Watch Dasepo Naughty Girls

Dasepo Naughty Girls is a quirky and vibrant South Korean musical comedy film released in 2006, directed by E J-yong, who is known for his unique directorial style. The movie is based on the popular Korean webcomic series "Dasepo Girls" by B-rate Dalgung. It stars an ensemble cast including the talented Kim Ok-bin, Park Jin-woo, and Kyeon Lee, who come together to create a colorful and satirical look at the lives of a group of high school students.

Set in a fictional high school called No Use High, which is renowned for its colorful, odd, and somewhat erotic student body, Dasepo Naughty Girls explores the various escapades and challenges the students face. The institution itself is a humorous take on the typical Korean educational system, where rules are plenty, but here, they're often broken in the most ridiculous and whimsical ways. The school's name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the uselessness of the education the students appear to be receiving, as well as the naughty adventures they get up to.

The film's protagonist is a resourceful and plucky girl named Poor Girl, played by Kim Ok-bin, who brings a sense of charm and resilience to the character. Despite her family's extreme poverty, she maintains a positive and creative approach to life's difficulties. She starts off selling herself at night to support her family, but her life takes a turn when she falls for Anthony, a new transfer student with an ambiguous international background, portrayed by Park Jin-woo.

Anthony arrives at No Use High with a mysterious aura and an obscure past that captures the attention of his peers. He stands out among the high school populace for his stylish appearance and his seeming disinterest in the wild goings-on at the school. He quickly becomes an object of fascination and desire for many, adding to the school's complex web of relationships and intrigues.

Then there's Cyclops, portrayed by Kyeon Lee, a student with one eye who runs the school's underground economy. His operations include selling exam answers and facilitating all manner of mischief among the students, ensuring his place as a pivotal figure in the school's social hierarchy, despite his often-overlooked physical presence.

The narrative interweaves through various subplots involving a multitude of characters, each more colorful and unconventional than the last. There's the high school princess with a secret identity online, a teacher with a penchant for peculiar punishments, and a group of friends who navigate the turbulence of adolescence with humor and the occasional musical number. The film does not shy away from exploring taboo subjects, and it dissects them with a satirical edge that aims to comment on the social norms and constraints of Korean society.

In the vein of a musical, Dasepo Naughty Girls frequently bursts into song and dance, with catchy tunes and elaborate choreography that reflect the characters' emotions and dilemmas. The music ranges from the exuberant to the melodramatic, echoing the sentiment that high school, in all its exaggerated splendor, is a stage where the youth perform the trials and errors of growing up.

Visually, the film is a kaleidoscope of colors and camp aesthetics that embrace the world of the webcomic. It employs a vibrant costume design and a set that feels straight out of a dreamlike, exaggerated reality. The playful cinematography and imaginative direction of E J-yong make for a film that's equal parts amusing and visually stimulating.

The storytelling in Dasepo Naughty Girls is non-linear and often surreal, which aligns with the film's overall style. While it may seem disjointed at times, each vignette serves to structure a larger commentary on issues like poverty, sexuality, education, and societal expectations, albeit in an offbeat and eccentric manner. The depiction of the characters and their issues is done with a light touch, presenting serious themes with humor and allowing for a satirical examination without becoming too heavy-handed.

Dasepo Naughty Girls is an experience that might not cater to everyone's taste due to its peculiar and off-kilter sense of humor and its bold approach to social parody. However, for those with an appreciation for the unconventional and the whimsical, it is a film that offers a different perspective on the clichés of high school life and the musical genre. It's a celebration of youth and its complexities, wrapped in a glossy and audacious package that leaves viewers with a smile and, perhaps, a thought-provoking aftertaste.

Dasepo Naughty Girls is a 2006 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.