The theatrical debut of legendary porn director Bong Man-dae, Sweet Sex & Love traces the arc of a relationship between fashion designer Shin-ah and hospital worker Dong-ki. Meeting by chance, they have a one night stand and later start to date each other. With a candid, unromanticized gaze, director Bong portrays how the couple develops an emotional and physical intimacy, only to have their relationship face troubles down the line. Meanwhile, an explicit presentation of their sex life, together with some unusually frank intertitles, demonstrate how sex can act either as a kind of glue to keep a couple together, or as a last means of bridging a widening emotional gap.
Bong Man-dae debuted in Korea’s straight-to-video erotic film sector, quickly gaining a fan following for his bold cinematic style that utilizes jump cuts, bold use of primary colors and stark contrasts in lighting. With his keen interest in portraying the emotional, as well as the physical side of relationships, he has succeeded in creating a film quite unlike any other turned out by Korea’s mainstream industry. On a purely aesthetic level as well, Sweet Sex & Love is a stylish and accomplished work.
Actress Kim Seo-hyung previously appeared in supporting roles in the romantic comedies A Perfect Match (2002) and Over the Rainbow (2002), while her counterpart Kim Seong-soo makes his cinematic debut after working as a TV model. Their roles must have been a challenge to film, but both manage to create a memorable impression. The film itself was little-watched by local audiences upon its release in summer 2003, and has been completely ignored internationally, so the opportunity to see it on the big screen at FEFJ is a truly rare one.
Darcy Paquet