Love and Leashes
| Love and Leashes | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Hangul | 모럴센스 |
| Literal meaning | Moral Sense |
| Revised Romanization | Moreolsenseu |
| Directed by | Park Hyun-jin |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Based on | Webtoon Moral Sense (The Sensual M) by Gyeoul (Winter) |
| Starring | |
Production company | Seed Film |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes[1] |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
Love and Leashes (Korean: 모럴센스; lit. Moral Sense) is a 2022 South Korean romantic comedy film, based on the webtoon Moral Sense by Gyeoul. The film directed by Park Hyun-jin and starring Seohyun and Lee Jun-young, depicts a romance between Ji-hoo, who has everything perfect but has secret BDSM desires, and Ji-woo, a competent public relations team member who finds out about his secret. It was released on Netflix on February 11, 2022, to coincide with Valentine's Day.[2]
Plot
[edit]At her new job at a public relations firm, Jung Ji-woo meets fellow worker Jung Ji-hoo. Due to their similar names, a package meant for Ji-hoo is mistakenly delivered to Ji-woo's office; she opens it to find a leather collar and leash. Ji-hoo arrives in a panic and claims that the items are meant for his dog, but is exposed when a sex shop coupon falls out of the box.
Ji-hoo later thanks Ji-woo for not telling their colleagues what she saw, whereupon she apologizes for her aggressive behavior towards him, explaining that she has a propensity to boss people around. Mistakenly believing she has just confessed to being a dominatrix, Ji-hoo implores her to become his mistress. She is shocked by this, having assumed he intended to use the bondage gear on a partner rather than himself.
At a work event, Ji-woo comes across a distraught Ji-hoo, who tearfully admits that he feels shame over his sexual desires due to a previous girlfriend breaking up with him over them. Ji-hoo assures him that she does not see him as perverted. He asks her once again if she will be his mistress, but she declines.
Ji-woo later beckons Ji-hoo to her office, where she blindfolds him and asks why he specifically wants her as a mistress. He confesses that he is attracted to her confidence, maturity, and integrity. She agrees to be his mistress while walking home from work that evening and spends the rest of the night researching BDSM. The two sign a contract stating that they will enter into a three-month-long dominant and submissive dynamic with Ji-woo as the dominant partner and Ji-hoo as her submissive.
Word of Ji-woo and Ji-hoo's involvement begins to spread through the office, and her domineering personality begins to show through in her interactions with other co-workers, especially young employee Lee Han, making Ji-hoo jealous. To reassure him, Ji-woo keeps Ji-hoo in the office after hours and begins an impromptu scene involving whipping, bondage, and degradation, very nearly being caught by a security guard. As Ji-woo begins enjoying the sessions more and more, she becomes increasingly confused about the state of her and Ji-hoo's relationship. During an outing, Ji-woo asks Ji-hoo if he wants to date for real, but he declines, saying that he doesn't date. Ji-woo then receives a call from her friend Hye-Mi, a female submissive who has discreetly called her for help after being cornered by a violent male dom at a BDSM-themed love hotel. They manage to arrive in time and safely take her home.
On the final day of Ji-hoo and Ji-woo's contract, Ji-hoo's ex-girlfriend, Hana, shows up at his house as he is waiting for Ji-woo. Ji-hoo tells Hana that she broke his heart and that he's been terrified to date ever since she left him. Hana leaves after asserting that his selfishness is what has prevented him from finding love. For their final session, Ji-woo puts Ji-hoo in shibari and tells him he may do whatever he wants. He kisses her, but she pushes him away before untying him. He confesses his feelings for her and admits that has not pursued a relationship out of fear of being hurt. Ji-woo leaves.
Han accidentally emails a recording of one of Ji-woo and Ji-hoo's sessions to the rest of the office. Management decides to let them off with a warning, but when the conversation starts to veer into harassment, Ji-woo attempts to defend herself, only for Ji-hoo to step in and accept full responsibility for the incident. Ji-woo uses their safeword to tell him to stop, but he continues, ultimately proclaiming in front of management that he has feelings for Ji-woo and wishes to pursue a romantic relationship with her. Ji-woo convinces Han to vengefully send recordings of various managers having extramarital affairs, leading to their suspension. Ji-woo and Ji-hoo begin to officially date while happily continuing their dominant and submissive relationship.
