Um. Wow. That’s pretty much all I’ve got left in my brain after seeing this still from The Housemaid, which was just released.
The film is currently at Cannes International Film Festival, where it screened yesterday (May 13). The Korean press has kept a close eye on the reaction, and particularly regarding its stars Jeon Do-yeon (who won Best Actress at Cannes for Secret Sunshine in 2007) and Lee Jung-jae. Initial press has been generally positive (calling it entertaining) and while The Housemaid has been described as suspense thriller, it also drew laughs for its black comedy. In addition to the two leads, veteran actress Yoon Yeo-jung drew praise as the elderly housekeeper.
The cast and director gave the film’s official press conference at Cannes today, where the director explained that he was surprised when not just one but two Korean films were accepted into the festival’s competitive portion (the other is Poetry, which stars Yoon Jung-hee and Ahn Nae-sang). He also talked about the necessity for updating the film from the 1960 original, pointing out that Korea is well-known for its incredibly fast development in the past half-century, but that the central themes at the core (adultery, love, sexual relationships) are just as relevant now as they were then.
The Housemaid also released yesterday at home, and has already attracted an impressive 170,000 theatergoers in its very first day.
RELATED POSTS
- The Housemaid releases character posters
- The Housemaid’s teaser video
- The Housemaid wraps filming
- Jeon Do-yeon returns with a remake of a classic
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Saw the original film and it was a great well acted movie. Looks like the new version is more daring and sexy than the original. Looking foeward to watching it.
@ 47 And lots and lots of other women and girls don’t.
I guess this is where the party is at! Look at all the freaking posts. I didn’t even look in here earlier since I’m not a big LJJ fan though I did think he was adorable in An Affair.
To some of the guys, the woman are having just a bit of fun so just roll with it and yes don’t be afraid we are sexual people and it erupts up now and then with the actors we fangirl. I am guessing we are older than the average soompi crowd but it doesn’t mean our loins are all dried up. I’ll wager its not even LJJ’s body, as fine as it is, but the image he has built in the fangirl’s collective hearts that is causing this reaction. JB for instance loves LJJ and has “mined” him a long time ago and there are squabbles here and there especially when it comes to Kang Ji Hwan and maybe even Yoon Kye Sang..well maybe not YKS but definitely KJW but I digress, where was I? Oh yes, I think I was explaining the reactions but maybe I shouldn’t play the mediator here since it is against my own interest. I’m totally enjoying the posts as I drink Sierra Nevada and chew some dried squid. Best entertainment I had this whole week considering how awful PT has been. Cheers!
BTW In Hee objectively totally creeps me out and I thought the same thing back when I first saw her in “How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor”. She is not only extremely plastic looking but her smiles are a bit gummy. I’m totally willing to take all of this back though if I find out the actress is the nation’s mother teresa. I much rather wake up every morning to someone more like KaeIn. But what the hell am I saying? I hate PT so I shouldn’t even bother commenting.
@47tokyojesusfist
“And I suppose porn movies compete at Cannes?”
Well, technically they do… in the Cannes Porn Festival. Plus depends where are you from some of the films competed in Cannes Film Festival they will be considerated porn in some countries so… YES, it can happen.
What I’m not sure it what do you wanna say with it. That this movie is porn? really? have you ever seen the Europeans films that competed in Film Festivals… if you think this is porn, don’t watch French, Spanish or Italian films…
“The reason why there isn’t as much “male sexualization” in the media is almost certainly because there is just no demand for or interest in it”
again… really? well, I’m sure there is demand and interest in it among my group of friends (females and males…yes, that’s what happens when your best friends are gays and according to Personal Taste, I’m one of the lucky ones ). Is not all these post about this picture make you believe that there is an interest? maybe there isn’t as much “male sexualization” in the media because it is controled for men? or because woman expressing sexual desire still kind of taboo? (I put you as example of that) or maybe double standards? or… well, I don’t see any exaggeration at all, as A pointing out “some of us, I think, have a better sense of humor than others” coz I read them as fun n harmless comments.
BTW I don’t have any particular interested in this film and any of the actors but just to go with the rest of the javabeans fans… WOOOOAAAAA!!! HE’S HOT!! (plus we know he’s good actor too so that it’s at least 10 brownie points).
@javabeans & co
Thank you for all the recaps, news, music, etc… I watch kdramas with my dad and I wish he’d speak English so he can read you too coz your recaps are so much fun (sometimes I don’t watch the drama, just read the recaps).
