Sa Bang-ji (1988)

Sa Bangji was an intersex person who according to historical records lived during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. Taken in by a kindly benefactor, Sa Bangji lives in a monastery that is one day visited by a young widow, Lee So-sa, who is in mourning following the death of her husband. The pair’s meeting seems predestined, with the erotic attraction between Sa Bangji and Lee So-sa soon evolving into something far more transcendent – and dangerous. While aspects of the film – its stylised depiction of female actors and sex – identify it as a product of its time, Sa Bangji is undeniably a milestone in screen representations of intersex people, a film that refuses to shy away from the horrendous stigmatization faced by its titular character.

Released

1988-10-29

Genres

Drama, Romance, History

Runtime

94 min

Status

Released

Directed / written by

An Tae Kun, Chi Sang-hak, Song Gyeong-sik

TMDB rating

6.6/10 from 5 votes