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Secret Love Affair is a Fantasy in F minor
A masterpiece of piano four-hands by Schubert gives love a name in the Korean television series starring Yoo Ah-in and Kim Hee-ae.
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Love is a duet.
Just like many others out there, I caught the tail end of the fever generated by the World of the Married (WOTM). Needless to say, as I’m writing this, I fell willingly for Kim Hee-ae in her role as the “woman”, a victim who turned around and outwitted the man who hurt her, at the same time perplexed most of the audience with an unconventional choice at the end. Her acting in WOTM won the Baeksang’s Best Actress Award but surprisingly I enjoyed more of her soulful side in Secret Love Affair.
The affair
The Chinese title for the series can be translated as “secret meeting” or “meeting privately” (密會). In reality, whenever the English title was used, people tend to focus on the “affair” or the infidelity. Many were reluctant to watch it because of the sensitive topic of adultery. I would go so far to say that this fictional relationship was by far the most grounded depiction of two persons falling in love quietly. It would be difficult to make it work if you’re not into the same (piano) piece. It might be easy to…
