When Expectation Met a Collar and a Contract
Whispers began drifting about the casting of Seohyun, the once sweet vocalist of Girls’ Generation, into a bold and edgy BDSM themed rom-com, Love and Leashes, along with the magnificently talented Lee Jun-young, previously of U-KISS and the fan favorite from D.P. The casting choice was something that would of inflicted shock onto anyone who viewed this particular rom-com.
Love and Leashes cannot be deemed as any ordinary rom-com, as it surpassed the abrupt incorporation of kink and romance into a single narrative. The first teasers to the movie that were aired caused quite a stir amongst social media, in particular, the one which had Seohyun clogging a collar and bladder set, something belonging to a rather mysterious BDSM set.
Fictional Society and Characters Beneath BDSM
Jung Ji-woo, a PR practitioner played by Seohyun, greatly appreciates her colleague Jung Ji-hoo who happens to be played by Jun-young. Their lives take a rather interesting twist when one of them first encounters a box, and instead of a collar, it resembles a dog collar that is made for BDSM.
Having accepted his condition, Ji-hoo, who felt a desire to submit, began to open up. While most would have turned tail, Ji-woo held her ground. Omnipresent, rather than mockery, scandal, or any of the other effects one would anticipate, the only thing to follow is a formation of a tentative contract, for she accepts to be his “master” for three months.
Throughout the film, Ji-hoo is a man who hides behind full smiles, and loses this. The difference is that Ji-woo is simply the more practical and more cultured of the two. Over the years, she has come to appreciate the “soft” and “empowering” parts of her existence that she would have otherwise never appreciated.
This is most certainly not the intention of the film, but it works as yet another form of respect as it sanitizes the very predictable un-mentored journey of mutual respect, consent, and the accidental tender romance that might disillusion a few would-be avid title participants.
Slapstick humor, such as the cringing “stepping on you” performance to disillusioned crickets of mock attacks ordered in a faux battle, is wildly unexplainable. Instead, these all grow to become markers of a previously absent mutual trust. Those become the first demonstration of lack of backbone or reliability, and more, the bare beginnings of real bare trust.
What Tuition Did the film Set Out to Cover?
One of the most interesting things about the film, when it finally reached the Netflix platform, was the vivid discourse that it stimulated. Many claimed that it was the first constructive and respectful lens that did not fictionalize the BDSM world as a show full of estranged phenomena, rather, as the core of a relationship that relies heavily on good communication.
Critics acknowledged the film’s portrayal of kink as an additional layer of identity rather than a stark taboo, which controversy humanized kink. Not everybody was convinced, however. Some viewers found the emotional scenes lacking any real connection, while others argued the pacing flags in the middle, elongating what should be a more concise narrative.
Even so, the majority of the reviews were positive. For the most part, the film was the first of its kind in Korea, which addressed the issue in a matter of dignity, lightheartedness, and humor, and so was its reception, even if the film was far from a pioneering work.
Who Are They When the Camera Stops?
For Seohyun, the film Love and Leashes represented a turning point in her career. After spending her formative years as the so-called ‘innocent maknae’ of Girls’ Generation, people were used to her public persona which she was actively trying to reshape through the various dramas and films. This particular role, though, extended her public image even further. It required her to step into a state of vulnerability, strength, and quiet sensuality, all at once. It was astonishing for her fans to see her take on a role so different from her idol image, so they praised her greatly.
As an actor, Lee Jun-young is acquiring an increasing amount of respect. He is recognized for his intense performances in D.P. as well as his myriad of variety show appearances. Casting him in the role of Ji-hoo was, in a sense, a risk. The character was far too submissive and could have easily been viewed as weak. Jun-young, however, was able to add warmth, humor, and sincerity to the character. He was the type of actor willing to look silly for one instant and the next bizarrely emotional, which is what brought the character to life.
In interviews, the two performers seemed to share the same opinion about the project not being in either of their comfort zones. In their case, willing to share the case of discomfort allowed for a bond that, while not fiery, was genuine.
Scenes That Made the Crew Laugh and Cheering
In the behind the scenes, the film was far more lighthearted than the subject might imply. One of the most discussed moments of the film, the kibble-eating scene, left the entire crew in tears from laughter. Later in the interview, Lee Jun-young joked about the fact that it was one of the scenes that, for him, was the most uncomfortable. He could not get over the fact that the kibble managed to cling onto the bits of his teeth.
Another funny scene, the stepping on scene, where Ji-woo literally steps on Ji-hoo, also became a story of its own. Reportedly, Seohyun was the one who became concerned about hurting him, hence the two kept rehearsing for a long time in order to ensure that it was right emotionally, not just physically.
Then came Seohyun’s office outburst, which the crew—who were used to her demure smile and monologues—had to sometimes cheer at full volume as if it were a rock concert. Even the head of the company teased that she “used up a lifetime’s worth of curses in one take.”
There were no notable controversies that came with the release of the film, but the cultural ripples it created were certainly striking. For Seohyun fans that had followed her since her Girls Generation days of pop and squeaky clean image, this radical change proved she could shed the character mold and take bold steps.
Some fans were surprised, even in disbelief, that she would agree to such a role at this point in her career. Other fans, to her credit, daresay and shatter such expectations of her. It is not a head scratcher to witness the discourse that ensued surrounding this film, as no mainstream Korean production had so brazenly detailed kinks, let alone this film that toned it down.
The audience reception was equally as divided. For the former, the film was a light-hearted romantic romp that hinted at kink but was always in control, which is how they believe it maintained the appropriate tone. Inversely, the latter feel that the film completely missed the mark with its kink kinks and missed a more daring and bold approach. Either way, the film sparked a certain level of discussion surrounding concepts of love, consent, and acceptance that transcended the three hours of screen time.
Ultimately, Love and Leashes transcended any potential shock value, focusing instead on trust. It highlighted the ways in which two, relatively mundane office workers, could explore and negotiate intimacy in the unlikeliest of places. To Seohyun and Lee Jun-young, it was not just an assignment but rather an opportunity in their careers to take on risk, humor, and vulnerability. It was a chance to, in a sense, brave the elements. For the audiences, it served to reinforce the idea that love, in all its forms, is and will always be a matter of recognition, acceptance, and appreciation unreservedly for oneself.
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