Desire (2002 South Korean Film)

Desire (Korean: 욕망; RR: Yokmang) is a 2002 South Korean drama film written and directed by Kim Eung-su. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2002. It serves as the second feature film directed by Kim Eung-su, following his debut work, Time Lasts.

Plot

The narrative centers on a middle-class couple whose monotonous existence is disrupted when the husband engages in a homosexual affair with a young male prostitute. As the wife begins to suspect her husband's infidelity, she uncovers the truth and eventually initiates an intimate encounter with the same man. The film explores the complex dynamics between the three characters, depicting how the couple uses the young man as an outlet for their personal anxieties and desires, while the young man struggles with his own feelings toward them.

Themes and Style

Desire examines the lives of the middle class, focusing on themes of isolation and the pursuit of personal satisfaction within a private, often bleak, world. The film is noted for its visual approach, utilizing a cool, modern tone in its depiction of erotic scenes and urban nightscapes, which contrasts with the film's extravagant interior settings.

Cast

• Ahn Nae-sang as Kyu-min
• Choi Ban-ya
• Jang So-yeon as So-yeon
• Lee Dong-kyu as Leo
• Lee Su-a as Rosa
• Kim Sun-hwa
• Choi Jung-in as Secretary