The King and the Clown (왕의 남자) by Lee Joon-ik (이준익) 2005
9 August 2006This was the hands down surprise box office winner of the year for Korea, so I have been excited to see it and picked up the Korean Special Edition DVD which includes the theatrical and the extended cut (which I watched) each on their own disc (the disc is region 3 though, so hopefully someone will release it here in the states), and was not at all disappointed. This is a fantastic film whichever way you look at it. Korean cinema has never been a slouch when it comes to production value and cinematography, but even with that this film looks fantastic, from the colors of the costumes to the digital composites everything looks great. And that says nothing about the excellent story and perfectly cast and played actors. I can see why people have called this Korean Brokeback Mountain, but only because it does show examples of homosexual love, though never implicitly, and also in that the film is as well written, directed, and performed, though the films are nothing alike in story or setting of course. And like Brokeback mountain this film is really another must see film, that really deserves a worldwide release.
The movie takes place during the Joseon Dynasty under the infamous king Yeonsan (Jeonng Jin Yeong). It is the story of 2 minstrel performers in a troop, Jang Saeng (Kam Woo-seong (감우성)) and the effeminate Gong Gil (Lee Joon-ki (이준기)). The two escape from their troop when Jang Saeng refuses to allow the master to sell Gong Gil as a prostitute to a rich man, and while trying to escape Gong Gil ends up stabbing the master in the back. The two head for Seoul to try and make it big and hook up with a lesser talented troop that they take as their own, and make a name for themselves by lampooning the King and his favorite concubine Nok Su (Kang Seong-yeon (강성연)). The kings closest advisor sees the show, and the troupe is taken and beaten, but Jang Saeng convinces them to let them perform for the king to see if he is offended.
REVIEW CONTAIN SPOILERS…
Surprisingly the King loves the performance, and has the troupe move into the palace and uses them to satirize his enemies in the court, the ministers and the last emperor’s wife and concubines who forced his own mother to commit suicide, and then the King kills his enemies. And Jang Saeng wants to leave again, not because he is worried about his own neck, but because he can see that the King has fallen for Gong Gil, and wants to get out, but Gong Gil is against it, enjoying his playing with the King, not realizing the danger he is in.
Things get worse when Gong Gil is giving the position of an official. First the ministers attempt to kill Gong Gil, and one of their fellow minstrels is killed saving him, and then the worse plot is by Nok Su who is jealous of the attention the king is giving Gong Gil, so she has a seditious document written in his handwriting, though she doesn’t know that Jang Saeng also has the same handwriting as he learned from copying Gong Gil, so he takes the blame, thwarting Nok Su’s plot. Jang Saeng has his eyes poked out by hot pokers, but he gets out and is able to do his high wire act once again with the one he loves, Gong Gil, while dodging arrows being shot at him, as the soldiers of the ministers come in to overthrow this insane king who will kill them all if he can.
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This is just a really good film. Kam Woo Seong is awesome in his role, just simmering with rage at the attention others give to Gong Gil. And Jeonng Jin Yeong is amazing as Yeonsan, brooding, manic, insanely joyous and playing like a small child, and permanently scared by his father having killed his mother, and with terrifying tantrums that led to many deaths. I was really impressed by this film, and think everyone should check it out if you get a chance.
You can purchase the special edition at Yes Asia or the less expensive DTS Edition.
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