Lies

Lies

Year: 2000

Runtime: 112 min

Language: Korean

Director: Sun-Woo Jang

Drama

Two individuals, identified only as Y and J, find themselves caught in a complex and intense relationship that explores the boundaries of pleasure and pain. Their passionate connection leads to a cycle of sadomasochism, forcing them to confront the darker aspects of their desires. As they navigate this twisted dynamic, they must also face the underlying lies that fuel their obsessive bond and the painful truths about themselves.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Lies (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Lies (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Set in a contemporary timeframe, the story tracks a coming-of-age arc from late adolescence into early adulthood. The era emphasizes urban anonymity, digital communication, and the pursuit of personal autonomy. The events unfold across years, with moves and breaks that test loyalties and futures.

Location

Love hotel, Paris, South America

The central action largely unfolds inside a love hotel environment, a space associated with anonymity and intimate encounters. Paris later serves as a backdrop that strains J's marriage and reveals the characters' desires. The narrative moves through transient hotel spaces, highlighting how travel and urban life magnify secretive affairs.

🏨 Love hotel 🗼 Paris 🌎 South America

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:30

Main Characters – Lies (2000)

Meet the key characters of Lies (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Y

An 18-year-old high school senior who seeks agency in her first sexual encounter. She is initially drawn to J's intensity and the prospect of taking charge within a surrounding that offers few safe spaces. Over time she hesitates, then embraces the power shift, eventually insisting on mutual dominance. The relationship and her choices pull her away from family, studies, and stability.

💃 Coming-of-age 🧭 Transformation

J

A 38-year-old sculptor whose voice and appetite for sadomasochistic play draw Y into a dangerous, addictive dynamic. He escalates the affair while his wife in Paris grows distant, trying to maintain a facade of normal life. He lets the relationship progress to a point where he and Y slide from hotel to hotel, until money and time force them apart. His move to Paris signals a retreat from his old life.

🎭 Duality 🪝 Obsession

Woori

A friend who initiates contact with J after matching Y with him. Woori's actions act as a catalyst for the affair, setting the drama in motion. She remains a peripheral observer as the relationship intensifies and breaks apart.

👯 Friend-influence 🧩 Catalyst

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:30

Major Themes – Lies (2000)

Explore the central themes of Lies (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪢 Power Dynamics

The relationship alternates between submission and dominance, with Y initially yielding to J's preferences. The film explores how consent can shift when desire becomes a source of control. It blurs the line between attraction and coercion, leaving characters morally gray rather than clearly virtuous. The rising intensity of their encounters mirrors the erosion of boundaries and trust.

💔 Trauma & Consequences

Repeated secret trysts and the violence embedded in their dynamic leave psychological scars on both lovers. The narrative shows how obsession can erode friendships, family ties, and future plans. When outside events intervene—like a brother's death—the relationship spirals further, shaping their choices. The ending suggests consequences linger long after the final encounter.

🧭 Identity & Transformation

Y's evolution from an eager participant to a woman who asserts control marks the core transformation. Hair cutting, dropping out of university, and tattooing reflect a breaking away from her former life. The tale asks whether identity can be forged amid chaos or is irrevocably bound to past traumas.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 15:30

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about obsessive relationships like Lies

Stories where intense, obsessive bonds become a form of mutual destruction.If you were captivated by the intense dynamic in Lies, these movies explore similarly obsessive and transgressive relationships. They feature characters bound by a dark passion that blurs the lines between love, possession, and destruction, perfect for viewers seeking similarly heavy and provocative dramas.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a linear but escalating path, where a magnetic attraction between characters deepens into an all-encompassing obsession. The narrative focuses on the psychological unraveling and emotional manipulation within the relationship, often leading to a destructive, bittersweet, or tragic conclusion that feels both inevitable and painful.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on a central, volatile relationship that drives the entire narrative. They share a dark, intense tone, heavy emotional weight, and a deliberate pacing that immerses the viewer in the claustrophobic world of the characters' connection.

Movies about taboo desires and self-destruction like Lies

Character-driven journeys exploring the shadowy corners of human desire and psychology.For viewers who appreciated the exploration of sadomasochism and self-destructive behavior in Lies, this collection highlights other films about sexual awakening and taboo desires. These character studies share a dark, heavy tone and focus on the psychological cost of pursuing forbidden impulses.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is a character-centric descent, where the protagonist actively or passively pursues a forbidden desire. This journey is marked by escalating risk, emotional turmoil, and a confrontation with the darker aspects of the self, culminating in a resolution that offers little catharsis, often leaving a sense of unresolved pain or tragic fulfillment.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their thematic focus on taboo subjects—such as unconventional sexuality, addiction, or self-harm—and the psychological unraveling that accompanies them. They share a dark, serious tone, a steady pacing that builds unease, and a commitment to exploring difficult subject matter without shying away from the consequences.

Unlock the Full Story of Lies

Don't stop at just watching — explore Lies in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Lies is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Lies Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Lies, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Lies Summary

Lies Timeline

Track the full timeline of Lies with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Lies Timeline

Lies Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Lies that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Lies Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Lies

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Lies: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Lies