Netflix is turning back the clock—and flipping the script. Aema, a bold retelling of the birth of Korea's iconic 1980s erotic film Madame Aema, is set to premiere worldwide on August 22.

🎬 A Behind-the-Scenes Story with a Feminist Twist

Directed by Lee Hae-young (Believer, Like a Virgin), Aema reimagines the making of Korea's most notorious erotic film. It doesn't just expose skin—it exposes the exploitation behind the camera, led by two women who fight back against a system built to strip them down.

👩‍🎤 Lee Ha-nee & Bang Hyo-rin Lead the Charge

• Lee Ha-nee plays Hee-ran, a top star outraged by a script filled with gratuitous nudity and "breasts-only" scenes. When she attempts to boycott the project, she's demoted from the lead role due to contract obligations.
• Bang Hyo-rin enters as Joo-ae, a bold and confident rookie actress who wins the lead through an open audition run by rookie director Kwak In-woo (played by Jo Hyun-chul).
• Jin Seon-kyu stars as Goo Joong-ho, the studio head pulling the strings.

Together, Hee-ran and Joo-ae blaze separate paths of rebellion—but eventually collide in a powerful, unexpected alliance. Their chemistry and resistance become the heart of the film.

🪞 Wit, Grit, and Glamour
Aema is packed with sharp, cheeky dialogue and comic beats, offering a clever critique of a time when women were expected to bare all—literally. It flips the lens, showing how these women reclaimed their narrative in an industry that tried to silence them.

🧵 Retro Vibes, Modern Message

The film recreates 1980s Chungmuro with period-perfect set design, bold fashion, and sharp styling. It's not just a nostalgic throwback—it's a globally relevant story about agency, resistance, and reinvention.

Aema hits Netflix on August 22.