Summary
South Korean filmmaker Park Hyun-jin returns with a kink-positive exploration of BDSM in the guise of a romcom.
What to make of LOVE AND LEASHES (모럴센스), the third feature from director Park Hyun-jin? A romantic film released on Netflix globally to coincide with Valentine’s Day 2022, it combines all the tropes of the formula with a strangely nuanced exploration of BDSM. In doing so, it might be South Korea’s first femdom rom-com.
Based on the webtoon Moral Sense by Gyeoul, it focuses on media and communications team member Ji-woo (singer and actor Seohyun). Struggling with the casual misogyny of her boss (Seo Hyun-woo), she meets new recruit Ji-hoo (Lee Jun-young). While supporting her opinions, she discovers Ji-woo’s secret BDSM desires when she mistakenly opens a package intended for him.
As the lightly plotted narrative unfurls, Ji-woo becomes more assertive in areas outside of their relationship. Director Park visually signals her transformation by alternating his montages from being bathed in blue to a more sensuous red light. “A dom must know how to play without toys,” a wizened Ji-woo opines, at least before secrets are exposed and old flames reappear.
Yet make no mistake: Park never laughs at these characters, instead bringing us a surprisingly tender and layered depiction of a master-submissive relationship. The focus is never on the sex either, although there are some lightly erotic moments that stay on the cleaner side of the sheets. The tone ultimately lands on mildly suggestive (or ‘adult themes’ as the ratings might say), making it a rare kink-positive exploration of how a relationship changes over time.
Fans of Seohyun will enjoy seeing her get her dom on, grasping the lead in this film much as her character takes the strap of Ji-hoo’s leash. Likewise, others may just relish the opportunity to see Lee Jun-young at the pointy end of a dog collar, but he’s clearly having a ball with the character. They both are really, and there’s a particular fun scene set in the office after hours that lets them both cut loose for a while.
LOVE AND LEASHES lands on an odd note, but an essentially good natured one. Indeed, if you don’t take it literally, there’s progressive commentary to be found in there about everything from workplace harassment to victim shaming. Even with the BDSM shopfront, it’s a film about the unique love one finds if they open themselves up to new opportunities – even if you might take a different path to this would-be couple.
2022 | South Korea | DIRECTOR: Park Hyun-jin | WRITERS: Lee Da-hye, Park Hyun-jin | CAST: Seohyun, Lee Jun-young | DISTRIBUTOR: Netflix | RUNNING TIME: 118 minutes | RELEASE DATE: 11 February 2022 (AUS)
