Seeing Choderlos de Laclos's novel and Christopher Hampton's stage play "Dangerous Liaisons" performed in a language other than English or French is interesting enough to recommend "Untold Scandal" all by itself.
But co-screenwriter/director E J-yong's Korean-language version of the tale also manages to broaden its perspective, with the inclusion of material that discusses the introduction of Western religion into the fiercely conservative, fervently Confucian 19th-century Korea.
Unfortunately, this film lacks the dark, biting humor of other recent adaptations, particularly Stephen Frears' delicious 1988 version with Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer. In fact, this Korean film is much more of a drama.
"Untold Scandal" is also surprisingly sympathetic toward its female characters, even when they don't always make it easy. That's especially true of the manipulative Lady Cho (Lee Mi-Sook), who's bitter toward her husband for, in essence, abandoning her emotionally. He has set her up in a palatial estate, but he's off trying to sire children with his concubines.
So she recruits her smooth-talking younger cousin Jo-won (Bae Yong-Jun) for a revenge scheme. She tells him to seduce and impregnate her husband's newest concubine, Soh-ok (Lee So-Yeon).
Jo-won agrees, thinking it won't be much of a challenge. But he's sidetracked when he's smitten by the lovely Lady Sook (Jeon Do-Yeon), a widow who has turned to Catholicism for solace. Lady Cho isn't pleased by this development and wagers the womanizer that he can't seduce the chaste apple of his eye.
Obviously, this story has been told so many times in the past 15 years that it's become overly familiar. And yet, "Untold Scandal" overcomes that obstacle with its handsome production values, solid ensemble performances and explorations of Far Eastern civilization.
This film had me wondering what a Chinese-language version with the stars of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" — Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi — might be like.
"Untold Scandal" is not rated but would probably receive an R for simulated sex and other sexual contact, female and brief male nudity, violence (a scuffle, some swordplay and a stabbing), some sexually suggestive talk, use of mild profanity, and some brief gore. Running time: 124 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com