Love, Love, My Love | |
---|---|
Directed by | Shin Sang-ok |
Written by | |
Based on | The Tale of Chunhyang |
Starring | |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes[1] |
Country | North Korea |
Language | Korean |
Love, Love, My Love (Korean: 사랑 사랑 내사랑; MR: Sarang, sarang naesarang)[2] is a 1985 North Korean musical film in the genre of romantic melodrama. It was directed and produced by South Korea's Shin Sang-ok while he and his wife Choi Eun-hee were abductees in North Korea.
The plot is based on the Korean folk tale, The Tale of Chunhyang. Chunhyang falls in love with the upper-class Ri Mong-ryong, but they must marry in secret. Mong-ryong is sent away to become a government official. While he is away, Chunhyang is imprisoned by a corrupt governor. Mong-ryong returns just in time to save her from execution and the two can publicly proclaim their love.
Jang Song-hui who plays the lead part of Chunhyang was an unusual choice. Her features were sharp and Western, which was not what Kim Jong Il, whose preferences were usually followed, appreciated in a woman. Shin's wife Choi Eun-hee makes an appearance as Chunhyang's mother. Shin utilized techniques from North Korean mass games to realize the song-and-dance spectacles of the film.
Love, Love, My Love was an immense success that the North Korean audience loved. Its liberal view on sexuality, including the first kiss on North Korean screens, was what attracted many people to go and see the film several times. The popular success of the film even caused illegal ticket re-selling for the first time ever in Pyongyang.