[nyankee.livejournal.com]

“I approached the film in this way: Two people meet and fall in love. And the person that I fall in love with happens to be a woman.”
“I don’t see their love as anything special. The way they feel and the way they are attracted to each other is the same as for everyone else [...]”

Groundbreaking. Simply groundbreaking.

For the uninitiated: that was sarcasm.


That said, I'm glad this is the attitude they approached the project with. I still worry with all the mention of "steamy sex scenes" it might still be gratuitous, but I'll reserve judgement until I actually get to see it.

[itendtoflail.livejournal.com]

Are there any other korean lesbian films in existence that are worth watching? The only thing I remember ever coming close was "Some like it Hot" with Sohee.

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

Memento Mori has lesbian characters, but I haven't seen it so I can't vouch for it, and I've heard it's not that good. Other than that... I can't really think of any. There's a some that have come out of Japan and Taiwan, tho.

[itendtoflail.livejournal.com]

any you'd recommend? I saw the beginning of Spider Lillies but I just couldn't get into it :/

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

Miao Miao is a cute movie. Love My Life is good as well, though a bit choppy. It's based off of a manga that's a good read. There's also Butterfly, which was good from what I remember.

[nalty7.livejournal.com]

Spider Lillies sucked a lot.

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

There's Daughters of Bilitis? I haven't seen it, but I've bookmarked it on youtube.

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

lol whoops, should have scrolled down and read the comment below mine.

Re: Daughters of Club Bilitis-- a lesbian minidrama

[velveteenkitten.livejournal.com]

Will watch it when I get the chance, thanks for posting. <3

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

All the recent queer Korean cinema is making me very, very happy. :)

[atarashiiyoake.livejournal.com]

The startling contrast between these actresses' reaction to playing their roles to that guy the other day that ended up all confused amd depressed because he played a gay guy is pretty impressive.

I need to see this movie.

[morgenderper.livejournal.com]

Which guy ? Would you have à link please ?

[atarashiiyoake.livejournal.com]

This guy. (http://omonatheydidnt.livejournal.com/7618628.html#cutid1) ()

[morgenderper.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[asth77.livejournal.com]

" And most actresses decline to appear nude on screen in order to protect their image. "

I don't buy this, I've seen too many korean actresses playing nude.

This film looks great! I really wanna watch it.

[velveteenkitten.livejournal.com]

Intrigued by this film and want to see it. I hope it's good and does indeed focus on the relationships between these women with not too many gratuitous sex scenes.

[letsrelapse.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see this. The quotes from the director and actresses are just perfect.

[gardenintheair.livejournal.com]

CAN'T WAIT

[livvyxo.livejournal.com]

ohhhhh this pleases me and my love for Korean cinema VERY much. very very pleased.


"the roles couldn’t have been easy for the young actresses to take on. Korea is still a conservative society when it comes to nudity and sex,"

um did nobody see Thirst

[uledy.livejournal.com]

My face during the entirety of that movie O.O

f***ing loved it.

[headswillroll88.livejournal.com]

i appreciate what they're saying but not everyone just falls in love with a person...the terms "gay" "lesbian" "straight" etc exists for a reason. some people are only attracted to certain things.

[uledy.livejournal.com]

It'll be interesting to watch a story about lesbians written by a (presumably)straight man T_T

"I believed their love would be different and special, which is what made me write the story...I realized I was wrong. Their love is the same as everyone else’s, so I...tried to look at their love from the same perspective as I would for heterosexual couples"

No. Their love is different. Relationships within the LGBQ community are different than conventional heterosexual relationships. There are different norms, customs, social influences and culture that surround many LGBQ relationships. In fact, it's a running argument amongst activists within the community as to whether or not LGBQ relationships should model heterosexual relationships. Some say that to model heterosexual relationships is to deny the sexual and cultural differences between the groups. I agree. I feel like denying these differences minimalizes and reduces the LGBQ existence and the struggles they may endure.

It could be judgmental of me because the director could have taken testimonies, done research, and had assistance that I am not aware of. All I know is that it irks me when a minimalized group is portrayed/represented by someone outside the group. It seems less organic and less innate to me...but, we'll see.