'Scandal' Filmmaker Suspicious About Love by Lee Dong-jin
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Only 10 days since its release, the movie "Untold Scandal" has sold 2 million tickets. The movie, directed by Lee Jae-yong and starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Mi-suk and Jeon Do-yeon, comically portrays a man living in the 18th century who regards love as a mere game.
Everyone is congratulating the director Lee for the huge success, but it's not at all exciting for him, he said. During the filming, people warned him about how movies with traditional background are seldom successful at the box office, so all he could think of was how to safely finish the movie making without losing money for the investors. As it turns out, it's been fortunate for everyone, he said.
Looking at the technical aspects, "Untold Scandal" may be one of the best in Korea this year. Lee, a perfectionist, spent almost W2 billion ($1.7 million) on costumes and sets, saying he would not compromise on the artistic side of the movie.
All three of Lee's movies talk of romantic love, yet they also contain cynical attitudes toward love. Through the movie, is Lee trying to say something about love that he himself does not believe in? To him, asking whether he believes in true love is like asking whether he believes in the existence of a superior being.
Lee said that he does not believe in love but knows that something is there. He thinks that love is a game in which you have to know the rules to win, but at times, people disregard the rules to seek for pure love. It is difficult for Lee to immerse himself in love, he said. He is a person who would imagine Snow White and the seven dwarves having love affairs, he laughed. That is why when Lee directed his movies, he kept romance remote from true love. He would question the happiness of a couple in love.
Lee has many thoughts about his next movie. Lee thinks it might be interesting to make a film about kings' daily activities, including their sex life. He has dreams of making teen movies, musicals, food shows and television documentaries. Contrary to his cynical attitudes, he is a man of curiosity and ambition.
Everyone is congratulating the director Lee for the huge success, but it's not at all exciting for him, he said. During the filming, people warned him about how movies with traditional background are seldom successful at the box office, so all he could think of was how to safely finish the movie making without losing money for the investors. As it turns out, it's been fortunate for everyone, he said.
Looking at the technical aspects, "Untold Scandal" may be one of the best in Korea this year. Lee, a perfectionist, spent almost W2 billion ($1.7 million) on costumes and sets, saying he would not compromise on the artistic side of the movie.
All three of Lee's movies talk of romantic love, yet they also contain cynical attitudes toward love. Through the movie, is Lee trying to say something about love that he himself does not believe in? To him, asking whether he believes in true love is like asking whether he believes in the existence of a superior being.
Lee said that he does not believe in love but knows that something is there. He thinks that love is a game in which you have to know the rules to win, but at times, people disregard the rules to seek for pure love. It is difficult for Lee to immerse himself in love, he said. He is a person who would imagine Snow White and the seven dwarves having love affairs, he laughed. That is why when Lee directed his movies, he kept romance remote from true love. He would question the happiness of a couple in love.
Lee has many thoughts about his next movie. Lee thinks it might be interesting to make a film about kings' daily activities, including their sex life. He has dreams of making teen movies, musicals, food shows and television documentaries. Contrary to his cynical attitudes, he is a man of curiosity and ambition.
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