Leave it to Koreans to make even a simple romantic comedy controversial. In fact, the new film ” You’re My Pet” has been garnering so much criticism that a men’s group has just filed an injunction with the Seoul Central District Court to ban its release based on trailers alone.
So what’s driving the “y” chromosome so mad? Well, the film is a nice romantic comedy between a successful, wealthy woman, and a down-and-out young man…who just happens to be her pet. As in, the plot revolves around her keeping a man to do her bidding, whatever she wants, whenever she wants.
You can probably guess how that wouldn’t sit well with certain people. Now, I don’t feel one way or another on this issue ( though I do wonder how the film winds up being “romantic” considering he’s her slave) the injunction was debated this week as the men’s group claimed the film would only help in widening the already-large gap between genders in Korean society. Not only that, but in a statement issued by the group they stated, “ If a woman took the role of the pet, obeying the orders of the male owner like a dog, would the movie still be full of romance?”
As I said, I’m half and half on this issue. On one hand, I get annoyed with any attempt of censorship of any kind, but I would argue that the group’s statement does have a point. If the film had been about a man having a woman as a pet, there would’ve been passionate outcry’s from feminist groups across the country.
So what do you guys thing? Is it just harmless fun with a strange concept, or a film that may damage the relationships between Korean men and women?
Link to the trailer below. Thanks to Han Cinema for breaking the news.