Chunhyang (2000) (Korean)

July 2, 2007 · Posted in Drama, Korean Movies, Romance | Share

Korea’s national epic, the intensely romantic Chunhyang story, a tale better known in Korea than, say, Cinderella in the West, takes place in an old Korea that was almost a caricature of Confucianist China.

Mongryong marries the beautiful Chunhyang without telling his father, the Governor of Namwon. When his father is transferred to Seoul, Mongryong has to leave Chunhyang and finish his exams. Chunhyang, being the daughter of
a courtesan, is also legally a courtesan. She is beaten and imprisoned when she refuses to obey the new Governor Byun, as she wishes to be faithful to her husband. After three years, Mongryong passes his exam and becomes an emissary to the King. He returns to Namwon, disguised as a beggar, just before Chunhyang is to be flogged to death at the governor’s birthday celebration.

Don’t be alarmed when the opening p’ansori monologue lacks English subtitles. They’ll come soon enough. To
provide them at that point would give away part of the plot. That’s not a danger for the native Korean speakers, all of whom would know the plot by heart.

Year Released: 2000
Directed: Kwong-taek Im
Genre: Drama/Musical/Romance
Cast: Hyo-jeong Lee, Seung-woo Cho, Sung-nyu Kim, Hak-young Kim, Jung-hun Lee
Runtime: 120 minutes
Also Known As: Hotaru no haka
Country: Japan
Language: Korean
Subtitles: English
IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245837/