In South Korea the film was given an R-18 rating by the Korean Film Ethics Commission.[3] The film was a major commercial success, and became the fourth highest grossing domestic film of 2003 with 3,522,747 tickets sold nationwide.[4]
Plot
A beautiful but cynical and manipulative noblewoman makes a bet with her free-spirited womanizing cousin that he can have sex with her if he is able to seduce a young woman of great virtue. He accepts the challenge with enthusiasm though not suspecting the nasty trap he is walking into.
Jo Hyun-jae – Kwon In-ho (Cécile's music tutor, Chevalier Danceny)
Lee Mi-ji – So-ok's mother (Madame de Volanges, Cécile's mother)
– Madam Jo's husband (Merteuil's former lover, the Comte de Gercourt)
Choi Ban-ya – Chu Wol-yi
Choi Sung-min – slave
Jeon Yang-ja – Vice-Premier's wife
Seo Yoon-ah – Jung-geum
Han Yi-bin – Eun-sil
Jung Jae-jin – elder 2
Kong Ho-suk – elder 3
Na Han-il – Nobleman Yoo
Differences from the original novel
Monsieur de Tourvel (Madame de Tourvel / Lady Jeong's husband), who was away for a court case in the novel, is deceased in the film, making Lady Jeong a widow of nine years. Furthermore, Lady Jeong lived in Ganghwa Island, but is sojourning in Seoul to avoid a plague in her hometown.
Jo-won (Vicomte de Valmont) and Lady Jo (Marquise de Merteuil) cousins are in the film (Jo-won being the younger cousin), and it is revealed that Jo-won's first love was Lady Jo, whereas in the novel, they were former lovers and new rivals, yet using the same tools for their revenge: sex.
Marquise de Merteuil (Lady Jo)'s former lover, the Comte de Gercourt, is arranged to be Cécile's future husband in the novel, while in the film, his character is attributed to Lady Jo's husband. In So-ok's case, she is being made into a concubine of Lady Jo's husband for the continuity of the family lineage, with the elders' consent.
Lee So-ok (Cécile de Volanges) was ushered into Lady Jo's care to be the concubine of her husband. Lady Jo is conspiring with Jo-won to make her pregnant for revenge, intending to reveal to truth to her husband on his deathbed.
Chevalier Danceny was originally Cécile's music tutor in the novel, but in the film, Kwon In-ho is the youngest son of Lady Jo's neighbour, and also Lady Jeong's cousin.
