LOST FLOWER EO WOO-DONG is a sumptuous South Korean historical drama that tells the true story of the title character, whose outlandish antics scandalised Joseon society many centuries ago. The first thing worth noting is that, although this film is quite low budget and set in just a handful of locations, it looks absolutely splendid in high definition and features many excellent costumes and effective set design.
A shame, then, that the film's narrative is so long-winded and uninteresting. The protagonist is an outsider whose duality is made much of, but a lot of the material just seems to be an excuse for some laborious erotic scenes; this film's adult content is obvious from the get go, as various courtiers watch a striptease play out in front of them and comment eagerly on the action. Lengthy sex scenes are the order of the day here, and not much else, aside from a handful of melodramatic moments at the climax. Perhaps this is a film you have to be Korean to appreciate, but as a Western viewer it left me cold.
A shame, then, that the film's narrative is so long-winded and uninteresting. The protagonist is an outsider whose duality is made much of, but a lot of the material just seems to be an excuse for some laborious erotic scenes; this film's adult content is obvious from the get go, as various courtiers watch a striptease play out in front of them and comment eagerly on the action. Lengthy sex scenes are the order of the day here, and not much else, aside from a handful of melodramatic moments at the climax. Perhaps this is a film you have to be Korean to appreciate, but as a Western viewer it left me cold.
