Chunhyang


Starring Lee Hyo Jung, Cho Seung Woo, Kim Sung Nyu, Lee Jung Hung. Directed by Im Kwon Taek. With English subtitles.

In 18th Century Korea Mongryong (Cho Seung Woo), the privileged son of the Governor of Namwon, falls in love with Chunhyang (Lee Hyo Jung), the beautiful daughter of a still well off former courtesan Wolmae (Kim Sung Nyu). Soon after they are married in secret, Mongryong father is promoted to the King's cabinet, and is ordered to Seoul to finish his education. He leaves reluctantly, and by his mother's advice, he leaves Chunhyang behind. Mongryong promises that once he finishes his schooling he will send for his beloved. But time passes, and a new, vindictive Governor (Lee Jung Hung) is appointed in the province. This new Governor pursues Chunhyang and when she refuses his advances, she is imprisoned and sentenced to death. Chunhyang's only hope for being saved is her faith in the promise Mongryong once made to come back and bring her back as his wife.

There is plenty to like about Chunhyang. Korea's largest cinematic production ever, employing over 8,000 extras and some 12,000 costumes, it is an epic tale of passion, forbidden love and devotion in the face of adversity. Beautifully filmed in a brownish gold hue, it features scene after scene of colourful costumes, lavish food and sprawling gorgeous countrysides. The story vividly illustrates constricting class structure, and how persons of noble birth risk their status and wealth if they marry below their station in life. It also shows how the powerful hide behind the law as a means of maintaining their power over people, such as when the Governor insists Chunhyang obey him and become his courtesan because she was the daughter of a courtesan and by law so must she be. I particularly like the twist in the story that the King is greatly offended by poverty among his subjects, and by the governor and the rich nobles greedily taking excessive amounts of money and goods from the people to satisfy their own selfish desires. Another dominant theme throughout the film is the message that a woman is not the property of a man or a governor, but "a human being".

Adding to the authenticity is the use of an older Korean "pansori" singer, who sings and growls out parts of the story. Pansori is a traditional form of story-telling which combines singing, epic and sweeping narratives of great heros of the past, with minimal percussion accompaniment. The singer here is quite good - a grisled veteran singing Korean history to a live audience as the movie unfolds. The problem is that as this occurs intermittently throughout the film, it tends to slow things down, including the long, unexplained introductory at the start of the film. While we wait for the singer to slowly illustrate some aspect of the poem, I several times longed for the story to move on.

The story itself is told formally as a mythical legend, and and the story is not always particularly believable. Firstly, the chance meeting of Mongryong and Chunhyang and his love at first sight is not well constructed or very believable, as well as Chunhyang later but very quickly falling in love with him. Which is not good, because it is the foundation to the love-at-first-sight, undying-love theme. Secondly, the evil new governor arrives and instead of selecting from a lovely group of courtesan's, he instead demands to see Chunhyang that he is supposed to have heard so much about. But she is shown as a fairly anonymous person, with no reputation in courtesan activities that. The governor would not possibly have ever heard of her. Lastly, when forced to go with his parents to Seoul and leave her behind, he doesn't even write to her or speak to her for three years. Not even a how's it going, or my studying is going well, I should pass my exams in a few years, I'll see you then. Nothing. This is true love? And she is willing to die to save her chastity for him?

The performances are mixed. Strong is Lee Hyo Jung, as the devoted and strong-willed daughter who would rather learn and write poems than join mom in the family courtesan business. Lee Jung Hung conveys well the arrogance of the governor who feels entitled to being honoured and having whomever he desires. Cho Seung Woo as Mongyrong is way too pretty to be an avenging hero, and his fake smile whenever somebody confronts him wears thin. But the scenes of the growing love between Chunhyang and Mongyrong are beautifully done and greatly enhance the romantic feel. Until he leaves and ignores her.

Chunhyang is a beautifully filmed, romantic epic. It is no Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon but, despite its failings, it is worth the journey to see.




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