Perfect Proposal
Theatrical poster
Directed byYoon Jae-gu
Written byYoon Jae-gu
Based onLa Femme de paille
by Catherine Arley[1]
Produced byMin Jin-su
StarringIm Soo-jung
Yoo Yeon-seok
CinematographyLee Tae-yoon
Edited byLee Jin
Music byShim Hyun-jung
Production
companies
Soo Film
Bidangil Pictures
Distributed byCJ Entertainment[2][3]
Release date
  • June 4, 2015 (2015-06-04)
Running time
110 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguagesKorean
English
Cantonese
Budget₩5 billion
Box office₩1.13 billion
(US$1 million)[4]

Perfect Proposal (Korean: 은밀한 유혹; RR: Eunmilhan Yuhok; lit. Secret Temptation) is a 2015 South Korean romantic thriller film written and directed by Yoon Jae-gu, based on the novel La Femme de paille ("Woman of Straw") by Catherine Arley.[5]

Plot

Yoo Ji-yeon is a Korean university graduate who is stuck working as a waiter under the name "Jenny Yoo" in a Macanese bar after her colleague stole her credit card and all of her money before running away, forcing her to pay her increasingly rising debt. Her Macanese friend offers her a job interview with Kim Sung-yeol, the illegitimate son of Kim Seok-gu, a successful gambling corporation chairman who owns half of the casinos in Macau. Sung-yeol asks Ji-yeon to become Seok-gu's new bride, so she can inherit his property and divide it for the two of them. Sung-yeol is unable to inherit his property due to his status. Seok-gu has become grumpy since his family's deaths years ago.

Ji-yeon reluctantly learns manners resembling Seok-gu's late wife to better her chance in attracting the old man. Arriving at his yacht, Ji-yeon becomes a part of Seok-gu's attendants that include the Korean ship captain and maid Ji Yoo-mi who takes care of Seok-gu's pet chihuahua, the Russian Viktor, and the Pakistani Khan. Having to endure Seok-gu's constant lashing, criticism, and various other rhetoric, Ji-yeon nevertheless is able to stand up and change him into a less irascible person, even managing to make him play the piano again, an activity that used to be his hobby until his family's demise. Seok-gu in turn reveals about his past as a "circus" player in Macau, his reasons for using the whistle and constantly shouting, and also mentions a woman who helped him achieve his success.

Ji-yeon though is dispirited one night and searches solace in Sung-yeol, with whom she has fallen in love. Khan, however, sneaks on their conversations and begins to keep a watchful eye on the two. The other night, Ji-yeon has had enough and tries to leave, all while stating her discomfort of having to live for 10 years with Seok-gu even if the plan did work, in front of Sung-yeol. To her surprise, Seok-gu proposes to her the next day and has apparently modified his will to include her name. He states to Sung-yeol before the reception that he ignored him as he possesses "90% work, but not 10% luck" and thus not fit to inherit the casinos. At the wedding reception, Seok-gu nicknames Ji-yeon "Cinderella".

However, Ji-yeon discovers to her horror that Seok-gu has died the night after the reception. Sung-yeol tells her that they have to act normal until their arrival to Busan, followed by delivering Seok-gu's body to his home until Sung-yeol can sign his father's modified will that includes Ji-yeon's inheritance. Ji-yeon tries hard to keep the act in front of Seok-gu's personal assistant, Jang Hye-jin, who is beginning to suspect something. Eventually, she is caught by the police and accused as the murderer. She learns that Sung-yeol has prepared to inherit 10% of the estate since five years ago, with 90% of them donated for charity due to the South Korean inheritance law; Sung-yeol has been using her since the beginning so he could not only inherit the business but also to avenge his mother's abandonment by Seok-gu. Escorted to the prison, Ji-yeon sees Khan unsuccessfully trying to reach her and shouting "Camera!".

While scanning the identification papers, Ji-yeon realizes that the woman mentioned by Seok-gu is Hye-jin. Using Seok-gu's wording, Hye-jin frees Ji-yeon into probation so she can attend Seok-gu's funeral. There, Ji-yeon attempts to reach Khan, only to be apprehended, and from the crime scene photos further realizes that Seok-gu's chihuahua has been fitted with a camera that also recorded Seok-gu's real murderer: Sung-yeol. Khan is the only one knowing this, but Sung-yeol kills him to silence him. The chihuahua is currently carried by Yoo-mi, who is hunted by Sung-yeol. Ji-yeon manages to reach their rendezvous place and after a struggle, is able to get the camera and knocks down Sung-yeol with Yoo-mi's help.

Sung-yeol is arrested for the murders while Ji-yeon's inheritance as Seok-gu's wife is realized, making her the new owner of the Macanese casinos. Ji-yeon visits Sung-yeol at the prison to hear his reasons and that he never loved her. Just before she leaves, Sung-yeol tells her that he is the one who made her "Cinderella": Ji-yeon gives a smile.

Cast

Box office

Perfect Proposal was released on 4 June 2015 and it opened at fourth place in the box office, earning ₩760 million (US$676,000) from 95,700 admissions in its first four days.[7] So far, it has grossed ₩1,135,684,747 from 145,244 admissions.

References

  1. ↑ Jin, Eun-soo (13 October 2014). "Film adaptations boost book sales". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Kim, June (6 November 2014). "CJ Entertainment Introduces Strong Line-up for 2015". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Ma, Kevin (23 March 2015). "Hot Korean titles at FilMart". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Perfect Proposal (2015)". Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. ↑ Tae, Sang-joon (23 June 2014). "LIM Soo-jung and YOO Yeon-seok Lead SECRET TEMPTATION Cranks-up". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
    - Lee, Sun-min (7 February 2014). "Respond, 1994 stars reunite in movie". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Jung, Hyun-mok (26 May 2015). "Im Soo-jung is nervous ahead of return to acting". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
    - "Im Soo-jung Induced by Script She Inspired". The Chosun Ilbo. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Ma, Kevin (8 June 2015). "San Andreas rumbles in South Korea". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
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