South Korea’s Sidus has made a triumphant return to the global stage with the groundbreaking supernatural thriller “S Line,” debuting its first two episodes at Canneseries Season 8, which commenced on April 24.
The six-part series, conceived and produced by Handae Rhee and co-created and directed by Jooyoung Ahn, delves into a daring premise: What if the intimate connections between individuals were made visible as physical red threads? When a pair of glasses that can reveal these personal links fall into the wrong hands, pandemonium ensues as privacy becomes a commodity of the public.
“We began developing ‘S Line’ a decade ago. The original webcomic struck us like a bolt of lightning,” shares Rhee, who serves as the executive producer at Sidus. “Once the invisible S lines become visible, a single revelation sets off a chain of events for an individual, a family, and ultimately for society as a whole.”
The project, which has faced numerous hurdles during its lengthy development process, is acknowledged by Rhee for its challenging nature. “I am still in talks with platforms because the series doesn’t fit neatly into a love story or a happily-ever-after ending; it’s intentionally polarizing,” explains Rhee.
Director Ahn, who also co-wrote the series with Hogil Hwang and Joonhyun Kim, adapted the original webcomic with significant alterations. While the source material depicted a world where everyone suddenly sees sexual connections, the series approaches the concept as a prequel where only those wearing special glasses can perceive these ties.
“For the series, we retained the core premise but honed in on one character’s inner journey, aiming for a more intense and focused narrative,” states co-writer Hwang. “Our main concern was determining which character should acquire the glasses to captivate the audience until the end.”
The cast of “S Line” includes Soohyuk Lee as detective Han Ji-wook, K-pop star Arin (from the group Oh My Girl) as Hyun-heup, a young woman with a natural ability to see the S lines, and Dahee Lee. The series blends supernatural elements with detective storytelling.
“I interpreted the red threads in the world of ‘S Line’ as outward manifestations of each character’s deepest desires and nature,” explains actor Soohyuk Lee. “As my character is the one unraveling the truth behind the S lines, he approaches everything with an objective and analytical mindset.”
Portraying her character posed unique challenges for Arin: “I had to convey thoughts that are seldom spoken aloud, so I focused on subtle facial expressions and actions that either conceal or reveal emotions.”
While the premise may seem provocative, Ahn asserts that the series uses sexuality more as a narrative tool than a focal point. “We chose to treat sex and the sex line as a MacGuffin. If eroticism took center stage, the message we aimed to convey would lose its clarity,” the director explains. “Because attitudes towards shame and notions of surveillance differ across cultures and generations, we approached them with a broad and open perspective. Sex is a natural instinct; unless it violates societal norms, there is no inherent reason for shame. Therefore, we focused on the specific scenarios that can trigger shame, the environments that foster it, and, equally important, the individuals who seek to exploit those moments.”
Drawing from East Asian folklore about the red threads of fate, the series reimagines the concept for the digital era. “I believe invisible S lines already envelop us. Just consider the countless connections we establish online each day,” says Ahn. “It isn’t a tangible thread you can touch; it’s a link that can be deleted or created at will, made visible when absent, or concealed even when present – much like the fluid and ever-evolving ties that crisscross the online realm.”
Developing the visual representation of these connections posed its own set of challenges. “The true challenge lay not in technical constraints but in determining how the S lines should be depicted on screen while remaining cost-effective,” notes Rhee regarding the production’s visual effects strategy.
Co-writer Joonhyun Kim encapsulates the series’ thematic essence: “Everyone harbors their own sexual desires and preferences, yet few openly disclose them. Paradoxically, we feign disinterest while covertly prying into the sex lives of others with intense curiosity.”
Despite its Korean roots and cultural context, Rhee believes that “S Line” possesses a universal appeal: “While ‘S Line’ is a Korean production, it delves into human desires and conflicts, giving it a universality that resonates with global audiences.”
The premiere at Canneseries is anticipated to feature director Jooyoung Ahn and cast members Lee Soo Hyuk, Arin, Eunsaem Lee, and Nam Kyu Hee.
