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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