Adapted from the wildly popular novel serialised in the Seoul Newspaper in 1954, Madame Freedom is set in 1956, a period of upheaval and transformation in postwar Korea. The film tells the story of Madame Oh Sun-young, a woman who appears to have an enviable life: married to a successful professor, mother to a young son, and living in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods of postwar Seoul.

When she accepts a job selling imported luxury goods, Madame Oh is introduced to a new social world, filled with exciting acquaintances and modern temptations. As she begins to explore this new life, her experiences threaten to spark scandal. Meanwhile, her husband becomes increasingly involved with one of his tutoring students, adding another layer of tension to their marriage.

Upon its release, Madame Freedom became the number one box office hit in Korea and inspired sequels and remakes through the 1990s. Its success was groundbreaking, helping to redefine the postwar Korean film industry and sparking conversations about modernity, gender roles, and social change.

The introduction will be delivered by Lottie Skala, a Film Programming and Curating MA student at Birkbeck, University of London.