Pulgasari (1985)

In feudal Korea, the evil King becomes aware that there is a peasant rebellion being planned in the country. He steals all the iron farming tools and cooking pots from the people so that he... See full summary »

Director:

Sang-ok Shin

Writer:

Se Ryun Kim (screenplay)

Stars:

Chang Son Hui, Ham Gi Sop, Jong-uk Ri

Cast

Credited cast:
Chang Son Hui	...	Ami
Ham Gi Sop	...	Inde
Jong-uk Ri	...	Ana
Gwon Ri	...	Takse (Ami's Father)
Gyong-ae Yu	...	Inde's Mother
Hye-chol Ro	...	Inde's Brother
Sang-hun Tae	...	Rebel Forces
Gi-chon Kim	...	Rebel Forces
In-chol Ri	...	Rebel Forces
Riyonun Ri	...	General Fuan
Yong-hok Pak	...	The King
Pong-ilk Pak	...	The Governor
Kenpachirô Satsuma	...	Pulgasary (suit actor)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
'Little Man' Machan	...	Baby Pulgasari

Storyline

In feudal Korea, the evil King becomes aware that there is a peasant rebellion being planned in the country. He steals all the iron farming tools and cooking pots from the people so that he may make weapons to fend off the peasant army. After he returns the property to the people, an old blacksmith is imprisoned and starved to death. His last creation is a tiny figurine of a monster- Pulgasari, a Godzilla-like creature that eats iron. The blood of his daughter brings the creature to life, and fights with the poor, starving peasants to overthrow the corrupt monarchy.

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Plot Keywords:

korea | fight | army | sword and sorcery | north korean | 

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Taglines:

Banned for a decade!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Official Sites:

Japanese distributor for Pulgasari (Japanese text only) Official South Korean Homepage

Country:

North Korea Japan

Language:

Korean

Release Date:

4 July 1998 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Bulgasari

Company Credits

Production Co:

Korean Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film is a North Korean production, director Sang-ok Shin is South Korean. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il was a huge fan of Shin's, and since North and South Korea have technically been at war since 1951 and have no diplomatic relations, Kim had him kidnapped. Shin eventually escaped back to South Korea, but not before he had been forced to make this movie for the erratic North Korean leader.

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Connections

Referenced in Have I Got News for You: Episode #37.6 (2009)

User Reviews

Rubber suit demolition Chosen style

As the workers have a hard time rebelling against the oppressive (pre colonized) Chosen regime they get unexpected help from the gods. Bulgasari awakens to life from a figure of clay and rice with the drop of blood from Ami and is thereby under her authority. This secret weapon was exactly what they needed in order to kill the king, but it grows out of control. Whether this monster represents capitalism or not is anyones guess, I didn't notice anything that pointed towards that conclusion in the movie, but there's always the juche discourse to look it in the light of. After all Kim Jong-il is listed as a producer. With that in mind, I got a little bit anxious by the ending.

As a movie it is OK. The script is very simple and the characters are, like the weapons, like cardboard cutouts. Some of the berserker smashing the temples (cultural revolution style?) however, were quite impressive. All the shouting and wailing were not. I wonder if there's a movie were the title of it is repeated more often than in this.