This Korean historical piece was meant to be the first film viewed at the just- ended London Film Festival, but as noted elsewhere, the showing was cancelled. Anyhow they did manage to obtain a print eventually, and I am more than pleased to have now seen it. I don't quite agree with Michael that it was the best of the eight films we saw (not that I quite know which I would put in first place), but it was certainly magnificent in acting, colour, and composition. I understand that it is the most successful movie ever with Korean audiences, which is a little surprising since a period film set at the start of the Sixteenth Century does not necessarily conjure up the notion of mass appeal. But there you have it.
The story concerns two street performers -- an older man, Jang-sang. and his young and rather effeminate friend, Gong-gil. When they leave the countryside to try their luck in Seoul after the troupe's manager tries to pimp the favours of the younger man, they join up with three lowly actors. Surprisingly their new act which is a rather bawdy spoof on the new (and somewhat unstable) king and his mistress is a popular hit, but they are soon arrested for blasphemy. In prison Jang-sang argues that they should not be punished for a show that the King has not seen and that they should be freed if they are able to make him laugh which of course they do. Now under the King's protection they remain at the palace where they spoof the King's Council, advisors, and the old King's courtesans. However the King is becoming more and more attached to pretty Gong-gil, much to his mistress' annoyance and to Jang-sang's distress, and is oblivious to the rumbles of rebellion afoot. These bare bones only suggest the main theme of the film which is the deep affection, nay love, between the two lead characters, but a love which is never physically realised. And while others try to drive a wedge between them in the most brutal way, this bond can not be destroyed.
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