Thanx to you I know about Korea as much as my Koreans friends
SP: Sorry for my poor English
@tokyojesusfist: “I was only pointing out that people are overreacting to this post. The reason why there isn’t as much “male sexualization” in the media is almost certainly because there is just no demand for or interest in it…” …so basically what you’re saying is that we, females, are cold blooded creature with no interest in the opposite sex’s physique? Well, that’s rather sad for you male lots isn’t it? :/
Females. We do have hormonal need of the sexual kind , you know? This is not a myth or urban legend, I assure you. This could be even constitute as fact! *gasp*…I’ll let you take a moment to let that sink in.
Lol @A. – I don’t know if you’ve ever read the webcomic xkcd, but please look at this because it pretty much sums up the gist of what you just said -> http://www.xkcd.com/714/
Anyways I think I’m gonna stop paying attention to this debate/argument or whatever it is, because I think it’s just getting a bit too off-track and antagonistic. I have dramas to watch!! *cough cough* and assignments to do… =.=”
it is ironic how conservative a Korean might be when it comes to drama but really provocative to its come to soft porn.
Extra marital affairs. LOADS of KOREAN films love to promote those soft porn involving those areas.
I loath that. I lots tons of respect of Korean film makers no matter how creative they are when I discovered that. No matter how I love to think out of the box but this matters is NOT a laughable matters.
typo: I lost tons of respects to not only film makers but artists who willing to do that too.
People forget that Lee Jung-jae was the original chocolate abs man, way before the likes of Rain, Kwon Sang-woo and a few others who drop/rip their shirts at the drop of a hat
Guys in korean entertainment with abs are in dime in a dozen today. Most get pec implants to supplement their gym regime but Lee Jung-jae has been around for quite some time. He has topped little polls here and there for his ab-worthy body but i think it is time he has his share of limelight. I hope this movie bags something at Cannes, if not for him, then Korea as a whole
@52 “And lots and lots of other women and girls don’t.”
Which does nothing to alter the fact that these are both very popular.
@54 “YES, it can happen.”
The point was that porn is trash.
“again… really?”
Yes.
“maybe there isn’t as much “male sexualization” in the media because it is controled for men?”
This is a feminist myth.
“or because woman expressing sexual desire still kind of taboo?”
It isn’t.
@55 “Females. We do have hormonal need of the sexual kind , you know?”
And your point is…?
I don’t see what’s so difficult about admitting that men and women are different and respond differently to different things.
“or because woman expressing sexual desire still kind of taboo?”
It isn’t. ”
Yes, it kind of is. In many countries it can get you killed.
“I don’t see what’s so difficult about admitting that men and women are different and respond differently to different things.”
I’m not quite sure what you mean by that but if you refer to the “visual creatures” thing: Both men and women are visual creatures because humans in general are visual creatures. I don’t know were the opposite idea came from and why so many men seem to believe it but it’s just not true.
@61 “Yes, it kind of is. In many countries it can get you killed.”
It is clear that we are talking about the Western world, not Outer Absurdistan.
“Both men and women are visual creatures because humans in general are visual creatures.”
When it is said that women are less “visual” than men, it means that women don’t respond strongly to a man’s appearance (they often completely disregard it), or to porn.
damn! where can i apply as his housemaid ? ..well i can be his SERVANT with NO SALARY! yup! i’m very much willing ..just always walk like that in the house! dont care whether he feed me or not …hahahaha!
@tokyojesusfist: how are humans not “visual” creatures? we have eyes to VISUALIZE things….. jesus.. -_-”
@tokyojesusfist:
“It is clear that we are talking about the Western world, not Outer Absurdistan.”
Not really, we were discussing women in general (even those in Outer Absurdistan).
“When it is said that women are less “visual” than men, it means that women don’t respond strongly to a man’s appearance (they often completely disregard it), or to porn.”
If you really think this, you don’t know anything about women.
@65 “Not really, we were discussing women in general (even those in Outer Absurdistan).”
For the purposes of this discussion, they are irrelevant.
“If you really think this, you don’t know anything about women.”
It’s simply true. Why is it that you deny it? Is it because it establishes a difference between men and women? By the same logic you may as well deny having a vagina.
This picture makes me very happy. For various reasons, but I shall draw up my gaze and focus on the casual look on his face and not the region her head is so close to.
Have I mentioned I was able to go to bed. yesss <3