Archive

Eroticscape:1980

Between the Knees

Lee Jang Ho

Korea1984 100 min 35mm C

Synopsis

Ja Young, a gorgeous flute major, is the center of attention among male music students. Normally an ice princess, she has a deadly weakness: her knees. When someone touches her in the knees, she becomes sexually aroused and loses herself in ecstasy. Fatal temptation involving the knees shakes her to her core. With Between the Knees, director LEE Jang Ho, the star of the 1970’s Korean film industry, opens up a new chapter in his filmmography, marked with greater dynamism. If Good Windy Day and Declaration of Idiot are examples of the fresh experimental realism and modernism in his films, Between the Knees is a landmark piece kicking off the 1980’s with commercial consideration and showmanship. The film masterfully addresses eroticism, the then most talked-about issue, fine-tuning the director’s artistic perspective and sensitivity to the viewership. Seen from today, his portrayal of women’s sexual desire and repression is rather biased. Considering the mood of the era which shortchanged women as a mere sexual object, LEE’s approach is literally revolutionary. With the film, LEE Bo Hee became an overnight sensation with her highly sexual screen persona, establishing herself as a flagship sex goddess of the 1980’s. (Jin PARK)

 

 

Diretor

Lee Jang Ho

Born in Seoul in 1945, LEE graduated Hong-ik University majoring architecture and arts. During university, LEE dreamed of being a director when he was working in the directing department of Shin Film of director SHIN Sang Ok. He made a debut as a director with the Home of Stars (1974) in adaptation of the novel written by CHOI In Ho. His debut movie attracted 450,000 audience, bringing the Korean movies which were under dark era to life.