It’s 1981 in Korea, and the current authoritarian regime loosens censorship laws in an effort to pacify the discontented masses. In one year, Madame Aema, Korea’s first feature-length, mainstream erotic film, will debut in theaters all over the country, and the race is on to find its lead actress. A veteran screen icon and a naive but determined newcomer battle for control over the film’s creative direction, sparking a heated feud that unexpectedly changes the seedy, male-dominated Korean film industry forever. 

Aema is a deliciously fraught reimagining of the behind-the-scenes drama of the 1982 Korean classic Madame Aema. The satirical K-drama is director Lee Hae-young’s (Believer, Phantom) first television series and stars veteran actors Lee Hanee (Extreme Job, Fiery Priest) and Jin Sun-kyu (Uprising, Space Sweepers). The period piece, which also features rising stars Bang Hyo-rin (Hail to Hell) and Cho Hyun-chul (Inspector Koo, D.P.). 

When will Aema be released?

Stream it now.

Where can I find the trailer for Aema?

Check it out at the top of this page. 

Who’s in the cast of Aema?

• Lee Hanee (The Bros) as Jeong Hee-ran
• Bang Hyo-rin (Hail to Hell) as Shin Ju-ae
• Jin Sun-kyu (The Uncanny Encounter) as Ku Jung-ho
• Cho Hyun-chul (Inspector Koo, D.P.) as Kwak In-u
• Jang Nam-su as Yeong-bae
• Kim Jong-soo (Dream) as Kwon Do-il
• Lee So-i as Mi-na
• Hyun Bong-sik (Hyena) as Heo Hyeok
• Lee Zoo-young (The 8 Show) as Geun-ha
• An Kil-kang (Mercy for None) as Paul Go
• Lee Hong-nae (The Uncanny Encounter) as Yang Seok-won
• Park Hae-joon (When Life Gives You Tangerines) as Manager Lee

Cho Wonjin/Netflix

What happens in Aema?

Jeong Hee-ran’s (Lee Hanee) illustrious career spans 30 theatrical hits in the last decade alone. The veteran actor seems to have it all; she’s the darling of the Korean film industry, she lives in the lap of luxury, and she’s about to shoot Madame Aema, the most daring movie of its time. But Hee-ran is done with the petty, sleazy boys’ club that rules her career and has no interest in starring in Korea’s first feature-length adult film — she’d rather be appreciated for her talents, despite having already bared it all onscreen. A woman with more political acumen than she’s given credit for, Hee-ran chases a leading role with a critically acclaimed director, aiming to bring him to her studio where she needs one last movie to fulfill a horrible contract. 

Offended by her disdain for his moneymaker Madame Aema, Ku Jung-ho (Jin Sun-kyu), the president of the studio, casts her as a bit part in the film and offers the lead to an unknown aspiring actor, Shin Ju-ae (Bang Hyo-rin). What seems to be a dream come true for Ju-ae, sours quickly when she shows up for her screen test. Bullied and scorned by film professionals, Hee-ran in particular, Ju-ae begins to wonder if this is truly the path for her. The collision course of clashing egos is set, and the pressure of making a movie is the powder keg needed to set it off. 

Cho Wonjin/Netflix

Is Aema based on a book?

No, Aema is not based on a book.

Is Aema based on a true story?

Sort of. Madame Aema is a real movie released theatrically in Korea which became a massive box office hit in 1982. But the series Aema is a fictional story of what might have happened behind the scenes, using a Korean cultural touchstone to lampoon politics, consumerism, sexuality, and society as a whole.

In an interview with Times.com Lee said, “The more dazzling and glittering the sights and sounds, the more I wanted them to expose how that so-called era of barbarism flaunted extravagance while feeding on exploitation and oppression. That spirit is what shaped Aema.”

Where does Aema take place?

Aema is set in 1980s Korea.

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