Cast
[edit]Main
[edit]- Seohyun as Jung Ji-woo[3]
- Lee Jun-young as Jung Ji-hoo[4]
Supporting
[edit]- Lee El as Hye Mi, Jung Ji-woo's best friend, dog pub owner
- Seo Hyun-woo as Team Leader Hwang
- Kim Han-na as Yuna, Jiwoo's co-worker
- Lee Suk-hyeong as Woo Hyuk, a part-time worker who is obsessed with a dog pub run by Hye Mi.[5]
- Kim Bo-ra as Hana, Jung Ji-hoo's ex-lover [6]
- Baek Hyun-joo as Jung Ji-woo's mother[7]
- Ahn Seung-gyun as Lee Han, the youngest employee
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]In February 2021, at the Netflix content road show 'See What's Next Korea 2021', they announced the production of a romance film tentatively titled as Moral Sense.[8]
Casting
[edit]On March 21, 2021, Netflix confirmed through a press release that it would distribute another Korean original film Moral Sense, based on webtoon of the same name. It further revealed that the romance film would be directed by Park Hyun-jin, and have Seohyun and Lee Jun-young as main leads.[9][4]
Filming
[edit]On April 19, 2021, Seohyun posted photos from shooting site revealing that filming was in progress.[10]
Reception
[edit]The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 80% approval rating, based on 5 reviews with an average rating of 6.20/10.[11]
Kim Junmo writing for OhmyNews stated that the film has a message and the attributes of a romantic comedy. Kim wrote, "as it is a story about the minority taste of BDSM, the difference between likes and dislikes is a limitation of this film." Kim opined, "the barrier to entry is high. Above all, scenes containing BDSM's actions are the core of sympathy between the two main characters, but it is difficult to universally provide emotional pleasure, catharsis, and excitement."[12] Kate Sánchez rated the film with 8.5 out of 10 and wrote, "Love and Leashes is sweet and sensual. It's a wholesome look at boundaries and love while also taking time to explore kink in a context that doesn't treat it as something dangerous or abnormal... one of the best representations of kink I've seen in a film."[13] Ricardo Gallegos of La Estatuilla praised the performances of Seohyun and direction stating, "Park Hyun-jin does a good job of weaving the threads of the story together and adding a touch of respectful humor to the story's development." Concluding Gallegos wrote, "Although "Amarrados al amor" manages to use classic and conventional elements of the romantic comedy genre, it stands out thanks to its sweet handling of the central relationship, the sensuality that it transmits in its exploration of sexual freedom and its honest intentions to inform and break taboos."[14]
James Marsh of the South China Morning Post rated the film with 3 out of 5 stars and praised the performances of lead pair writing, "Seohyun and Lee Jun-young deliver sweet and wholesome performances". Marsh opined that the film has made "efforts to normalise BDSM and erase its stigma," and it has come out as "a sweet and well-meaning workplace romance". March concluded "Love and Leashes is a commendable effort to lift the blindfold on a stigmatised subculture, albeit without the reward of any lasting gratification."[15]
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 58th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actress | Seohyun | Nominated | [16][17] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Love and Leashes". Netflix. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Jacob (January 22, 2022). "Netflix K-Drama Movie 'Love and Leashes': Coming to Netflix in February 2022 & What We Know So Far". WON. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ Kim Mi-hwa (January 17, 2022). 서현X이준영 '모럴센스', 은밀한 취향존중 로맨스 온다 [Seohyun X Lee Jun-young's 'moral sense', a secret respect for taste romance is coming]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Park Jaeh-wan (March 22, 2021). 서현-이준영, 색다른 로맨스 '모럴센스 [Seohyun and Lee Joon-young, a different romance 'Moral Sense']. KBS Star Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ Kim Ye-eum (February 9, 2022). 이석형, '모럴센스' 출연…서현·이준영·이엘과 호흡 [Lee Seok-hyung to appear in 'Moral Sense'... Breathing with Seohyun, Lee Joon-young, and Lee El] (in Korean). export news. Retrieved February 9, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ Shim Eon-kyung (April 17, 2021). [단독]김보라, 영화 '모럴센스' 캐스팅…서현X이준영과 호흡 [[Exclusive] Bo-ra Kim, cast for the movie 'Moral Sense'... Breathing with Seohyun X Lee Joon-young]. Sport TV News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ Hyun jung-min (January 28, 2022). 백현주, 넷플릭스 '모럴센스' 출연…서현 엄마 역 [Baek Hyun-joo to appear on Netflix's 'Moral Sense'... Seohyun's mother] (in Korean). Sports World. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ Lee Min-ji (February 25, 2021). 넷플릭스 "카터-모럴센스' 韓 오리지널 영화 제작 시작" 발표 [Netflix Announces "Starting Production of Korean Original Movies for Carter-Moral Sense"]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Lee, Yejin (March 22, 2021). "A DIFFERENT ROMANCE FILM, MORAL SENSE(WT), CASTS SEO HYUN AND LEE JUN-YOUNG". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ Seok Jae-hyun (April 19, 2021). "촬영 힘내겠다" 서현 '모럴센스' 인증샷…'김정현 논란' 극복[SNS★컷] ["I will do my best to shoot" Seohyun's 'Moral Sense' certification shot… Overcoming 'Kim Jung-hyun Controversy' [SNS cut]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ "Love and Leashes". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Kim Junmo (February 12, 2022). 이 로맨틱 코미디가 담아낸 소수자의 사랑 <모럴센스> [The love of minorities in this romantic comedy <Moral Sense>]. OhmyNews (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ Kate Sánchez (February 11, 2022). "REVIEW: 'Love and Leashes' is a Wholesome Kinky Love Story". But Why Tho? A Geek Community. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ Ricardo Gallegos (February 11, 2022). "Review of "Amarrados al amor", a sweet and honest exploration of BDSM". La Estatuilla. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ James Marsh (February 15, 2022). "Review: Netflix movie review: Love and Leashes – Seohyun, Lee Jun-young in Korean romantic comedy that boldly takes on the BDSM subculture". South China Morning Post. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ 제 58회 백상예술대상 [58 Nominees · Works]. Baeksang Arts Awards (in Korean). April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ Ahn Byung-gil (April 11, 2022). 58회 백상예술대상 후보 공개…영광의 주인공은? [58th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations revealed... Who is the hero of glory?]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
